March 2024

Sale/Rental of Digital Textbooks Exempt from Sales/Use Tax: On March 18, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Private Letter Ruling #24-2 addressing the question of whether sales and rentals of digital textbooks are exempt from the sales and use tax as "textbooks" under South Carolina law. In this Ruling, the Department referred to several provisions of South Carolina sales and use tax laws, including that communication services are subject to sales and use taxes; and that such communication services include the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages, including the charges for use of equipment furnished by the seller or supplier of the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages. Additionally, the Department noted that one of the several exemptions from the tax includes textbooks, books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers, and access to online information systems used in a course of study in primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher learning. Further, the Department noted that such exemption for textbooks includes such items in any form but does not include the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages. Thus, the Department noted in this Ruling that unless textbooks are the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages, then textbooks, and online information systems used in the course of a study for and used in institutions of higher learning, are exempt from the tax regardless of the format. After reviewing the true object test, the Department concluded in this Ruling that the digital textbooks sold by the taxpayer in this Ruling are textbooks used in a course of study in institutions of higher learning and are thus exempt from the sales and use taxes. The Department also noted that this advisory opinion is issued to the taxpayer requesting the Ruling based on the assumption that the taxpayer's facts and circumstances, as stated, are correct. More information can be found here.

February 2024

Deed Recording Fee Manual Update: On January 9, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Revenue Ruling #24-1 addressing the South Carolina deed recording fee. The Department states in this Ruling that South Carolina imposes a deed recording fee for the privilege of recording a deed in which land and improvements on the land, tenements, or other realty is transferred to another person, with the fee being $1.85 for each $500, or fractional part of $500, of the realty's value as determined under South Carolina law. The Department notes in this Ruling that the grantor is liable for the payment of the fee, or if there is more than one grantor, the grantors are jointly and severally liable for the payment of the fee, with the grantee being secondarily liable for the payment of the fee. The Ruling further notes that a variety of advisory opinions have been issued concerning the deed recording fee since it was enacted in 1996 and that the Deed Recording Fee Manual has not been updated since 2018. As a result, the Department has worked to consolidate the information of the relevant advisory opinions into an updated Deed Recording Fee Manual. The Department states in this Ruling that the January 2024 Deed Recording Fee Manual will serve all purposes that a Revenue Ruling would serve on all topics addressed in this Manual. More information can be found here.

January 2024

Change In Mandatory Minimum W-2 Upload Requirement: The South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) recently issued a News Release advising that, in keeping with new IRS requirements, employers who file at least 10 W-2 or 1099 forms with the Social Security Administration must submit those forms to the Department using MyDORWAY. The Department noted in this Release that previously only employers with 250 or more W-2s were required to upload those forms electronically to the Department. Further, the Department stated that employers can now upload the W-2 C, W-2 G, and some types of 1099s on MyDORWAY. More information regarding these new requirements can be found here.

November 2023

Withholding Tax Tables Updated: On November 16, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued a News Release stating that the Department's withholding tax tables have been updated. According to the Department in this Release, the withholding tax tables have annually been updated since 2017 and were updated just recently so as to take into account less money that was being withheld from paychecks during 2023 because of legislative tax cuts. As a result of the foregoing, the Department in this release stated that refunds next year may be less than in past years. The Department also noted in this Release that the amount of withholding change in taxpayers' paychecks depends on a variety of factors, including how much each taxpayer makes and how often they are paid, together with whether the taxpayer has experienced significant life changes such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, and other such events. That Notice, in which the updated tax tables can be accessed, can be found here.

October 2023

Recognized Training Programs Relative to Alcoholic Beverage Licensing: The South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) has recently issued Information Letter #23-13 (Information Letter), superseding Information Letter #14-6 and all previous documents and any conflicting directives, which addresses the consideration of certain recognized training programs as mitigating factors in regard to evaluating the appropriate penalty for a violation of the State's statutes and regulations governing the sale, distribution, or possession of beer, wine, and/or alcoholic liquor. According to this Information Letter, "mitigating circumstances" are circumstances that may warrant a less severe sanction than would otherwise be appropriate; and, if recognized mitigating circumstances are present, the Department will consider whether to reduce monetary penalties, the lengths of suspensions, and whether revocations should be reduced to suspensions with monetary penalties. The Department states in this Information Letter that when the violation involves the sale of beer, wine, or alcoholic liquor to an underage person, the Department will consider whether the employee committing the violation has completed a training program recognized by the Department within a reasonable period of time (but no longer than one year) prior to the violation; and the Department must receive verification that the employee attended and completed the program which must include training covering the prevention of underage sales. The Information Letter then sets forth various recognized training programs for these purposes. However, the Department states in this Information Letter that completion of one of these recognized training programs is not a guarantee of the reduction in the penalty imposed by the Department; and that the determination of whether mitigating circumstances warrant a reduction is within the sole discretion of the Department. More information can be found here.

September 2023

Significant 2023 Tax Changes Summarized: On August 29, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #23-11 that provides a brief summary of the significant changes in tax and regulatory laws enacted during the 2023 Legislative Session. As noted in this Information Letter, the summary is divided into categories by subject matter, including income taxes, bank taxes, withholding, and corporate license fees; property taxes and fees in lieu of property taxes; sales and use taxes; and miscellaneous filings. Further, a link is included within this Information Letter to a complete copy of the legislation discussed in the summary. More information can be found here.

August 2023

Advisory Opinion Index: On June 30, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #23-9 which includes an index of South Carolina Advisory Opinions issued by the Department through June 30, 2023. The Advisory Opinions are indexed under the major categories of administrative; alcoholic beverage licensing & regulations; income taxes; miscellaneous taxes; property taxes; and sales and use taxes. More information can be found here.

July 2023

Proposed Rulings as to Tax Credits for Hiring Veterans and Incarcerated Individuals: On July 7, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) published two proposed Revenue Rulings for consideration by the public, one of which involves income and other tax credits for hiring veterans and the other involves tax credits for hiring formerly incarcerated individuals. As noted in the proposed Ruling involving veterans, a tax credit is available for any taxpayer who hires a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States on or after June 22, 2022, but before January 1, 2027, to participate in a registered apprenticeship program certified by the United States Department of Labor. In that regard, the proposed Ruling states that an employer may claim the credit for up to three years if all the requirements of the statute are met; and that the credit for each eligible employee is $3,000 for the first year of employment, $2,500 for the second year of employment, and $1,000 for the third year – but may not exceed the taxpayer's liability for that year. The proposed Ruling involving the hiring of formerly incarcerated individuals makes similar statements regarding the amount of the credit, with the hiring occurring after 2021 but before 2027 to participate in such a registered apprenticeship program. Both proposed Rulings provide an overview of the respective credits and set forth various Q&As addressing the various criteria required to be eligible for the credit. Public comments for both proposed Rulings must be received by the Department by July 28, 2023; and a conference (if requested) will be scheduled by the Department for August 3, 2023 at the time and place set forth in each Ruling. More information can be found here and here.

