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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 >
5. 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. 
6. 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?

7. 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.
8. 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.
   
   

Need to pay what you owe?

9. 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

10. ​​ 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.
    
    

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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.