Title 12, Taxation

(A)(1) A resident taxpayer is allowed a refundable income tax credit for preventative maintenance on a private passenger motor vehicle as defined in Section 56-3-630, including motorcycles, registered in this State during the appropriate year, subject to other limitations contain…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Eligible school" means an independent school including those religious in nature, other than a public school, at which the compulsory attendance requirements of Section 59-65-10 may be met, that: (a) offers a general education to primary or secon…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Eligibility statement" means a statement authorized and issued by the South Carolina State Housing and Finance Development Authority certifying that a given project qualifies for the South Carolina housing tax credit, including any preliminary de…

Section effective until January 1, 2030. (A) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Independent institution of higher learning" has the same meaning as provided in Section 59-113-50. (2) "Medical school-required clinical rotation", "physician assistant program-required clinical r…

Section effective until January 1, 2029. (A) A taxpayer who encumbers his property with a perpetual recreational trail easement and right of way is allowed a one-time income tax credit equal to ten cents for each square foot of the property that is encumbered by the recreational …

Section effective until December 31, 2028. (A) As used in this section: (1) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Commerce. (2) "Eligible taxpayer" means any railroad owner located in this State that is classified by the United States Surface Transportation Board as…

(A) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Commercial use" means a use intended for the purpose of generating a profit. (2) "Equipment" means equipment and facilities used solely to collect, process, and transport landfill gas, on the property of the facility, into renewable natu…

(A) South Carolina estimated tax payments must be made in a form prescribed by the department in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Sections 6654 and 6655 except that: (1) the small amount provisions in Internal Revenue Code Sections 6654(e)(1) and 6655(f) are one hundred doll…

In the case of sickness, absence, or other disability or good cause, the department may in its discretion allow further time for filing and paying estimated taxes.

No interest, penalties, or other sanctions may be imposed on the active duty income of members of the National Guard and Reserves activated as a result of the conflict in Iraq and the war on terrorism with regard to underpayment of state estimated individual income tax payments o…

(A)(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided, "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 2024, and includes the effective date provisions contained in it. (b) For purposes of Sections 63 and 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, the ame…

(A) A taxpayer's taxable year under this chapter must be the same as the taxpayer's taxable year for federal income tax purposes. (B) If a taxpayer's taxable year is changed for federal income tax purposes, then the taxable year for South Carolina income tax purposes is changed. …

(A) A taxpayer's method of accounting under this chapter must be the same as for federal income tax purposes. (B) If a taxpayer's method of accounting is changed for federal income tax purposes: (1) The method of accounting for South Carolina income tax purposes is changed. The t…

(A) A taxpayer should provide the department notice of its intent to be an "S" Corporation by filing with the department a copy of the election filed with the Internal Revenue Service. (B)(1) The approval or termination of an "S" election by the Internal Revenue Service is approv…

Income tax returns must be filed by the following: (1)(a) an individual whose filing status is single, surviving spouse, head of household, or married filing separately and whose South Carolina gross income for the taxable year is more than the sum of the deduction amount pursuan…

An interstate motor carrier which within a taxable year (1) owns or rents real or personal property in this State except mobile property; or (2) travels more than twenty-five thousand mobile property miles within this State; or (3) makes more than twelve pickups or deliveries in …

The income tax return of a trade or business carried on by an estate or trust must be made by the fiduciary and must show the taxable income of the estate or trust and the distribution of income to the beneficiaries. Under rules or regulations prescribed by the department, one of…

Every trust institution maintaining a common trust fund shall make a return under oath for each taxable year. The return shall contain the items of gross income and the deductions allowed by law, the names and addresses of the participants, and the proportionate share of taxable …

(A) An information return must be filed by all individuals, corporations, and partnerships acting in any capacity who make payments to another individual, corporation, or partnership in the amount of: (1) two hundred dollars or more of interest or dividends; or (2) eight hundred …

Returns must be in a form prescribed by the department. The department shall prepare blank forms for the returns to be furnished upon request. Failure to receive or secure the form does not relieve a taxpayer from the obligation to make a return.