June 2023

Debit Cards for Refunds No Longer Issued After June 29, 2023: On June 1, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued a News Release stating that the Department will no longer issue individual income tax refunds as debit cards after June 29, 2023. The Department stated that this action follows the decision by Bank of America, the Department's prepaid debit card provider, to phase out its prepaid debit card program. The Department noted that the vast majority of South Carolina taxpayers choose to receive their refunds as direct deposits or paper checks, with direct deposit remaining as the Department's recommended refund option. This Release sets forth what both the Department and Bank of America will do relative to the phase out of using debit card refunds; and it also sets forth what cardholders should do if the cardholder has an active refund prepaid debit card with a balance. Additionally, the Department's contact information for questions is set forth in this Release. More information can be found here.

May 2023

Enhanced Online Business Tax Application: On April 26, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued a News Release announcing that the Department has streamlined and dramatically improved its online Business Tax Application, making it easier for anyone doing business to register a new business with the Department and apply for business tax accounts. The Department also stated in the Release that first-time business applicants will create a MyDORWAY account as part of the application process. Further, the Department noted businesses that already managed their tax accounts on MyDORWAY can easily add new tax accounts without logging out, which cuts down on the length of the application dramatically according to the Department. The Department then addressed in the Release several situations such as where an applicant needs to register a new business with the Department, needs to add tax accounts to an existing business, and which type of information would be needed in order to complete the online application process. More information can be found here.

April 2023

Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Manual: Earlier this year the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) published a Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Manual so as to provide businesses and tax professionals a central summary of information concerning cigarette and tobacco products tax laws in South Carolina. This Manual references specific authority, including the law, regulations, and the Department's advisory opinions. The Manual contains a Disclaimer which provides in part that nothing in the Manual supersedes, alters, or otherwise changes provisions of South Carolina law, regulations, or the Department's advisory opinions. Contact information is provided in the Disclaimer in the event there are comments regarding provisions within the Manual. More information can be found here.

March 2023

Interest Rate Changed: On February 16, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #23-2, which announced an interest rate change for the period from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023. According to this Information Letter, the interest rate is now set at 7 percent, up from 6 percent for the period from October 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022. Also according to this Letter, this interest rate is to be applied to underpayments and overpayments of taxes, and the rate is compounded daily except simple interest applies to the underpayment of declaration of estimated tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Letter further states that for the fiscal year of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, South Carolina law directs the Department to reduce the rate of interest paid on eligible refunds by total of 3 percentage points from the rate published in this Letter. More information can be found here.

February 2023

Local Sales/Use Tax and Related Charts for 2023: The South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) recently issued Information Letter #23-1 that is effective March 1, 2023. This Information Letter sets forth changes in local sales and use tax rates, as well as other local changes and related exemption information as summarized by the Department. More information can be found here.

January 2023

Sales Tax Implications of Inflation/Convenience Fees: In October 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Revenue Ruling #22-10, addressing the question of whether a separately stated "inflation fee," "convenience fee," "non-cash adjustment fee," or similar type of fee charged by a retailer as part of the retail sale of tangible personal property to a customer can be included in "gross proceeds of sales" or a "sales price" and therefore subject to the sales and use tax. The Department noted that as a result of recent inflationary times, some retailers are adding a separate fee to a customer's invoice or receipt to recover some or all of their increased operating costs (such as higher inventory costs, labor costs, fuel, rental rates, etc.). Other retailers, as noted by the Department, are adding a separate fee to recover their credit card processing costs. In response to questions asked about the applicability of the sales and use taxes to these various fees, the Department noted that the phrases gross proceeds of sales and sales price essentially are both defined as the total proceeds without deductions for expenses, including the cost of goods sold, cost of materials, labor or service, interest, losses, and other such expenses. Based upon this measure of the sales and use tax being the total proceeds of a sale, the Department concluded that these fees are subject to sales and use tax unless the retail sale of the tangible personal property is otherwise exempt from the tax or the retail transaction is not subject to the tax. The Department then gave two examples for guidance purposes. Further, the Department noted that if such a fee is imposed on the retail sale of multiple products when the items sold include both exempt and taxable items, then the sales and use tax is only due on that portion of the fee related to the taxable items, provided that the seller can reasonably prorate the fee between taxable and nontaxable items. More information can be found here.

October 2022

Draft Revenue Ruling as to the Sale of Boats, Motors and Airplanes: On September 28, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued draft Revenue Ruling #22-X addressing recent 2022 legislation regarding the application of the casual excise tax on sales of airplanes, boats, and boat motors when the sales and use tax has not previously been paid. In that regard, the draft Ruling references Code Section 12-36-2110(A), which concerns the sale of items subject to the maximum sales and use tax and maximum casual excise tax, as having been amended to add watercraft motors (that is, boat motors). According to this draft Ruling, sales of watercraft motors, effective July 1, 2022, are subject to the sales and use tax or the casual excise tax at a rate of five percent, with a limit of $500. Further, the draft Ruling states that, with this legislative amendment, sales of watercraft motors are exempt from all local sales and use taxes administered and collected by the Department effective July 1, 2022. The draft Ruling also updated various Q&As regarding the sale of boats, boat motors, and airplanes. Public comments as to this draft Ruling are due by October 14, 2022. More information can be found here.

One-Time Individual Income Tax Refund (Rebate) in 2022: On October 5, 2022, the Department issued Information Letter #22-18 addressing the one-time rebate as approved by the South Carolina General Assembly as part of the Comprehensive Tax Cut Act of 2022. According to this Information Letter, the one-time rebate is for each 2021 individual income tax return that reports South Carolina individual income tax liability. The rebate is equal to the amount of tax liability on the return, with a maximum rebate of $700. However, the Department may determine that there may be sufficient funds to increase the maximum rebate. The Department must issue the rebates by December 31, 2022. The Information Letter also reviewed North Carolina law relating to the rebate, as well as addressing various rebate information. For instance, South Carolina residents, part-year residents, and nonresidents who meet the following requirements qualify for the rebate: (i) the taxpayer filed a 2021 South Carolina individual income tax return on or before October 17, 2022, and (ii) the 2021 individual income tax return reported a South Carolina income tax liability after refundable and nonrefundable credits are applied. The Information Letter also discussed various other matters relating to the rebate. More information can be found here.

September 2022

Interest Rate Change/Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Not Taxable: On August 31, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) published Information Letter #22-13 announcing that an interest rate of 6 percent will be applicable for the period from October 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, with respect to underpayments of tax, and that the rate is compounded daily except that simple interest applies to the underpayment of declaration of estimated tax. This rate also applies to overpayments, with the caveat that the Department is directed to reduce that rate paid on eligible refunds by a total of three percentage points from the listed rates. Separately, the Department published Information Letter #22-14 on September 1, 2022, stating that during the 2022 Legislative Session, South Carolina conformed to the Internal Revenue Code as of December 31, 2021, including conformity to the Internal Revenue Code Section 108(f)(5) which applies to certain student loans that are forgiven for federal income tax purposes and excluded for federal taxable income, and thus are also excluded from South Carolina taxable income, according to this Information Letter. More information can be found here and here.

