South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 6 - South Carolina Income Tax Act
Section 12-6-1130. Taxable income; computation; modifications.

South Carolina taxable income is computed by making modifications to deductions provided in the Internal Revenue Code as follows:
(1) The disallowance of deductions relating to tax-exempt income required by Internal Revenue Code Section 265 applies if the related income is exempt for South Carolina income tax purposes, whether or not the income is exempt for federal purposes. If an expense or interest is disallowed under Section 265 for federal purposes, but is related to income taxed in South Carolina, that expense or interest may be deducted for South Carolina income tax purposes.
(2) The deduction for taxes permitted by Internal Revenue Code Section 164 is computed in the same manner as provided in Section 164 except there is no deduction for state and local income taxes, state and local franchise taxes measured by net income, other income taxes, or taxes measured with respect to net income. In addition, if a taxpayer elects, pursuant to Section 164, to deduct state and local sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes, the taxpayer may not deduct state and local sales and use taxes.
This modification is limited for individual taxpayers to the excess of itemized deductions over the standard deduction that would be allowed if the taxpayer had used the standard deduction for federal income tax purposes.
(3) For purposes of computing the deduction for estate taxes allowed by Internal Revenue Code Section 691(c), "estate tax" means the South Carolina Estate Tax including any South Carolina generation-skipping transfer tax.
(4) A net operating loss deduction is computed in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code except that:
(a) All items of income and deductions used in computing the net operating loss deduction are adjusted as provided in this article.
(b) No carrybacks are allowed.
(c) A federal election to carryback a net operating loss deduction does not affect the computation of this deduction for South Carolina income tax purposes.
(d) A net operating loss is subject to allocation and apportionment under Article 17 of this chapter in the year the loss is incurred.
(5) A corporation may not carry back a net capital loss as permitted by Internal Revenue Code Section 1212(a). A net capital loss may be carried forward to future years to the extent provided in Internal Revenue Code Section 1212(a).
(6) In computing the depletion deduction pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Sections 611 through 613, a taxpayer who allocates or apportions income pursuant to the provisions of Article 17 of this chapter has the option of:
(a) apportioning the deduction according to the appropriate South Carolina apportionment percentage provided in Sections 12-6-2252 through 12-6-2310; or
(b) allocating the deduction to South Carolina with respect to mines, oil and gas wells, and other natural deposits located in this State. The amount allocated to South Carolina may not exceed fifty percent of the net income apportioned to South Carolina by Sections 12-6-2252 through 12-6-2310.
(7) The limiting provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 280C for certain expenses for which credits are allowable do not apply.
(8) Adjusted gross income and taxable income are computed without the deductions for certain unused business credits authorized by Internal Revenue Code Section 196.
(9) If for federal income tax purposes a taxpayer claims a credit which requires a reduction of basis to Section 38 property under Internal Revenue Code Section 50(c), the taxpayer may deduct the amount of the basis reduction for South Carolina income tax purposes by the amount of the basis reduction in the tax year in which basis is reduced for federal income tax purposes.
(10) If for federal income tax purposes a taxpayer's mortgage interest deduction is reduced pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 163(g), the taxpayer may deduct the amount of the federal interest deduction reduction.
(11) A dividend from a foreign corporation is treated as a dividend from a domestic corporation for the purposes of the dividends received deduction under Section 243 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(12) The deduction for charitable contributions allowed by Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code is determined in the same manner as provided in Section 170 of the code except that no deduction is allowed unless, in addition to the requirements of Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code, the contribution also meets the requirements of Section 12-6-5590.
(13) Adjusted gross income and taxable income are computed without the deduction allowed pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 199 relating to domestic production activities.
(14)(a) A deduction is not allowed a person for the accrual of an expense or interest if the payee is a related person and the payment is not made in the taxable year of accrual or before the payer's income tax return is due, without regard to extensions, for the taxable year of accrual. Except as provided in subitem (b), deductions disallowed pursuant to this section are allowed when the payment is made. The holder shall include the payment in income in the year the debtor is entitled to take the deduction. This section does not apply to payments deemed to be made by the application of South Carolina's adoption of Internal Revenue Code Section 482, 7872, a similar provision of the Internal Revenue Code or state law.
(b) Notwithstanding subitem (a), unless the director is satisfied that tax avoidance is not a significant purpose of the transaction, an interest deduction is not allowed for the accrual or payment of interest on obligations issued as a dividend or paid instead of paying a dividend. This interest must be treated as a dividend to the debtor's shareholders when it is paid, and if the holder of the obligation is not a shareholder at that time, a payment from the shareholders to the holder at that time.
(c) For purposes of this item, a related person includes a person that bears a relationship to the taxpayer as described in Section 267 of the Internal Revenue Code.
HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 76, Section 1; 2002 Act No. 334, Section 14, eff June 24, 2002; 2002 Act No. 363, Section 2, eff August 2, 2002, applicable for taxable years beginning after 2002; 2005 Act No. 145, Sections 10.A, 10.B, 43.A, eff June 7, 2005; 2005 Act No. 161, Section 22.A, eff June 9, 2005; 2007 Act No. 110, Section 55.A, eff June 21, 2007, effective for tax years after 2010; 2007 Act No. 116, Section 60.A, eff June 28, 2007, effective for tax years beginning after 2010.

