1. Mark your calendar. Income tax returns are due April 17, 2018.
2. Choose a filing system. Will you file online or by paper? Use a tax preparer or file by yourself?
   
• The SCDOR recommends filing online through a trusted preparer. 
  
• Remember that qualified SC taxpayers have the option of using several different online filing providers for free electronic filing of state and federal returns. Find our list here.
  
3. Gather needed documents and information: W-2s, receipts, Social Security numbers, and paper forms (if not filing online).
4. Organize your documents in groups: charitable gifts, medical bills, property taxes, mortgage interest payments, or receipts.
5. Set aside time to organize information and file your taxes. Schedule time to focus on your tax information.

• Check the preparer’s qualifications. New regulations require all paid tax return preparers to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number. In addition to making sure they have a PTIN, ask if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization and attends continuing education classes. The IRS is also phasing in a new test requirement to make sure those who are not an enrolled agent, CPA, or attorney have met minimal competency requirements. Those subject to the test will become a Registered Tax Return Preparer once they pass it.
• Check on the preparer’s history. Check to see if the preparer has a questionable history with the Better Business Bureau and check for any disciplinary actions and licensure status through the state boards of accountancy for certified public accountants; the state bar associations for attorneys; and the IRS Office of Enrollment for enrolled agents.
• Ask about their service fees. Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund or those who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers. Also, always make sure any refund due is sent to you or deposited into an account in your name. Under no circumstances should all or part of your refund be directly deposited into a preparer’s bank account.
• Ask if they offer electronic filing. Any paid preparer who prepares and files more than 10 returns for clients must file the returns electronically, unless the client opts to file a paper return. More than 1 billion individual tax returns have been safely and securely processed since the debut of electronic filing in 1990. Make sure your preparer offers IRS e-file.
• Make sure the tax preparer is accessible. Make sure you will be able to contact the tax preparer after the return has been filed, even after the April due date, in case questions arise.
• Provide all records and receipts needed to prepare your return. Reputable preparers will request to see your records and receipts and will ask you multiple questions to determine your total income and your qualifications for expenses, deductions and other items. Do not use a preparer who is willing to electronically file your return before you receive your Form W-2 using your last pay stub. This is against IRS e-file rules.
• Never sign a blank return. Avoid tax preparers that ask you to sign a blank tax form.
• Review the entire return before signing it. Before you sign your tax return, review it and ask questions. Make sure you understand everything and are comfortable with the accuracy of the return before you sign it.

A strong password is the first line of defense for protecting your personal data online. Passwords are necessary for a majority of our online activities, including filing taxes, social networking, online banking, and paying bills. Creating complex and unique passwords help to keep your information more secure.

• Be a minimum of 8 characters long
• Contain at least one capital letter (A-Z), one lowercase letter (a-z), one number (1, 2, 3…), and one special character (*!#>/%@…)
• Be changed on a regular basis

• Be written down
• Contain the user id, user’s name or initials, or family member names
• Contain other personal identifying information (nicknames, license plates, home address, Social Security Number, birthday)
• Be used on more than one site

• Use a password that’s easy for you to remember but hard for a hacker to guess. You can easily turn a sentence into a complex and secure password.
• For example:
  • Sentence: My daughter Helen was born at 8:15 am.
  • Password: MdHwb@8:15am.

You can also use a password manager that creates unique passwords and stores your encrypted data. That way if one site is compromised, the password cannot be used on other websites to compromise additional accounts.

Find more tips on online security on our Security Center.

The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) is committed to keeping taxpayer information secure and helping to educate and inform taxpayers about potential identity theft and fraud threats. Follow these steps to help protect yourself and your family.

1. Educate yourself and your family on potential scams, phishing attempts, and how to avoid them by utilizing IRS, SCDOR and SC Department of Consumer Affairs information. 
   
2. Protect your personal information. Make complex online passwords. Do not use the same password for multiple sites. Keep sensitive paper documents locked in a filing cabinet.
3. Be careful with your money. Know who you’re dealing with in any situation involving monetary transactions. Don’t send money to unestablished charities. Don’t play foreign lotteries. Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back. Research a company before you invest. Always be wary of unsolicited offers.
4. Review your monthly statements carefully for any unauthorized charges. Thieves can steal your account information and run charges on your debit and credit cards. If you notice any strange charges, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.

Look for more tips and information regarding scams, phishing emails, and identity theft from the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the IRS, and the SCDOR.