August 2022

Sales Tax Holiday Dates and List of Exempt/Non-Exempt Items: On June 28, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) published Information Letter #22-10, addressing the sales tax holidays for 2022, as well as setting forth a list of exempt and non-exempt items. According to this Information Letter, sales tax holidays for 2022 will include eligible sales taking place from August 5 through August 7, 2022. The eligible items generally include clothing and accessories; footwear; school supplies; computers, computer software, printers, and supplies; and certain bed and bath supplies. Non-exempt items include items for use in a trade or business; clothing or footwear rentals; watches; eyewear; and other items as referenced in the Letter. Further, the Information Letter sets forth examples of these exempt and taxable items in the listing attached to the Letter. More information can be found here.

June 2022

Modification of South Carolina Income for Qualified Wages Disallowed for Federal Purposes: On June 10, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued SC Revenue Ruling #22-4 dealing with the federal employee retention credit, and addressing whether a modification from federal taxable income on a taxpayer's South Carolina income tax return will be allowed for qualified wages disallowed as a deduction for federal tax purposes where the disallowances result from the taxpayer claiming the federal employee retention credit in 2020 and 2021. The Department in this Ruling concluded that a taxpayer is allowed a modification to its federal taxable income on its South Carolina income tax return, and may deduct qualified wages disallowed for federal tax purposes as a result of claiming the federal employee retention credit. Citing the South Carolina Code, the Department determined that the expense limitation related to certain federal tax credits do not apply and as a result, a modification to federal taxable income is applicable for that portion of wages that were not deductible in 2020 or 2021 for federal income tax purposes as a result of rules similar to Internal Revenue Code Section 280C. Accordingly, the Department concluded that an employer may make a modification to federal taxable income on its South Carolina income tax return to allow a subtraction for any qualified wages paid that were disallowed under the federal employee retention credit provisions. More information can be found here.

May 2022

Draft Guidance on Income Taxes Paid by a Pass-Through Entity to Other States: On May 19, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued a draft of a Revenue Ruling that, when finalized, will address questions regarding income taxes paid by a pass-through entity to other states on personal service income and other business income and the credit for taxes paid to other states. Comments on this draft Ruling are due by June 1, 2022 to the Department. As noted in this draft Ruling, the Department has received questions from resident and non-resident owners of pass-through entities during this filing season regarding the availability of a South Carolina credit for income taxes paid to other states on their personal service income or other business income in light of many states now permitting an income tax to be imposed on, and paid by, a pass-through entity to work around the individual partner's or shareholder's federal limit of $10,000 for the itemized deduction of state and local taxes on their federal income tax return. The draft goes on to state a pass-through entity may continue to pass income through to its owners in the traditional manner, or if it meets South Carolina's definition of a "qualified" pass-through entity, it may elect to tax only the South Carolina "active trade or business income" at the entity level; and it if is a multi-state business, it may make an entity level tax election in other states that allow it. The draft then addresses situations involving a non-personal service partnership or S corporation either operating solely in South Carolina or in multiple states including South Carolina, as well as personal service partnerships or S corporations operating solely in South Carolina or operating in multiple states including South Carolina, among other areas addressed by the draft. Further, the draft sets forth various questions and answers pertinent to the topic of the draft Ruling. More information can be found here.

April 2022

Further Guidance Regarding Entity Tax Reporting: On March 11, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #22-4 addressing matters regarding tax forms and reporting issues for the tax year 2021 with respect to the optional election for certain pass-through entities to report active trade or business income directly on their tax returns and pay an entity level income tax on such income. This option was addressed in our June 2021 SALT edition with this new Information Letter #22-4 providing additional guidance and clarification with respect to several important South Carolina income tax form reporting or tax software issues and instructions for this filing season. Issues addressed in this publication include the Section 179 expense deduction; clarification of determination of active trade or business income, or passive investment income; active trade or business losses for certain non-electing entities; and tax credits, among other issues. This Information Letter notes that the guidance published in the Department's Revenue Ruling #21-15 (found here) and in this Information Letter is controlling over the tax form mechanics and instructions. More information can be found here.

Public Draft of Ruling Addressing Employer Wage Withholding Requirements: On March 29, 2022, the Department circulated for public comment a draft Ruling dealing with employer wage withholding requirements for income tax purposes in view of the unprecedented temporary closings of offices and businesses and stay-at-home orders issued as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that draft, the Department again noted that temporary relief has been provided regarding a business's establishment of nexus solely because an employee is temporarily working in a different work location due to COVID-19 from March 13, 2020, through June 30, 2022; and the Department will not use the temporary change of an employee's work location during the COVID-19 relief period to impose withholding requirements. However, the draft Ruling goes on to state that, with relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, the Department is ending its temporary relief provided in earlier Information Letters and subsequent extensions through June 30, 2022. The Department notes in this draft Ruling that COVID-19 has brought about changes in the work environment and more employers are providing employees with greater flexibility to return to the office, work from home, or work remotely from anywhere on a permanent or flexible basis. As a result, the purpose of this Ruling, when finalized, will be to provide guidance to employers regarding their South Carolina withholding requirements for resident and nonresident employees, whether the employees are working in the employer's office/location or working partially, primarily or wholly remotely from home or other remote locations. The draft Ruling reviews South Carolina law, and then provides a summary of the general rule applicable to resident employee wage withholding; the special rule for resident employees working outside South Carolina (partially or totally); and nonresident employee wages rules. The Ruling then provides examples of employer wage withholding requirements. The comment period for this draft Ruling has now expired, and it is yet to be determined when the Department will issue the final version. More information can be found here.

March 2022

Interest Rate for Period Beginning April 1 through June 30, 2022: On February 25, 2022, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #22-3 setting forth the interest rate to be applied to underpayments and overpayments (with certain conditions as to overpayments, as noted below) for the period beginning April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. The interest rate is 4 percent; however, the Department noted in this Information Letter that with respect to the interest rate on refunds for the fiscal year 2021 – 2022 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022), South Carolina law directs the Department to reduce the rate of interest paid on eligible refunds by a total of three percentage points from the rates listed in the Information Letter, which apparently produces an interest rate on refunds of one percent. More information can be found here.

February 2022

Sales/Use Tax Agriculture Exemption Card: The South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Farm Card Exemption Notice ST-8F, revised January 25, 2022, stating the Agricultural Exemption Certificate is being replaced with a new Agriculture Tax Exemption (SCATE) card issued by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA). In this Notice, the Department states SCDA began accepting applications and issuing SCATE cards in February 2022, replacing the Department's Agricultural Exemption Certificate (ST-8F) which will no longer be available or accepted beginning April 1, 2022. This Notice also addresses who will be affected, what information affected parties need to know, what affected parties need to do, and where questions can be submitted in regard to the new SCATE card. More information can be found here.

January 2022

Extended Tax Relief for Nexus and Income Tax Withholding Requirements: On December 21, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued SC Information Letter #21-31, which provides a further extension through March 31, 2022 of the previously issued announced temporary relief regarding a business's establishment of nexus (income and sales) solely because an employee is temporarily working in a different work location due to COVID-19. The Department referenced that this relief was first effective pursuant to Information Letter #20-11, which provided the relief and provided guidance with respect to employee withholding requirements for these employees. The Department announced in Information Letter #21-31 that the relief set forth in Information Letter #20-11 will be so extended through March 31, 2022. More information can be found here.

