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

Direct deposit 

FAST: Your refund​ goes directly into your bank account or mobile cash app account*. No waiting on the mail or taking time to ​cash a check. 

SAF​​E: ​​​​You don’t have to worry about a paper check getting lost in the mail or stolen.​

EASY: ​​​If you move during tax season, you can avoid the hassle of your paper check getting mailed to the wrong address.

PAPERLESS: ​​Direct deposit uses no paper, unlike printing and mailing checks.​

SAVES TAX DOLLARS: ​​​​Each paper check costs the state about $1 to process. Direct deposit transactions only cost about a dime each.​

*Receiving a direct deposit with mobile cash apps​: Some cash sharing apps may provide you with a personal routing and account number you can use to receive a direct deposit of your South Carolina Individual Income Tax refund. The SCDOR does not provide technical support for any issues related to mobile cash apps or for setting up your cash app to receive your direct deposit. You will need to contact your mobile cash app's customer support to see if this option is available to you, and if available, confirm the account and routing numbers you will use ​to enter on your tax return when choosing direct deposit.

Paper check 

  • Your refund is mailed with a check to the address listed on your Income Tax return.
  • Once you receive your check in the mail, you must deposit the check into your bank account or cash it using a check-cashing service.
Where's My Refund?

Need help?

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

The refund processing timeline​

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

​  If you file online, we will begin processing your refund as soon as we receive your return. Your filing software​​ should give you confirmation that we​'ve received your return.

If you file by paper, we have to wait for mail delivery, post office handling, mail room sorting, and data entry of the paper return before we can begin processing your refund, extending the timeline.​​

robber with magnifying glass

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

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

target with arrows in the bullseye

​STEP 2: ACCURACY REVIEW
(1-2 weeks)

 

person profile

​STEP 3: FINAL VERIFICATION 
(1-2 weeks)

 

cash

​STEP 4: REFUND APPROVAL AND PREPARATION
(up to 1 week)

 

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STEP 5: REFUND ISSUED!
(Up to 8 weeks after filing online)

  • Direct deposit refunds are deposited into your bank account once your refund is issued.
  • You can't change your refund option after filing your return, but you can always update your choice next time you file.
  • Refunds from amended returns are issued at least 12 weeks from the date you filed the amended return.

These estimates generally apply to most error-free returns. Processing times will vary.

​​Checking your refund status after filing your return

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

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

You can expect your refund to move through our review process in up to ​8 weeks from February 2 or ​​​the date you filed (whichever is later), if you filed electronically; paper returns take longer. Amended returns take at least 12 weeks to complete the review process.

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

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

WHERE'S MY REFUND?

To check your refund status, you will need:

  • Your Social Security Number or ITIN
  • Your exact refund amount

Our phone lines are busy this time of year, and our representatives have the same information as our Where's My Refund?​ tool. You really only need to call if​​: 

  • Your refund status hasn’t changed in more than 8 weeks
  • Your refund status tells you to contact the SCDOR
Frequently asked questions

  • Filing by paper
  • Choosing a paper check refund​
  • Errors on your return
  • Claims that require extra review
  • Missing documents
  • If this is your first time filing in South Carolina
  • If you recently moved
  • If we need you to provide additional verification

We will contact you by mail if we need more information to process your return.

When we process your return, we have to make sure we are collecting the right amount of tax and issuing the correct refund (if a refund is due). We make sure your return is complete, accurate, and that it's coming from you – and not someone pretending to be you. That means looking for the little things – like ensuring your return is signed and filled out; verifying the big things – like your calculations; and checking for red flags – using manual checks and analytics tools to find signs of fraud.

Our enhanced fraud measures may mean that some returns take a little longer to process, but we want your refund to end up in your pocket, and not in the hands of a criminal.

Tax refund fraud costs the US billions of dollars every year, so our anti-fraud measures remain aggressive this tax season. We review returns and verify data to ensure that criminals aren't trying to file a fake return and steal your refund. Our systematic processes help us identify, isolate, and stop potentially fraudulent returns. Some taxpayers may receive a letter from the SCDOR directing them to visit MyDORWAY to complete an Identity Verification Quiz or Individual Code Verification after filing their return. This is just another step we are taking to keep your information private.

If you filed electronically, refund processing is expected to take ​up to 8 weeks from February 2​ or the date you filed, whichever is later, so please use that timeframe to set your expectations. If you filed by paper, processing will take longer. Every return is processed independently, so it is normal for processing time to vary even if two returns are similar.

If you chose a paper check, remember to allow extra time for the State Treasurer’s Office to print and mail your check.

Refunds from amended returns are issued at least 12 weeks from the date you filed the amended return.

See "What could slow down your refund?" above for more information.  

No. Our phone lines are busy this time of year, and our representatives have the same information as our Where's My Refund? tool. You really only need to call if:

  • Your refund status hasn't changed in more than 8 weeks
  • Your refund status tells you to contact the SCDOR

Yes. When your refund is approved and processed, your status will update with an issued date letting you know your refund is on the way. See the Refund Processing Timeline on this page for more information about how long to expect to be in each stage of processing.

Because you are not required to attach copies of W2s or 1099s to your return when you file electronically, we may contact you so that we can verify the amounts on your return. Your employer/payer may not have submitted W2s or 1099s to the SCDOR, or the information they submitted may not match what you entered on your return.

If you receive a letter asking to verify your withholding, you need to provide the requested documents so we can continue processing your return. For fastest processing, submit your documents using the method provided in the letter.

Check the status of your refund here. 

Your refund amount may be different if we had to make changes to your tax return. We will send you a letter detailing those changes if that is the case.

Your refund amount may also change if you have a debt due to government agencies or public or private institutions of higher learning. We are authorized to reduce your refund to pay the debt. If all or part of your refund is seized, you will receive a letter with more information including who to contact if you have questions. Any refund remaining after the debts are paid will be sent to you.

If you think you have an outstanding debt with a state agency or public or private institution of higher learning, contact the agency directly. If any of your refund is used to pay an outstanding debt and you have questions, directly contact the agency you owe.

Sign up for a MyDORWAY account to view your Notice of Refund Adjustment letter from the SCDOR.

Need more help​?

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