10 tips to help you file with the Individual Income Tax deadline less than a month away

Monday, Mar 18, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3/18/2024

What you need to know:
2023 South Carolina and federal Individual Income Tax returns are due April 15, 2024
The SCDOR recommends filing online and choosing direct deposit for faster and more accurate processing.
Be sure your address and bank account information are correct on your return.

If you haven't filed your Individual Income Tax return yet, you have less than a month before the April 15 deadline.

More than 1.2 million South Carolina Individual Income Tax returns have already been filed electronically. The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) encourages all taxpayers to choose the electronic filing method that's best for them if you still need to file your returns, and to choose direct deposit if you're receiving a refund.

Those are just 2 of our top-10 tips to help you make the filing process as smooth as possible over the next month.

Haven't filed yet?

Gather your important tax documents, like W-2s and 1099s, before you file. Attempting to file without the documents you need could slow you down and lead to mistakes. If you don't have the documents to need, reach out to your employer as soon as possible.
Review tax credits and deductions that you may be eligible to claim – If you're eligible, tax credits and deductions can lower your tax bill or provide a tax refund. The Two Wage Earner Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), dependent exemption, and the deduction for those under age 6 have increased for tax year 2023.
Choose the electronic filing method that's best for you. Free and low-cost options are available. Visit dor.sc.gov/iit-filing to learn more.
If you're planning to hire a tax preparer, make sure they have an IRS-issued PTIN. They should also be available year-round to help answer any questions you may have. Learn more about choosing a qualified tax preparer >
Expecting a refund? Choose direct deposit! It's the SCDOR's preferred refund option because it's fast, safe, easy, cost-efficient, and paperless. Learn more at dor.sc.gov/refund.
Make sure your return is complete before you submit it. Some small things to pay attention to – including your current mailing address, checking that your bank account information is accurate, and signing your return before submitting it to the SCDOR. If you used a tax preparer to help you file, they should also sign.

Waiting on a refund?

Check your refund status online at dor.sc.gov/refund. Remember, tax return and refund processing takes up to 8 weeks from February 5 or the date you file, whichever is later. This allows the SCDOR to use all available tools to check for fraud and protect your refund.
Don't ignore mail from the SCDOR. As part of our fraud prevention process, the SCDOR mailed over 54,000 Identity Verification Notices to taxpayers last year. If you've received one of these notices, you will not receive any refund due until you are able to verify your identity, so don't ignore these notices.

Individual Income Tax Playlist

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Have you heard about South Carolina's Earned Income Tax Credit? To learn more about the credit or to check your EITC eligibility visit irs.gov/eitcTo learn m...
Where's My Refund?
If you've already filed, check your refund status using our Where's My Refund tool, which is available 24/7 and provides the same information as our customer service representatives. Learn more on our website: https://dor.sc.gov/refund Subscribe for more SCDOR content! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTBYoFDeMHjTGv9miVqlx8g?sub_confirmation=1 Stay connected with SCDOR! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DOR.SC.GOV/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SCDOR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescdor/
South Carolina Individual Income Tax Overview
Still wondering if you need to file your South Carolina Income Tax return? Here are some filing requirements and tips to help you out!Learn more on our websi...
A Guide to South Carolina Taxes
New to South Carolina? Welcome! Here’s a quick overview to help you learn about your state tax obligation.Visit our Moving to SC webpage to learn more about ...
Retirement Tax Deductions
Paying taxes while working is pretty straightforward. But, what about in retirement? This video explains some tax deductions you can use to potentially reduc...
The Basics of Estimated Tax Payments
If you’re self-employed, do contract work, or don’t have taxes withheld from your income, you may need to make estimated quarterly tax payments throughout the year. This video gives you tips, resources and helps you determine if you need to make Estimated Tax Payments. Video Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:03 How much do know how much you owe? 01:38 When are estimated tax payments due? 02:10 Penalties 02:26 One Common Mistake to Avoid + Tips 02:51 Make estimated tax payments on MyDORWAY 03:44 Keep in Mind Learn more about Individual Income Tax on our website: https://dor.sc.gov/iit Check out our Individual Income Tax Playlist for more IIT tips! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMoJwRaA14AaWOC1I0qFvKZjuZjYIu7vp Subscribe for more SCDOR content! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTBYoFDeMHjTGv9miVqlx8g?sub_confirmation=1 Stay connected with SCDOR! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DOR.SC.GOV/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SCDOR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thescdor/
How To Choose a Tax Preparer
Are you considering using a tax preparer to file your return? We have some tips to help you choose the tax preparer that is right for you! Learn more on our ...
IIT 101: Determining your SC Residency Status
If you are a South Carolina resident, you are generally required to file an SC Income Tax return. But, how do you know if you're an SC resident or not? This ...
File Online and Choose Direct Deposit!
Filing electronically is the fastest and easiest way to complete your SC Individual Income Tax return! Plus, choosing direct deposit allows you to get your r...
IIT 101: Deductions and Tax Credits
While you may not be able to avoid paying all taxes, there are tax breaks that allow you to lower your tax bill. This video explains the difference between d...
SCDOR ID Verification Notices
📫 Have you received mail from the SCDOR recently? If so, don’t ignore it! This time of year, we’re mailing out Identity Verification Notices to help protect...
IIT 101: The Basics of Individual Income Tax
Is this your first time filing an SC Individual Income Tax return? No worries, we've got you covered! This video covers the basics of IIT, plus some best pra...
Dos and Don'ts of IIT!
Are you ready for tax season? Here are some tips to keep in mind while filing your taxes!Learn more on our website: https://dor.sc.gov/iitSubscribe for more ...

Need to pay what you owe?

If you owe money after filing your return, the SCDOR recommends making your payment using MyDORWAY, our free online tax portal, at dor.sc.gov/pay. Select Individual Income Tax Payment, then enter your SSN and Legal Name to get started. On the next screen, select Return Payment. Learn more about making IIT payments here >

And remember, the SCDOR is here to help 24/7

Visit our YouTube channel and Tax Tips articles for 24/7 assistance – Over 170,000 customers have visited dor.sc.gov/YouTube and watched one of our helpful explainer videos. We've created over a dozen videos just for Tax Season, most of them less than 3 minutes long, designed to help you file your return. And don't forget about dor.sc.gov/tax-tips, where we publish helpful advice throughout the year.

The SCDOR is now on Instagram!

Follow us on Instagram to learn more about job openings, upcoming Taxpayer Education events, tax tips, and more. Check us out at @theSCDOR to get started!

Stay connected

Find more tax season resources at dor.sc.gov/iit. Follow the SCDOR on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube, and subscribe to ReveNews for the latest updates, resources, and reminders.

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