October 2021

COVID-Related Distributions Treatment for Income Tax Purposes: On September 28, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) published Revenue Ruling #21-12 addressing various questions relating to the treatment of COVID-related distribution under the South Carolina income tax. The Department initially noted that Section 2202 of the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act) provided that COVID-related distributions from eligible retirement plans are not subject to the 10% additional federal tax generally imposed on early distributions under Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t). The Department noted that since South Carolina has not adopted Section 72(t) of the Code, then South Carolina would not impose a penalty for such premature distributions; and, accordingly, for South Carolina income tax purposes the same tax treatment is provided for COVID-related distributions from eligible retirement plans under the CARES Act as to federal tax treatment. Separately, the Department noted that South Carolina provides an annual deduction for taxable income for retirement income to the original owner of a qualified retirement account, and that the qualifying taxpayer receiving retirement income may deduct up to $3,000 of such retirement income annually through age 64, and deduct up to $10,000 of such retirement income annually at age 65 and thereafter. The Department reasoned that since the term "retirement income" under South Carolina law means the total of otherwise taxable income not subject to a penalty for premature distribution, and since Section 72(t) of the Code provides that COVID-related distributions from eligible retirement plans are not subject to early withdrawal penalty under the Code, a COVID-related distribution from a qualified retirement plan meeting the requirements of South Carolina law for deduction purposes is allowed the South Carolina retirement income deduction. Additionally, the Department concluded that COVID-related distributions that are later repaid to the eligible plan will lower the federal taxable income and the South Carolina taxable income for the years that previously included the distribution in income (tax years 2020 and 2021); and that repayment of such previously included income is, in effect, treated as never distributed. More information can be found here.

September 2021

Extended Tax Relief for Nexus and Income Tax Withholding Requirements: On August 25, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued SC Information Letter #21-22 which provides a further extension through December 31, 2021 of the previously announced temporary relief regarding a business’s establishment of nexus (income and sales) solely because an employee is temporarily working in a different work location due to COVID-19. Further, that Information Letter #21-22 also provides that the previous announced guidance with respect to employer withholding requirements for these employees has also been extended through December 31, 2021. One of the Department’s initial announcements of this temporary relief can be found in our March 2020 newsletter. More information can be found here.

August 2021

Nonresident's Credit Eligibility Under High Growth Investment Job Creation Act of 2013: On June 1, 2021, the South Carolina Attorney General's Office issued an opinion addressing the question of when a nonresident is "subject to taxes imposed" by the South Carolina Income Tax Act so that such nonresident can qualify for the nonrefundable income tax credit for qualifying investments under the High Growth Investments Job Creation Act of 2013. Under that Act, an "angel investor" is entitled to a nonrefundable income tax credit of 35 percent of its qualified investment made pursuant to that Act –with 50 percent of the allowed credit being applied to the investor's net income tax liability in the year during which the qualified investment is made, and 50 percent of the allowed credit may be applied to the investor's net income tax liability in the tax years after the investment is made and carried forward for a period not exceeding ten years. The term "angel investor" is defined as including an individual who is a resident of South Carolina or a nonresident who "is subject to taxes" in that state. The South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) has indicated that the Department will not approve the credit for a nonresident individual who did not have income tax liability in the preceding year. In responding to the question of whether "subject to taxes imposed" means being subject to taxes in the preceding year or in the current year in which the investment is made, the Attorney General concluded, after reviewing South Carolina rules of statutory construction and case law, that such office does not believe that a prior history of paying taxes in South Carolina is required for nonresidents to qualify for a tax credit under the Act. However, the Attorney General noted a concern that the application of the "subject to taxes" requirement becomes difficult for nonresidents to demonstrate with respect to the current year in which the investment is made; and, as such, that office suggests that the Legislature clarify the law regarding these issues to make clear the Legislature's intentions. More information can be found here.

July 2021

Zero Percent Interest Rate On Refunds Through September 30, 2021: On June 28, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #21-19 providing in essence that no interest would be paid on refunds during the first quarter of the State's fiscal year 2021-2022 ending September 30, 2021. The Information Letter lists that an interest rate of three percent would be paid on refunds during the period from July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021, but that the Budget Provisions of the State direct that the Department reduce the rate of interest paid on eligible refunds by a total of three percentage points above those listed rates, producing a zero percent rate on refunds. Interest will still be charged on underpayments. More information can be found here.

Sales Tax Holiday Dates: On June 22, 2021, the Department issued SC Information Letter #21-17, which sets forth the sales tax holiday dates for this year. According to this Information Letter, the sales tax holiday for 2021 will begin Friday, August 6, 2021 through Sunday, August 8, 2021. This holiday applies to eligible new or used items of any dollar amount, purchased online or in store, for use by any age. Included within the sales tax holiday are clothing, school supplies, computers, and certain bed and bath supplies. Excluded from the holiday are items used in a trade or business, clothing or footwear rentals, and watches, among other items. Specific examples of exempt and taxable items are attached to the Information Letter. More information can be found here.

June 2021

Legislation Authorizing Entity-Level Tax Election: On May 17, 2021, Governor McMaster signed legislation authorizing a "qualified entity" to elect annually to have its income taxed on its active trade or business income at the rate provided under South Carolina Code Section 12-6-545(B), which is currently 3%; provided that such a election must be made no later than the due date for filing the applicable income tax return, including any extensions. The phrase "qualified entity" means a partnership or S corporation including a limited liability company taxed as a partnership or S corporation, where all of its owners are "qualified owners" or partnerships, and, where those partnerships are owned directly or through other partnerships by qualified owners. The phrase "qualified owner" means a partner or shareholder of the qualified entity that is an individual, estate, trust, or other entity, with certain exceptions specified in this new legislation. Qualified entities may make such election for tax years beginning after 2020. For tax years beginning after 2021, an electing qualified entity shall submit estimated tax payments pursuant to South Carolina law. However, if the electing entity fails to pay the amount owed to the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) with respect to income as a result of the election, the Department may collect the amount from the electing entity or its direct or indirect owners based upon their proportionate share of the income, or both. Other provisions and conditions apply to this election. More information can be found here.

