COLUMBIA—The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) are now accepting individual income tax returns.
FILING SEASON OVERVIEW:
* SCDOR and the IRS begin accepting individual income tax returns on January 19, 2016.
* State and federal returns are due April 18, 2016.
* Enhanced fraud detection and prevention measures will help protect South Carolina taxpayers’ refunds from widespread rampant, nationwide tax refund fraud.
* Refunds will take longer to process, particularly at the beginning of the filing season.
* Members of the media are invited to a discussion of the SCDOR anti-fraud initiative with Director Reames and Frank Abagnale on Thursday, January 21, 2016.
Taxpayers can visit the Department website to learn more about their filing options, including free file options, at dor.sc.gov/iit-filing. Electronic filing and direct deposit still provide the fastest, most secure way to receive your refund.
New for the 2016 tax filing season, the SCDOR has implemented enhanced technology and fraud detection and prevention measures to support the Department’s ongoing commitment to combat fraud. Nationally, tax refund fraud – people filing false returns to steal taxpayer refunds – is growing at an alarming rate, currently costing our country a reported $6 billion annually.
“Our number one priority is to make sure your refund ends up in your pocket,” said SCDOR Director Rick Reames III.
“We will not simply stand by and allow thieves to prey on hardworking taxpayers and steal from our state.”
The SCDOR’s enhanced fraud detection and prevention measures may lengthen the time it takes to process refunds, particularly at the beginning of the filing season.
For returns filed prior to March 1, 2016, the SCDOR expects to issue refunds within two to three weeks of March 1, 2016.
For returns filed on or after March 1, 2016, refunds are expected to be issued within two to three weeks of the date a return is received.
For more information about the SCDOR’s fraud prevention efforts, please visit dor.sc.gov/fighting-fraud. To stay up-to-date with all the latest news and resources from the SCDOR, please sign up for our enewsletter at dor.sc.gov/ReveNews and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds at dor.sc.gov/refund.
Refund status becomes available when refunds are processing, not when returns are received.
If you suspect a refund has been fraudulently requested on your behalf, complete and submit the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit Form 14039 and call the SCDOR’s dedicated customer care line at 1-803-898-7638.