When are Sales and Use Tax returns due?
Sales and Use Tax returns are due by the 20th of the month following the end of the month in which the sales occurred. For example, for sales that occur in November, the November return must be filed by December 20th.
Can I file quarterly or annually instead of monthly?
Yes, provided certain requirements are met and filing on a quarterly or annual basis has been approved by the Department. To determine if you are eligible to file quarterly or annually, please contact our
Sales Tax section.
Do I need to file a return if I don’t make any sales for a particular filing period (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually)?
Yes. A Sales and Use Tax return is due for each filing period the Sales and Use Tax account is open, including filing periods for which the remote seller will file a “zero tax due” return.
Do I need to file a return if all my sales are
exempt sales for a particular filing period (e.g., monthly, quarterly, annually)?
Yes. A Sales and Use Tax return is due for each filing period the Sales and Use Tax account is open, including filing periods for which the remote seller will file a “zero tax due” return.
In the case of a return in which all sales are exempt sales, the remote seller must still report its “gross proceeds of sales” and take a deduction for all exempt sales which will result in a “zero tax due” return.
Does the remote seller receive a discount for timely filing and remitting State and local Sales and Use Tax?
Yes. If returns are filed and the taxes are paid in full by the due date, the taxpayer is allowed a discount on taxes due. For taxes less than $100, you may take a 3% discount of the tax. For taxes of $100 or more, the discount is 2% of the tax.
The maximum discount allowed per taxpayer (all locations included) during the state’s fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) is $3,000. The discount is increased to a maximum of $3,100 if the retailer files his Sales and Use Tax returns electronically.
Remote sellers not required by law to collect the South Carolina Sales and Use Tax (i.e., do not have physical nexus or economic nexus), but who voluntarily register to do so, are allowed a maximum discount of $10,000 each fiscal year.
The discount (whether $3,000, $3,100 or $10,000) is calculated from the June return filed in July to the May return filed in June.