Warranty Agreements/Withdrawals of Repair Part Ruling: On June 8, 2021, the Department issued SC Private Letter Ruling #21-1 addressing the application of the South Carolina sales and use tax to warranty agreements and withdrawals of repair parts from inventory by a manufacturer under a warranty. Under the facts in this Ruling, a manufacturer of certain medical equipment provides its customers with a new product limited warranty, and in addition offers its customers an optional extended warranty. The optional extended warranty extends the effective date of the new product limited warranty, and a customer can enter into a contract to purchase the optional extended warranty in conjunction with the purchase of the equipment or, alternatively, can purchase the optional extended warranty at any time prior to the expiration of the new product limited warranty. In this Ruling, the Department determined that the sale of an optional extended warranty in conjunction with or as part of the retail sale of the medical equipment is includable in the gross proceeds of sales or sales price of the medical equipment, and therefore is subject to sales tax unless the transaction is otherwise exempt; however, the sale of the optional extended warranty not in conjunction with or part of the retail sale of the medial equipment is not includable in the gross proceeds of sales or sales price of the medical equipment, and, therefore, not subject to the sales tax. The Department then reviews the application of the sales and use tax to the withdrawal from inventory under both a new product limited warranty as well as an optional extended warranty. The Department also addresses the situation in which the customer uses a direct pay certificate in making the original purchase of the equipment. As a caveat, the Ruling notes that Private Letter Rulings are binding on the Department only with respect to the person to whom the Ruling was issued and only until superseded or modified. More information can be found here.

May 2021

Buydowns For Sales Tax Purposes: The South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued Information Letter #21-12, dated April 21, 2021, advising that effective April 16, 2021, the South Carolina Legislature amended the definition of "gross proceeds of sales" so as to exclude amounts received from a "buydown" from gross proceeds. Under this new exclusion, the term "buydown" means an agreement between a retailer and a manufacturer or wholesaler in which the retailer receives a payment from the manufacturer or wholesaler that requires the retailer to reduce the sales price of the manufacturer's or wholesaler's product to the retail purchaser. As stated in this Information Letter, the Department had previously determined that buydowns were included in gross proceeds and subject to the sales tax effective January 1, 2021; however, that previous determination was delayed and now is superseded by this new legislation. More information may be found here.

Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act Extension: As noted in the Department's Information Letter #21-13, dated May 19, 2021, this Act provides taxpayers a credit against income taxes or property taxes for rehabilitating an abandoned building in South Carolina. This Information Letter notes this Act has been extended from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2025, and such Letter includes a reference to previous publications by the Department providing guidance and examples of the credit requirements. More information may be found here.

April 2021

Extension to May 17: On March 31, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (Department) issued SCI Information Letter #21-7 addressing the state's conformity with the filing and payment relief provided by Internal Revenue Service Notice 2021-21. In this Information Letter, the Department states that, in response to the tax relief provided by Notice 2021-21, the Department is providing the same tax filing and payment relief granted for individual income tax returns originally due April 15, 2021. The Information Letter goes on to state that taxpayers will have until May 17, 2021 to perform the following: (i) file their 2020 South Carolina individual income tax returns and make income tax payments in connection with those returns originally due April 15, 2021, without penalties and interest (such relief being automatic with no need to file any forms); (ii) make 2020 contributions to the South Carolina College Investment Program and similar contributions as referenced in the Information Letter; and (iii) file a claim for credit or refund of South Carolina individual income tax that was due to be filed on or after April 15 and before May 17, 2021.

Potential Federal Conformity: Also in that same Information Letter #21-7, the Department noted that the South Carolina General Assembly during the 2020 Legislative Session conformed to the Internal Revenue Code as of December 31, 2019, but did not adopt the federal CARES Act nor the subsequent federal legislation known as Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (which excludes from the federal taxable income the first $10,200 of unemployment compensation for those taxpayers with less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income). The Department stated that the South Carolina General Assembly is currently considering legislation to address this federal legislation, and, if the General Assembly so conforms to such federal legislation, the Department will issue updated guidance. More information can be found here.

Nexus Relief Extended: On April 7, 2021, the Department issued SC Information Letter #21-8 extending the previous nexus relief afforded to businesses because an employee is temporarily working in a different work location due to COVID-19. Originally, this relief was effective from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2020, and then extended until December 31, 2020, and thereafter further extended until June 30, 2021. Information Letter #20-11 extends that relief through September 30, 2021. More information can be found here and here.

March 2021

Updates Reported – On March 1, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued SC Revenue Ruling #21-5 addressing a tax credit for qualified low-income housing projects created by the state's Workforce and Senior Affordable Housing Act enacted in May 2020. The purpose of this Ruling is to provide an overview of the federal low-income housing tax credit and the new South Carolina housing tax credit, and to address general questions relating to the state credit. Further, this Ruling specifically supersedes Revenue Ruling #21-1 (addressed in our January edition), and applies to qualified projects placed in service January 2, 2020 to December 30, 2030. After reviewing background information pertaining to the federal credit as well as the South Carolina credit, the Ruling sets forth various questions and answers, including (for example) addressing the definition of a "project" and a "qualified project"; addressing what is an "eligibility statement" and when such a statement is to be issued; addressing what taxes the state credit can offset and by how much; as well as many other topics involving the South Carolina credit. More information can be found here.

February 2021

Updates Reported – On January 26, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued SC Revenue Ruling # 21-2, which clarifies that for tax years beginning after 2017, there is no South Carolina business interest tax limitation and no carryforward. In that regard, the Department noted in this Ruling that Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code was significantly altered and expanded to become a limitation on business interest expense deductions as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Act), and additionally that such Act provided a carryforward provision for interest expenses disallowed under the altered and expanded Section 163(j). The Department noted that South Carolina, prior to the enactment of that Act, had adopted the Section 163(j) corporate interest expense limitation for purposes of calculating South Carolina taxable income; but that in October 2018 the South Carolina General Assembly enacted The South Carolina Taxpayer Protection and Relief Act, which did not adopt all of the changes made by the federal Act, and specifically did not adopt the Section 163(j) limitation on business interest expense or the carryover of the limited business interest expenses. As a result, the Department stated in this Ruling that South Carolina does not limit the business interest expense deduction under Section 163(j), and that eligible taxpayers may deduct 100 percent of their business interest expense without regard to Section 163(j) in calculating South Carolina taxable income; but that, since South Carolina no longer adopts Section 163(j), the carryforward provision in that Section is no longer adopted for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 – and that any interest expense carryforward from years beginning before 2018 cannot be deducted. In summary, the Department states that any interest expense that cannot be deducted against income in the year incurred may create a South Carolina net operating loss. This Ruling applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, and supersedes all previous advisory opinions and any oral directives in conflicts with this Ruling. More information can be found here.

January 2021

Updates Reported – On January 19, 2021, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued SC Revenue Ruling # 21-1 addressing the new South Carolina Workforce and Senior Affordable Housing Act that was enacted in that state on May 14, 2020. The purpose of that Act is to provide a South Carolina housing tax credit based upon the federal low-income housing credit provided in Internal Revenue Code Section 42. The South Carolina credit is available for qualified projects placed in service in that state after January 1, 2020 and before December 31, 2030. This Revenue Ruling reviewed the purposes of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, and then addressed the conditions and requirements for utilizing the South Carolina credit. According to this Ruling, the South Carolina credit is equal to the federal credit allowed under Section 42 and may be claimed against South Carolina income taxes, bank franchise taxes, corporate license fees, and insurance premium and retaliatory taxes. Further, various questions and answers are set forth in the Ruling, including (for example) the statements that a building owner must obtain an eligibility statement from the South Carolina Housing Authority prior to claiming the credit; the credit can be used to offset 100 percent of the taxpayer's tax liability for the year in that state, but cannot be applied to prior years' tax liability; any unused credit may be carried forward for five years; but the taxpayer may not sell or transfer any portion of the current credit allocation or carryforward to anyone, even an affiliate or related party. More information can be found here.

