Tax Season opens January 26, 2026

Monday, Jan 12, 2026

The SCDOR will begin accepting 2025 Individual Income Tax returns on Monday, January 26, 2026, consistent with the date announced by the IRS.

Returns are due April 15, 2026. For your South Carolina return, if you both file and pay electronically by May 1, 2026, you will not be subject to penalties or interest.

Questions about how South Carolina conforms with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act? Refer to Information Letter #26-4.

The SCDOR will begin processing returns February 2, 2026 to allow employers time to meet the January 31 W-2 submission deadline.

The SCDOR knows that filing your return can be stressful, and if you’re expecting a refund, you want it as soon as possible. With that in mind, here are 6 of the most common mistakes we see this time of year. Avoiding these mistakes is the key to making 2026 the easiest tax season yet:

Using paper returns and doing the math yourself – Paper returns have significantly more errors than electronically filed returns. That’s because filing software does the math for you and features automatic checkpoints that ensure your return is complete before you submit it.

Using inconsistent variations of your name – If you haven’t changed your name in the last year, use the exact spelling of your name from last year’s return. If you have changed your name, make sure you have notified the SCDOR before filing.
Not updating your mailing address – If the SCDOR needs to contact you about your return, we will mail you a notice to the address we have on file. Also, using a new mailing address that the SCDOR does not yet have may cause a delay in processing while we attempt to verify that information.
If you use the services of a tax preparer, make sure they enter your current address on your return.

 Customers with a MyDORWAY account can update their name and address by logging in and selecting the More tab, then clicking Manage Names & Addresses. If you don’t have a MyDORWAY account, use the SC8822I.

Filing without your W-2 and 1099 forms – Don't be tempted to file early in the tax season using year-end pay stubs. You need your W-2 and 1099 forms to accurately report your income, so don’t file without them.
Being careless as you enter information – No matter how you file, you must enter a significant amount of information, including income data, bank account numbers, and your driver’s license number.

Take your time and double check that you’ve entered accurate data. Any errors will delay processing and could cause your return to be flagged by the SCDOR’s fraud detection process.
Entering your bank account information on your return if you plan to pay later or enter into a payment plan – If you owe a balance after filing your return, your filing software will allow you to enter your bank account information and select a payment date. Be careful when doing this – If you enter your bank account information, the SCDOR will debit your account on the payment date you choose.

If you want to pay later using a different method, or you’re considering entering into a payment plan with the SCDOR, do not enter your banking information as part of your return.

Tax Season information for South Carolina media
The SCDOR’s Public Information Office has created a virtual interview video to help media with their Tax Season coverage. TV stations are encouraged to use video clips from the interview video in their Tax Season packages, and all media can refer to the virtual interview for answers to common Tax Season questions.
When using the virtual interview video, please attribute all quotes to:
Rob Walden, SCDOR

View and download the Virtual Interview Video
To download: View the video, click the three dots in the bottom right to view more options, then click Download.

Stay connected

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

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MEDIA INQUIRES:

SCDOR Public Information Office

news@dor.sc.gov

Tax Season opens January 26, 2026

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