(A) Returns of taxpayers, except as otherwise provided, must be filed on or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the taxable year. (B)(1) Returns of "S" corporations and partnerships must be filed on or before the fifteenth day of the third month following the t…

(A) The department may allow an extension of time not to exceed six months for filing returns under this chapter or the annual report under Chapter 20 of this title. A taxpayer requesting an extension of time for filing, on or before the date the return or annual report is due, s…

When an income tax return is required under this chapter, the taxpayer shall pay the tax due with the return to the department at the time for filing the return determined without regard to any extensions of time for the filing. Nothing in this section eliminates the requirement …

For purposes of this title and all other titles that provide for taxes administered by the department, except as otherwise specifically provided, the following Internal Revenue Code sections are specifically not adopted by this State: (1) Sections 1(a) through 1(e), 3, 11, and 12…

(A) If the federal taxable income of a husband and wife are determined on separate federal returns, their South Carolina taxable income must be separately reported and taxed. (B) If both a husband and wife are residents, and if their federal taxable income is determined on a join…

If a custodial parent releases claim to the personal exemption authorized in Internal Revenue Code Section 152, then the noncustodial parent's South Carolina income tax return must include a copy of the written declaration of the custodial spouse releasing the exemption as provid…

(A) A consolidated return may be filed for the following corporations: (1) a parent and substantially controlled subsidiary or subsidiaries; (2) two or more corporations under substantially the entire control of the same interest. However, a corporation that has elected to be tax…

(A) A partnership or "S" Corporation may file a composite individual income tax return on behalf of the nonresident partners or shareholders that are individuals, trusts, or estates in which the income is taxed to the trust or estate, or the department may require that a partners…

A person who is an income tax preparer as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 7701(a)(36) and who performs the same services with respect to South Carolina income tax returns or claims for refund shall include with his signature on the South Carolina return or claim for refu…

(A) Each taxpayer required to file a state individual income tax return may contribute to the War Between the States Heritage Trust Fund established pursuant to Section 51-18-115, the Nongame Wildlife and Natural Areas Program Fund established pursuant to Section 50-1-280, the Ch…

For purposes of a return filed pursuant to this chapter, all amounts may be rounded by the department or the taxpayer to the nearest whole dollar. An amount of fifty cents or more may be rounded to the next dollar. An amount of less than fifty cents may be eliminated.

(A) Subject to the provisions of subsection (B), for taxable years beginning after 1994, a tax is imposed on the South Carolina taxable income of individuals, estates, and trusts and any other entity except those taxed or exempted from taxation under Sections 12-6-530 through 12-…

Section repealed upon contingency. See, Editor's Note. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for taxable years beginning after 2006, the rate of tax imposed pursuant to Section 12-6-510(A) on the lowest bracket of South Carolina taxable income is reduced from 2.5 percent to…

Beginning on December 15, 2018, and each December fifteenth thereafter, the department shall cumulatively adjust the brackets in Section 12-6-510 using the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Consumers, as published by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics of the Department of Labo…

An income tax is imposed annually at the rate of five percent on the South Carolina taxable income of every corporation, other than those described in Sections 12-6-540 and 12-6-550, and any other entity taxed using the rates of a corporation for federal income tax purposes, tran…

For purposes of Internal Revenue Code Section 641(c), an electing small business trust is taxed at the highest rate provided in Section 12-6-510.

An income tax is imposed annually at the rate of five percent on the South Carolina taxable income of an organization described in Internal Revenue Code Sections 501 through 528 (Exempt Organizations) and 1381 (Cooperatives) as computed under Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(b)…

(A) As used in this section: (1) "Active trade or business income or loss" means income or loss of an individual, estate, trust, or any other entity except those taxed or exempted from tax pursuant to Sections 12-6-530 through 12-6-550 resulting from the ownership of an interest …

The following corporations are exempt from the tax imposed by Section 12-6-530 and Section 12-6-540: (1) banks as defined in Section 12-11-10; (2) building and loan associations as defined in Section 12-13-10; (3) insurance companies; (4) nonprofit corporations organized pursuant…

A certificate of compliance from the department to the effect that a tax has been paid, that a return has been filed, or that information has been supplied as required by the provisions of this chapter is prima facie evidence that the tax has been paid, that the return has been f…

(A) The department shall notify a domestic or foreign corporation, as defined in Section 12-20-10(3) and (4), of its failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 20 of this title requiring the filing of returns. If the corporation fails to file the required r…

Income taxes may be paid with an uncertified check, but if a check is not paid by the bank on which it is drawn, the taxpayer remains liable for the payment of the tax and for all legal penalties as if the check had not been tendered.

The department may require a taxpayer to provide copies of returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service and verify the information contained on the returns.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, with respect to a person that does not otherwise have a nexus with South Carolina, and that has contracted with a commercial printer for printing: (1) the ownership or leasing by that person of tangible or intangible property l…

(A) A federal or state income tax overpayment due to a person who is deceased at the time of the refund is the sole and separate property of the surviving spouse irrespective of the deceased's filing status on the return. (B) A refund by the United States or any state directly to…

The department, with the approval of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority, may expend from the revenue collected under this chapter additional money necessary to ensure the adequate administration and enforcement of this chapter.