Editor's Note
2005 Act No. 145, Section 42, provides as follows:
"Notwithstanding the ratification of another act during the 2004-2005 Session of the General Assembly affecting the sections of the 1976 Code amended in Sections 7, 8, 9, and 10 of this act, the ratification of this act is deemed to be the last action of the General Assembly regarding those code sections."
2005 Act No. 161, Section 22.B, provides as follows:
"This SECTION takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to taxable years beginning after 2005."
2007 Act No. 110, Section 55.E, and 2007 Act No 116, Section 60.A provide as follows:
"This section takes effect for tax years after 2010."
2010 Act No. 142, Section 2 provides:
"Public Law 111-126, relating to charitable deductions for Haiti relief enacted on January 22, 2010, is adopted for South Carolina income tax purposes, including the effective dates therein."

Structure South Carolina Code of Laws

South Carolina Code of Laws

Title 12 - Taxation

Chapter 6 - South Carolina Income Tax Act

Section 12-6-10. Short title.

Section 12-6-20. Administration and enforcement of chapter.

Section 12-6-30. Definitions.

Section 12-6-40. Application of federal Internal Revenue Code to State tax laws.

Section 12-6-50. Internal Revenue Code sections specifically not adopted by State.

Section 12-6-60. Role of distribution facility in determining nexus with state for income tax and corporate license fee purposes.

Section 12-6-510. Tax rates for individuals, estates, and trusts for taxable years after 1994.

Section 12-6-515. State individual income tax bracket reduction.

Section 12-6-520. Annual adjustments to individual state income tax brackets; inflation adjustments.

Section 12-6-530. Corporate income tax.

Section 12-6-535. Small business trust taxed at highest rate.

Section 12-6-540. Income tax rates for exempt organizations and cooperatives.

Section 12-6-545. Income tax rates for pass-through trade and business income; determination of income related to personal services.

Section 12-6-550. Corporations exempt from taxes imposed by Sections 12-6-530 and 12-6-540.

Section 12-6-555. Persons not having nexus with state other than contract for commercial printing in state not subject to state income or sales and use taxes; conditions.

Section 12-6-560. Computation of resident individual's gross, adjusted gross, and taxable income.

Section 12-6-570. Computation of nonresident individual, trust, estate, and beneficiary's gross, adjusted gross, and taxable income.

Section 12-6-580. Computation of corporation's gross and taxable income.

Section 12-6-590. Treatment of "S" corporations for tax purposes; shareholders.

Section 12-6-600. Taxation of partnerships.