December 2020

Updates Reported – On November 30, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter #20-29 addressing the temporary relief previously provided by the Department regarding both a business’s establishment of nexus (income and sales) solely because of an employee working temporarily in a different work location due to COVID-19, as well as addressing guidance with respect to employer withholding requirements for these employees. The relief previously provided was effective from March 13, 2020 through September 30, 2020 as set forth in the Department’s Information Letter #20-11. See our S.A.L.T. Select Developments Supplement #6 (June 2, 2020) here. That relief was extended until December 31, 2020 by the Department's Information Letter #20-24 dated August 26, 2020. See our Supplement #10 (September 30, 2020) here. Pursuant to this recently issued Information Letter #20-29, the foregoing relief has been further extended through June 30, 2021. More information can be found here.

November 2020

Updates Reported – On November 2, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter # 22-28 dealing with the consequences under the South Carolina income tax with respect to the forgiveness of loans under the federal Payroll Protection Program. This Information Letter recognized that during the 2020 Legislative Session, South Carolina conformed to the Internal Revenue Code as of December 31, 2019, but did not conform to the Federal CARES Act enacted by Congress in March 2020. The CARES Act included a provision which treated the forgiven portion of the PPP Loans as exempt from federal income tax. Further, the Information Letter references Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-32, dated April 30, 2020, in which the Service stated that no deduction will be allowed for an expense that is otherwise deductible if the payment of the expense results in forgiveness of a covered loan for which the income associated with the forgiveness is excluded from gross income under the CARES Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Department states in this Information Letter that the South Carolina General Assembly in September 2020, enacted legislation addressing the forgiveness of the PPP loans and the federal treatment of business expenses for the tax year 2020, such legislation stating in part that: (i) to the extent loans under the PPP are forgiven and excluded from gross income for federal purposes, those loans are excluded for South Carolina income tax purposes; and (ii) to the extent the federal government allows the deduction of expenses associated with forgiven PPP loans, those expenses will be allowed as a deduction for South Carolina income tax purposes. Pursuant to this Information Letter for South Carolina income tax purposes, the PPP loan is not taxable and the forgiveness of that loan is not taxable for the tax year of 2020, and the Department will follow the IRS's position in Notice 2020-32 so as to disallow related payroll and occupancy costs to the forgiven portion of the PPP loan. The Information Letter concludes by stating that if Congress or the IRS alters this treatment to allow the deduction for these costs, then South Carolina will also allow the deduction for the 2020 tax year. More information can be found here.

October 2020

Updates Reported – On October 10, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Revenue Ruling #20-4 addressing whether the sales and use tax applied to tariffs imposed by the federal government under certain circumstances. The Department recognized in the Ruling that some retailers are increasing the sales price of tangible personal property sold to consumers, or are adding a separate fee to the invoice, in order to recover some or all of the costs of paying a tariff directly to the federal government or to a supplier who passed along some or all of the cost of the tariff to the retailer. The Department stated in the Ruling that the sales price is essentially the total proceeds or value proceeding or accruing from the sale of tangible personal property, without deductions for expenses. The Department recognized that expenses that are not deductible include, among other expenses, excise taxes imposed by the United States on manufacturers or importers. However, the Department also recognized that sales price for these purposes does not include any tax imposed by the United States with respect to retail sales, except for manufacturers or importers excise taxes.

Based upon reasoning in the Ruling, the Department concluded that a charge or an increase in a sales price by a retailer of tangible personal property for the cost, or any part of the cost, of a tariff imposed by the federal government is included in the sales price subject to the sales and use tax, absent some other exemption that may be applicable. However, when a product is purchased from a foreign entity by a person who will use or consume the product, the determination of whether the cost of the tariff is included in the sales price for these tax purposes depends on whether the payment of the tariff was the responsibility of the purchaser or someone else. Where the purchaser is the importer and is personally liable for the tariff, the cost of the tariff is not included in the sales price according to the Department since the purchase of the item and the payment of the tariff according to the Department are two separate and distinct transactions. However, where a seller is the importer and a portion or all of the cost of the tariff is recovered from the purchaser, then that charge is includable in the sales price and subject to the tax. More information can be found here.

September 2020

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Updates Reported (September 30): The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter # 20-24, dated August 26, 2020, effective from March 13 through December 31, 2020, expanding until December 31, 2020 the relief set forth by the Department in its Information Letter # 20-11. That Letter announced temporary relief regarding a business's establishment of nexus (both income and sales) solely because an employee is temporarily working in a different work location due to COVID-19. See our S.A.L.T. Select Developments, Supplement # 6 (June 2, 2020), for a summary of the previously announced temporary relief. That relief was effective from March 13 through September 30, 2020; however, Information Letter # 20-24 extends that relief through December 31, 2020. More information can be found here.

August 2020

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Updates Reported (August 20): On August 5, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter #20-23 addressing certain extraordinary charges imposed by retailers due to COVID-19. The Information Letter stated that, in order to recover a portion of the lost sales revenue during the pandemic, or to recover some of the costs incurred to implement necessary health and safety measures, some retailers are increasing the sales price of items sold to consumers or may add a separate fee to the customer's bill such as a COVID-19 surcharge or fee or a handling charge. The purpose of this Information Letter is to remind retailers and consumers of the application of the sales/use taxes to an additional COVID-19 surcharge or fee, a handling fee, a takeout charge or a similar charge. The Information Letter stated that the sales tax is 6% (plus applicable local sales tax) of the gross proceeds of sales upon every person engaged in South Carolina in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail. Therefore, under South Carolina law, a COVID-19 surcharge or fee, a handling fee, a takeout charge, or similar fee charged by the retailer as part of the sale of tangible personal property, is includable in the gross proceeds of sales and subject to the tax, unless otherwise exempt. The Information Letter then goes on to provide several examples of when the tax applies and when a potential exemption may apply. One such example is a restaurant that sells hot meals for dine-in or takeout, and, because of the increased inventory and operating costs due to COVID-19, the restaurant adds an additional 10% COVID-19 surcharge to each order. Since that surcharge is part of the gross proceeds of sales, the basis or measure upon which the sales tax is calculated would include that surcharge. More examples and other information can be found here.

