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Phone: 1-844-898-8542 
Email: IITax@dor.sc.gov 
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​​​​​​​​ Prepare for the 2024 filing season!
Save time and money by preparing for the new tax season with our 10 Income Tax tips for ​tax professionals and individuals​.
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Choose how you will receive your refund

You have a choice of receiving your refund by direct deposit or paper check. Direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to receive your refund.

​​ ​​​​​​​​DIRECT DEPOSIT
​​​​​​​ FAST​​​​​​​​​Your refund​ goes directly into your bank account or mobile cash app account*. No waiting on the mail or taking time to ​cash a check.
​​ SAF​​E​​You don’t have to worry about a paper check getting lost in the mail or stolen.​
​✔ EASY
​​​If you move during tax season, you can avoid the hassle of your paper check getting mailed to the wrong address.
​​​✔ PAPERLESS​​Direct deposit uses no paper, unlike printing and mailing checks.​
​​✔ SAVES TAX DOLLARS​​​​Each paper check costs the state about $1 to process. Direct deposit transactions only cost about a dime each.​
*Receiving a direct deposit with mobile cash apps​:
Some cash sharing apps may provide you with a personal routing and account number you can use to receive a direct deposit of your South Carolina Individual Income Tax refund. The SCDOR does not provide technical support for any issues related to mobile cash apps or for setting up your cash app to receive your direct deposit. You will need to contact your mobile cash app's customer support to see if this option is available to you, and if available, confirm the account and routing numbers you will use ​to enter on your tax retur​n when choosing direct deposit.

​PAPER CHECK
Your refund is mailed with a check to the address listed on your Income Tax return. 

Once you receive your check in the mail, you must deposit the check into your bank account or cash it using a check-cashing service.


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​​ The refund processing timeline​

Refunds from most error-free return​s will be processed in up to 8 weeks. Follow the timeline below to see the ​average time each step in the process takes.

 IF YOU FILE ONLINE, we will begin processing your refund as soon as we receive your return. Your filing software should give you confirmation that we​'ve received your return.

 IF YOU FILE BY PAPER, we have to wait for mail delivery, post office handling, mail room sorting, and data entry of the paper return before we can begin processing your refund, extending the timeline.​

STEP 1
STEP 1: PROCESSING BEGINS BY CHECKING FOR SIGNS OF FRAUD
(up to 5 weeks)

Some, but not all refunds, may take up to five weeks to complete STEP 1.​​ The Where's My Refund?​​ tool may not say "STEP 1" during this process​.​

STEP 2
STEP 2: ACCURACY REVIEW
(1-2 weeks)
STEP 3
STEP 3: FINAL VERIFICATION 
(1-2 weeks)
STEP 4
STEP 4: REFUND APPROVAL AND PREPARATION
(up to 1 week)
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REFUND ISSUED!
(Up to 8 weeks after filing online)

  • Direct deposit refunds are deposited into your bank account once your refund is issued.
  • You can't change your refund option after filing your return, but you can always update your choice next time you file.
  • Refunds from amended returns are issued at least 12 weeks from the date you filed the amended return.
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THESE ESTIMATES ​GENERALLY APPLY TO MOST ERROR-FREE RETURNS. PROCESSING TIMES WILL VARY.

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​​Checking your refund status after filing your return

If you've already filed, you can check your refund status using our Wh​ere's My Refund? tool, which is available 24/7! Skip the phone call and see your refund status details online. 

  If you filed electronically and received a confirmation from your tax preparation software, we have received your return.

  You can expect your refund to move through our review process in up to ​8 weeks from February 5 or ​​​the date you filed (whichever is later), if you filed electronically; paper returns take longer. Amended returns take at least 12 weeks to complete the review process.

  Status changes are posted nightly. Find out how long you can expect to be in each step of processing in the Refund Processing Timeline on this page. 

  If you filed by paper, it may take more time for your refund status to update.

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To check your refund status, you will need:
  • Your Social Security Number or ITIN
  • Your exact refund amount

Our phone lines are busy this time of year, and our representatives have the same information as our Where's My Refund?​ tool. You really only need to call if​​: 
  • Your refund status hasn’t changed in more than 8 weeks
  • Your refund status tells you to contact the SCDOR
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​Answers to common refund questions


Need more help​?

Find more helpful Individual Income Tax (IIT) tips in our IIT FAQs >​



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