Section 12-6-610. Computation of gross and taxable income of resident estate or trust.

Section 12-6-620. Computation of gross, adjusted gross, and taxable income of nonresident individual, trust, and estate.

Section 12-6-630. Taxation of entities not specified or excluded.

Section 12-6-640. Use of monies appropriated to Commissioners of Pilotage.

Section 12-6-1110. Modifications of gross, adjusted gross, and taxable income calculated under Internal Revenue Code.

Section 12-6-1120. Gross income; computation; modifications.

Section 12-6-1130. Taxable income; computation; modifications.

Section 12-6-1140. Deductions from individual taxable income.

Section 12-6-1150. Net capital gain; deduction from taxable income for individuals, estates, and trusts.

Section 12-6-1160. Dependent deduction for resident individual.

Section 12-6-1170. Retirement income deduction from taxable income for individual; Section 12-6-1171 deduction.

Section 12-6-1171. Military retirement income deduction; definitions; surviving spouse.

Section 12-6-1175. Wages paid to unauthorized alien; business expense deduction disallowed.

Section 12-6-1190. Cost recovery of retirement benefits from retirement systems maintained by the State or its political subdivisions.

Section 12-6-1200. Exclusion from taxable income of amounts excluded from federal income tax by United States treaty.

Section 12-6-1210. Deductions for capital expenses, depreciation, gains and losses; change in accounting method; certain elections for special tax treatment; provisions of federal law.

Section 12-6-1220. Individual Development Account.

Section 12-6-1610. Definitions.

Section 12-6-1620. "Catastrophe Savings Account" defined; exemptions allowed; contributable amount; attachment and garnishment.

Section 12-6-1630. Taxation of distributions or at death of account owner.

Section 12-6-1710. Taxation of part-year resident.

Section 12-6-1720. Taxable income of nonresident individual, trust, estate, or beneficiary; modifications, adjustments, and allocations.

Section 12-6-2210. Taxation of business; determination whether entirely or partly transacted or conducted within State.

Section 12-6-2220. Allocation of interest, dividends, rents and royalties, gains and losses, and income from personal services.

Section 12-6-2230. Allocation of income not allocated under Section 12-6-2220.

Section 12-6-2240. Apportionment of all income remaining after allocation.

Section 12-6-2252. Allocation and apportionment of business income.

Section 12-6-2280. Sales factor; definitions.

Section 12-6-2290. Apportionment of remaining net income from principal profits or income derived from sources not otherwise described by this chapter.

Section 12-6-2295. Items included and excluded from terms "sales" and "gross receipts".

Section 12-6-2300. Apportionment of United States source income for business incorporated in foreign country.

Section 12-6-2310. Income remaining after allocation for certain companies; factors to be used for apportionment.

Section 12-6-2320. Allocation and apportionment of taxpayer's income when provisions unfairly represent taxpayer's business activity; agreement with taxpayer; provision for taxpayer constructing or operating qualified recycling facility.

Section 12-6-2810. Deferral of taxes on income attributable to increase in gross income from foreign trading receipts.

Section 12-6-2820. Date deferred payments are due and payable; payment of taxes at accelerated rate; effect of taxpayer's failure to pay interest.

Section 12-6-2830. Inapplicability of time limitation on assessment and collection of taxes to taxes deferred.

Section 12-6-2840. Effective date of article; inapplicability of article to domestic international sales corporations or foreign sales corporations.

Section 12-6-2850. Definitions.

Section 12-6-3310. Tax credits; timeframe for use; pass through and calculation of shareholder credit; limited liability companies.

Section 12-6-3320. Applicability of federal provisions to all income tax credits available to corporation for state income tax purposes.

Section 12-6-3330. Two wage earner credit for married individuals filing joint return; computation; definitions; when not allowed.

Section 12-6-3340. Investment tax credit for purchase and installation of certain energy conservation and renewable energy production measures.