July 2020

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Updates Reported (July 27): The South Carolina Department of Revenue on July 6, 2020 issued Information Letter #20-18 announcing a simplified method for businesses to claim a refund of the South Carolina admissions tax. Under the State's laws, an admission tax of 5 percent is paid for the right to enter into or use a place of amusement. The amusement tax return includes the revenue from paid admissions as well as the admissions tax for the month the patron is issued the ticket or is notified that the patron will receive a ticket to attend the event. The return and tax are due to the Department on or before the twentieth day of the following month. However, due to the unprecedented closings of businesses and social distancing measures in place for South Carolina residents because of the pandemic, the Department noted that many spectator sports events and concerts have been cancelled or postponed. The Department also noted that it is likely that refunding pre-event ticket payments due to the pandemic may continue into the summer and fall for many large events. While a monthly admissions tax return could be amended many times as the business continually issues refunds over an extended period of time, the Department announced a temporary but more simplified claim for refund procedure which would allow businesses to file a request no more than once a month for a refund of paid admissions tax as the refunds are issued to ticketholders. Under the simplified approach, a business may file a claim if it has refunded the admissions tax to the ticket purchaser. This simplified procedure applies to admissions tax refunds for events scheduled for March 31 through December 31, 2020 which are impacted by the pandemic and where the business had refunded the ticketholder through December 31, 2020. A claim under this simplified approach must be submitted on Form L-3060, "Admissions Tax Claim for Refund Due to COVID-19" – a copy of which is attached to the Notice. This Form can be submitted by email or regular mail to the address in the Notice, but cannot be submitted more than once per month. Questions regarding this simplified admissions tax refund procedure should be directed to the Department at the telephone number in the Notice. More information can be found here.

June 2020

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Updates Reported (June 25): The South Carolina Department of Revenue has very recently published Information Letters #20-12 and #20-13. In Information Letter #20-12, the Department established the interest rate to be applied to underpayments of taxes at the rate of 3 percent for the period beginning July 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020 (down from 5 percent for the earlier period through June 30, 2020). In Information Letter #20-13, the Department confirmed that the federal economic impact payments to South Carolina taxpayers will not be taxable for South Carolina income tax purposes. Further, the Department stated that since federal income taxes are not deductible in arriving at individual South Carolina taxable income, the federal income tax refund (or the stimulus payment in the form of a rebate or refundable tax credit) is not includable in arriving at South Carolina taxable income. Separately, the Department published a News Release in early June reminding taxpayers that the South Carolina motor fuel user fee, which helps support road, bridge and infrastructure construction in South Carolina, will increase from 22¢ to 24¢ per gallon beginning July 1. More information can be found here and here.

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Updates Reported (June 2): The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter # 20-11 on May 15, 2020, addressing potential withholding and nexus repercussions from decisions made by employers to allow employees to work remotely from their home or other locations. According to this Information Letter, and effective for the tax relief period from March 13 through September 30, 2020, the Department will not use the temporary change of an employee's work location during the COVID-19 relief period to impose a South Carolina withholding requirement under that State's laws. This relief does not apply to workers whose status changes from temporary to permanent status during this period. With respect to employees temporarily changing work locations to outside South Carolina, the Information Letter states that a South Carolina business's withholding requirements are not affected by the current shift of employees working on the employer's premises in South Carolina to teleworking from outside of that State. Accordingly, the Information Letter further states that wages of nonresident employees temporarily working remotely in another state instead of at their South Carolina business location are still subject to South Carolina withholding. With respect to an out-of-state business with employees temporarily working from a South Carolina location, the Information Letter provides that such out-of-state business is not subject to South Carolina's withholding requirements solely due to the shift of employees working on the employer's location outside of South Carolina to teleworking from within South Carolina. In that regard, the wages of a South Carolina resident employee temporarily working remotely from South Carolina instead of at the normal out-of-state business location are not subject to South Carolina withholding if the employer is withholding income taxes on behalf of the other state. Further, the Information Letter states that the Department will not use changes in an employee's temporary work location due to the remote work requirements during this relief period (that is, March 13 through September 30, 2020) as a basis for establishing nexus or altering apportionment of income. More information can be found here.

April 2020

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Further Updates Reported (April 16): On April 13, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter #20-8, which provides additional relief to certain taxpayers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to this Information Letter, an additional extension to July 15, 2020 now applies to:

• All taxpayers that have an income tax, franchise tax, or corporate license fee filing or payment deadline (either originally or pursuant to a valid extension) between April 1, 2020 and July 15, 2020;
• Taxpayers that have estimated payments due on or after April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020; and
• Taxpayers that have a claim for refund deadline due between April 1, 2020 and July 15, 2020.

Further, under certain circumstances taxpayers can seek an additional extension to file their return by filing the appropriate extension form by July 15, 2020, provided that the additional extension date may not go beyond the original statutory extension date.

This additional relief does not change the previously announced extension until June 1, 2020 to file certain other returns and pay certain other taxes that are otherwise due between April 1 and June 1, 2020, such as the state sales and use taxes; local sales and use taxes collected by the Department; property tax returns filed with the Department; withholding taxes; motor fuel user fees; state accommodation taxes; and beer, wine, and liquor taxes.

Further, this additional relief does not apply to any current audit, appeals, or litigation matters. However, a taxpayer may request an extension of time to file a protest of a proposed assessment by submitting a written request for extension to the Audit Section of the Department.

Finally, this additional relief does not apply to current collection matters, including payments due under any payment plan previously entered into with the Department.

More information can be found here.

March 2020

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Further Due Date Changes Reported (March 25): On March 23, 2013, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter #20-4 re-addressing much of the filing and payment relief previously granted in Information Letter #20-3. The Department recognized in Letter #20-4 that the Internal Revenue Service had extended until July 15, 2020 the original due date for filing federal income tax returns (or extensions) and making income tax payments originally due on April 15. Because of the extension from the IRS, Letter # 20-4 noted that the Governor of South Carolina directed the Department to conform to the new federal tax deadline of July 15. Accordingly, the Department has extended the tax relief for South Carolina 2019 income tax returns (that is, individual, C corporation, trust returns) originally due on April 15 to provide the same relief granted by the IRS. The Department stated that taxpayers will have until July 15 to file South Carolina income tax returns and pay income taxes due, which will also include quarterly estimated payments due on April 15. Interest or penalties related to this tax relief is waived according to Notice #20-4. With respect to various other South Carolina taxes, Letter #20-4 stated that the previous relief granted in Letter #20-3 will remain in effect for purposes of filing and payments due between April 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020. Those other taxes that continue to have the June 1 filing and payment relief include state sales and use taxes, local sales and uses taxes collected by the Department, property tax returns filed with the Department, withholding taxes, motor fuel user taxes, state accommodation taxes, beer, wine and liquor taxes, possibly among other taxes. Notice #20-4 expressly states that this relief does not apply to tax returns filed with a county or municipality. The Department further stated that the relief granted under these Notices do not require any additional forms or call to the Department to qualify for the relief. The Department also referenced that an additional extension of time to file income tax returns to October 15, 2020 is available as referenced in the Notice. Find more information here.

Coronavirus Tax Payment and Return Filing Responsibilities - Changes Reported (March 19): On March 17, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter #20-3 addressing tax relief for persons and businesses impacted by the coronavirus. Under this Information Letter, the Department states that tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines starting on April 1, and as a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until June 1 to file and pay taxes for returns that are due between April 1 and June 1. The Department states that this relief is being extended to individuals and businesses located in South Carolina who have been impacted by coronavirus, taxpayers who have businesses in South Carolina with offices in South Carolina, taxpayers whose tax records are located in South Carolina, and taxpayers whose returns are prepared by tax professionals impacted by coronavirus. Further, the Information Letter states that taxpayers who have been impacted by coronavirus may be eligible for the relief with respect to any taxes administered by the Department or tax returns filed with the Department (such as income tax returns, sales and use tax returns, admission tax returns, motor fuel user fee returns, and others) and that the due date for the returns and payments due after April 1 have been postponed until June 1, together with waiver of penalties and interest due as a result of any extensions.

