Public Utility | South Carolina Department of Revenue

A public utility doing business in South Carolina must file a Public Utility Tax return, SC1120U. The Corporate Income Tax rate on public utilities is 5% on South Carolina taxable income.

Setting up your Public Utility account

You are required to file an Initial Annual Report of Corporations (CL-1) and pay a one-time $25 initial corporate License Fee within 60 days of doing business or using capital in the state of South Carolina.

If you have not already paid this fee to the South Carolina Secretary of State (SCSOS), you should pay it to the SCDOR.

Public Utilities are subject to an annual License Fee according to SC Code Section 12-20-100. The License Fee equals the sum of:

0.1% of the fair market value of property owned and used in South Carolina to conduct business, as determined by the SCDOR for the prior year’s Property Tax
0.3% of gross receipts from services from regulated business in South Carolina during the prior tax year
The minimum License Fee is $25.

Corporate FAQs

Corporate Forms

Need help?

Phone: 1-844-898-8542
Email: CorpTax@dor.sc.gov

Check your SC Business Income Tax refund status!

You'll need your FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) and refund amount!

How to file and pay

Public Utilities are required to file the SC1120U annually with the SCDOR, regardless of any income or business in the accounting period. This includes the annual report, (Schedule D), which is part of the SC1120U, and payment of the License Fee.

Due date: Your return and payment are due by the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of your business year.

Taxpayers whose South Carolina tax liability is $15,000 or more per filing period must file and pay electronically.

File online

Regardless of your tax liability, we recommend you file online using an approved vendor.

filing options

File by paper

As long as your liability is less than $15,000 for the filing period, you can also file by paper using the Public Utility Tax Return (SC1120U).

Request your extension to file by paying your balance due on our free online tax portal, MyDORWAY. Visit dor.sc.gov/pay and select Business Income Tax Payment to get started.

Your payment on MyDORWAY automatically submits your filing extension request.
No additional paperwork required!

If you’re not making your extension request online, mail the SC1120T to the address on the form.

Be sure to include your correct FEIN on the SC1120T. Providing an incorrect FEIN results in processing delays and errors in posting payments.
Make your check payable to the SCDOR.
Include your name, FEIN, tax year, and SC1120T in the memo.
Do not send cash.

If no tax is due and you requested a federal extension, we will accept the federal extension as long as the Bank Tax return is received within the extended time allowed by the IRS.

When you file, check the Extension box on the front of the return.

There is no extension of time to pay.

Pay online with MyDORWAY

MyDORWAY is the preferred way to securely make payments using a credit card or electronic check (ACH Debit or Electronic Funds Withdrawal).

Need a MyDORWAY account? Sign up
Have questions? See MyDORWAY help

Public utilities must make Estimated Tax (or declaration) payments if their estimated tax (Income Tax less credits) is $100 or more.

Quarterly installments are due by the 15th day of the fourth, sixth, ninth, and twelfth months of the tax year.

The SCDOR recommends that public utilities make Estimated Tax payments on our free tax portal, MyDORWAY, by going to dor.sc.gov/pay:

Select Business Income Tax Payment
- TIP: If you have a MyDORWAY account, you can log in to schedule your payments.
Do not mail in your SC1120CDP paper form if you pay online.

If filing your SC1120CDP by paper:

Make your check payable to "SCDOR" and include your name, FEIN, tax year, and SC1120CDP in the memo.
Mail your SC1120CDP and payment in one envelope.

Mailing addresses

Refund or Zero Return	Balance Due Return	Estimated Tax (SC1120CDP), Tentative (SC1120T), or Voucher (SC1120V)	Correspondence
South Carolina Department of Revenue Corporate Refund PO Box 125 Columbia, SC 29214-0032	South Carolina Department of Revenue Corporate Tax PO Box 100151 Columbia, SC 29202	South Carolina Department of Revenue Corporate Voucher PO Box 100153 Columbia, SC 29202	South Carolina Department of Revenue Corporate Tax PO Box 125 Columbia, SC 29214-0400

A public utility doing business in South Carolina must file a Public Utility Tax return, SC1120U. ​The Corporate Income Tax rate on public utilities is 5% on South Carolina taxable income.

Setting up your Public Utility account

​Annual license fees

Need help?

Check your SC Business Income Tax refund status!

How to file and pay

​File online

File by paper

Request an extension of time to file

Pay online with ​​MyDORWAY

​Make Estimated Tax payments to​ the SCDOR​​​

Mailing addresses

A public utility doing business in South Carolina must file a Public Utility Tax return, SC1120U. The Corporate Income Tax rate on public utilities is 5% on South Carolina taxable income.

File online

Pay online with MyDORWAY