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South Carolina Department of Revenue
PO Box 125
Columbia, SC 29214-0825

General tax credit questions:  TaxCredits@dor.sc.gov

Angel Investor Credit, Parental Refundable Credit, and Education Donor Nonrefundable Credit: TaxTech@dor.sc.gov



 

 Tax Credit Tips

Need help figuring out which tax credits might be for you? Check out some of our past articles for more ​help!

Please note the amount of some credits and deductions covered in these articles varies from year-to-year. Visit the Tax Credits page for updated amounts.

Summary

A tax credit is an amount of money t​​hat can be used to offset your tax liability. South Carolina's tax credits may be earned by individuals, C corporations, S corporations, partnerships, sole proprietors, and limited liability companies. Credits are usually used to offset Corporate Income Tax or Individual I​ncome Tax. Some credits can also be applied against Corporate License Fees, Bank Tax,​ Savings and Loan Tax, or Insurance Premium Tax. See the specific credit form and instructions to determine who can earn the credit and which taxes it can offset.

Tax credits fall into one of two categories:

  • Nonrefundable credits cannot reduce your tax liability below zero. You may be able to carry unused nonrefundable credits forward to claim in future years. Use forms beginning with TC- to claim nonrefundable credits
  • Refundable credits can reduce your tax liability to zero. Unused refundable credits are refunded to the taxpayer. Use forms beginning with I- to claim refundable credits. 

Most tax credits may not be sold, exchanged, or otherwise transferred. Refer to the specific credit to see if it is transferable.

Most tax credit forms are not year-specific, but check to make sure you are using the correct and most current version of the form for the credit you are claiming. Include the SC1040TC or the SC1120TC with your return to claim nonrefundable tax credits. Use the correct three digit code for the credit you are claiming on the SC1040TC or SC1120TC.  

General Rules for Tax Credits

These rules apply to tax credits in general:

  • Credits must be used in the year they are earned, as much as possible based on your tax liability. 
  • Credits can generally be applied in any order the taxpayer chooses. However, there are some credits (for example, the Research Expenses Credit) that limit the credit to the remaining tax liability after all other credits have been applied.
  • Credits that may be claimed against both Corporate Income Tax and Corporate License Fees may be used against either or both in the same year.
  • No credit may be used more than once.
  • Credits that limit the amount that may be used in a year are computed one credit at a time before another credit is used to reduce the remaining tax liability.
  • A taxpayer may file an amended tax return for a year that is out of statute to claim a credit that can be carried forward one or more open years. The credits carried forward must be reduced by the amount that could have been used in the years out of statute.

There are exceptions to these rules. For more information, see the Tax Incentives for Economic Development publication and the specific form or application used to claim the credit.

 

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