Additionally, the Information Letter states that returns filed electronically by impacted taxpayers through MyDORWAY do not require any action to qualify for this relief. Taxpayers filing by mail should write "CORONAVIRUS" or "COVID-19" at the top of any paper return relying on the relief or complete the "disaster area" checkbox if one is provided on the return. Find more information here.

Updated Voluntary Disclosure Program: On February 21, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Revenue Procedure #20-2 (RP 20-2), the subject of which being "Voluntary Disclosure of Nexus." The purpose of this RP 20-2 is to update Revenue Procedure #09-2 concerning the Department's Voluntary Disclosure Program so as to reflect recent changes in nexus standards, in particular referencing the Department's Revenue Ruling #18-14 entitled "Retailers Without a Physical Presence (Remote Sellers) – Economic Nexus." As noted in RP 20-2, the Department's Voluntary Disclosure Program is for taxpayers that may have nexus with South Carolina but are not registered with the Department to collect or remit taxes. The taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative must initiate a contact with the Department and meet conditions specified in RP 20-2 in order to be considered for the Program. The request may be made by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative on a named or unnamed basis. The Program is not available under certain circumstances such as if the taxpayer has been contacted by the Department to schedule an audit; the taxpayer is already involved in an audit or litigation with the Department; the taxpayer has requested an advisory opinion regarding matters relating to nexus; or among other disqualifying circumstances. Upon approval of the taxpayer's request to participate in the Program, the Department will abide by the following: (i) accept the filing of tax returns and payment of required taxes for the "applicable look-back period"; (ii) apply interest in accordance with South Carolina law; (iii) waive penalties from the returns being filed late and payments being made late; and (iv) reserve the right to audit the taxpayer's books and records according to the Program. In turn, under the Program the taxpayer has numerous responsibilities, including to register with the Department and file all returns and pay all taxes and interest for the applicable look-back period, and continue to file and pay taxes for periods ending after that look-back period, among other responsibilities. The applicable look-back period is generally the three immediately preceding ended tax years (or corresponding monthly/quarterly periods), but can be different depending upon the circumstances. Examples to assist in explaining the applicable look-back period are provided in RP 20-2.

Refer to Revenue Procedure #20-2 for more details.

February 2020

Sales and Use Tax: The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Private Letter Ruling #20-1, dated January 16, 2020, advising as to the application of the sales and use tax to a certain online software subscription service. The taxpayer in this Ruling provided a cloud-based business management software service to medical equipment suppliers, where the cloud-based platform collected the customers' billing and revenue data and provided inventory management and reporting analytics based on this stored data. The taxpayer did not manipulate the customer's data, but rather the customers manipulated their own data for purposes of generating claim submissions to Medicare, Medicaid and other commercial payers and to generate reporting analytics. All reports are self-generated by the customer and not provided by the taxpayers. The Department held that these cloud-based services constitute "communications" and therefore also constitute "tangible personal property" as defined under South Carolina law for purposes of the sales and use tax. Specifically, the Department noted that its Regulation 117-329.4 lists examples of taxable communications, which includes application service providers – that is, a company that provides customer access or use of software on the company's website. Accordingly, the Department concluded in this Ruling #20-1 that the charges for access and use of software via the taxpayer, as an application service provider, are subject to the tax. 

Refer to this Ruling #20-1 for more details.

November 2019

Unemployment Insurance Tax: South Carolina Governor McMaster announced on November 7, 2019 that the 2020 South Carolina unemployment insurance tax rates for businesses will on average be 34 percent lower than the comparable rates in 2019. This announcement referenced that the South Carolina Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is now at a level sufficient to withstand a recession that is the equivalent of the average of the last three recessions, and that reducing business taxes reflects South Carolina's dedication to making that State appealing for companies to do business and create jobs in the State. 

October 2019

2019 Tax Legislative Update: On September 10, 2019, the South Carolina Department of Revenue published Information Letter #19-23, which provides a Legislative Update of significant changes in tax and regulatory laws enacted during the 2019 Legislative Session. This Update is divided into categories which include (among others) income taxes and corporate license fees; property taxes and fees in lieu of property taxes; sales and use taxes; as well as miscellaneous matters including administrative and procedural topics. This 52-page Update is intended by the Department to be a summary of the main points of this legislation, but is not intended to be an interpretation by the Department. The Department refers readers to the full text of the legislation for specific details and requirements. Nevertheless, this Update provides a central location at which a summary of significant changes in tax laws can be efficiently reviewed. Refer to Information Letter #19-23 for more details.

September 2019

Sales Tax: In August, the South Carolina Department of Revenue published for public comment a draft Revenue Ruling which expands on an earlier published Ruling for the purposes of addressing whether this State's sales tax applies to the Universal Service Fund Surcharge, the Dual Party Relay Charge and the 911 Service Charge billed to customers by telephone service providers. While the commentary period for this draft Ruling closed on August 29, 2019, the draft as currently prepared indicates that the Universal Service Fund Surcharge billed by telephone service providers would be subject to the sales and use tax with certain exceptions, while the Dual Party Relay Charge and the 911 Service Charge would not be subject to the tax. Refer to this draft Ruling for more guidance relative to the factual background and reasoning for these conclusions.

Refer to Information Letter #19-18 for more details.

August 2019

Sales Tax: In a reversal of previous Information Letter #19-18, South Carolina Department of Revenue issued Information Letter #19-21 on August 1, 2019 advising that the sales and use tax exemption for certain energy efficient manufactured homes in South Carolina would not terminate on July 1, 2019, but rather would continue pursuant to legislative action that extends the exemption until June 30, 2020. The Legislature had previously extended the nonrefundable income tax credit through June 30, 2020 for any person purchasing such a manufactured home from a licensed South Carolina dealership. Refer to Information Letter #19-21 for more details. Refer to Information Letter #19-18 for more details.

July 2019

Sales Tax: Beginning July 2, 2019, and as addressed by the South Carolina Department of Revenue in Information Letter #19-18, sales of manufactured homes meeting or exceeding the energy efficiency requirements or designations of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy are no longer exempt and will be subject to the sales and use tax in South Carolina. This previously existing exemption was not extended by the 2019 Legislative Session in South Carolina, even though the Legislature did extend for one year through June 30, 2020 a nonrefundable income tax credit to any person purchasing such a manufactured home from a licensed South Carolina dealership.

Refer to Information Letter #19-18 for more details.

June 2019

Gas Tax: On June 6, 2019, the South Carolina Department of Revenue issued a News Release alerting taxpayers that effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, the motor fuel user fee would increase from 20¢ per gallon to 22¢ per gallon, with increases thereafter effective July 1, 2020, July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2022. The foregoing increases are pursuant to legislation enacted in 2017, and such legislation is reviewed in the Department's Information Letter #17-8, which can be found here.