Section 12-6-3350. Tax credit for State contractors subcontracting with socially and economically disadvantaged small business.

Section 12-6-3360. Job tax credit.

Section 12-6-3362. Small business jobs tax credit; alternate method.

Section 12-6-3367. Moratorium on corporate income and insurance premium taxes for certain companies investing and creating jobs in State.

Section 12-6-3370. Tax credits for construction, installation or restoration of water impoundments and water control structures.

Section 12-6-3375. Tax credit for port cargo volume increase; application to council; definitions; excess credits; taxpayers without distribution centers in the State; failure to meet requirements.

Section 12-6-3376. Income tax credit for plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Section 12-6-3377. Hybrid, fuel cell, alternative fuel or lean burn motor vehicle tax credit.

Section 12-6-3378. Tax credits for certain agribusinesses and service-related facilities.

Section 12-6-3380. Tax credit for child and dependent care expenses.

Section 12-6-3381. Premarital preparation course tax credit; form.

Section 12-6-3385. Income tax credit for tuition; definitions.

Section 12-6-3390. Credit for expenses paid to institution providing nursing facility level, in-home, or community care.

Section 12-6-3400. Credit for income tax paid by South Carolina resident to another state.

Section 12-6-3410. Corporate income tax credit for corporate headquarters.

Section 12-6-3415. Tax credit for research and development expenditures.

Section 12-6-3420. Tax credit for construction or improvement of infrastructure project.

Section 12-6-3430. Tax credit for qualified investments in Palmetto Seed Capital Corporation or Palmetto Seed Capital Fund Limited Partnership.

Section 12-6-3440. Tax credit for employee child care programs.

Section 12-6-3460. Definitions.

Section 12-6-3465. Recycling facility tax credits.

Section 12-6-3470. Employer tax credit.

Section 12-6-3477. Apprentice income tax credit.

Section 12-6-3480. Tax credits.

Section 12-6-3500. Retirement plan credits.

Section 12-6-3515. Credit for conservation or qualified conservation contribution of real property; lands eligible; transfer of credits; definitions.

Section 12-6-3520. Income tax credit for habitat management and construction and maintenance of critical habitat improvements.

Section 12-6-3525. Tax credits for vehicle or scrap recyclers participating in End-of-Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS) Program.

Section 12-6-3530. Community development tax credits.

Section 12-6-3535. Income tax credit for making qualified rehabilitation expenditures for a certified historic structure.

Section 12-6-3550. Voluntary cleanup activity tax credit; eligibility requirements.

Section 12-6-3560. Credit against state income tax for motion picture and advertisement production companies.

Section 12-6-3570. Motion picture related income tax credit claims.

Section 12-6-3575. Health insurance tax credits.

Section 12-6-3580. South Carolina Quality Forum participants; tax credits for registration fee and participation in organizational performance excellence assessment process; limitation.

Section 12-6-3582. Income tax credits; agricultural use of anhydrous ammonia.

Section 12-6-3585. Industry Partnership Fund tax credit.

Section 12-6-3587. Purchase and installation of solar energy system for heating water, space heating, air cooling, or generating electricity.

Section 12-6-3588. South Carolina Clean Energy Tax Incentive Program; definitions; requirements to receive tax credit.

Section 12-6-3589. Tax credit for effluent toxicity testing.

Section 12-6-3590. Credit for milk producer; promulgation of regulations.

Section 12-6-3600. Credit for ethanol and biodiesel facilities.

Section 12-6-3610. Credit for property used for distribution or dispensing renewable fuel.

Section 12-6-3620. Purchase and installation of equipment to produce energy from biomass resources.

Section 12-6-3622. Fire sprinkler system tax credits.

Section 12-6-3630. Income tax credits; hydrogen research contributions.

Section 12-6-3631. Biodiesel expenditures tax credit.

Section 12-6-3632. Earned income tax credit.

Section 12-6-3660. Tax credit for costs of retrofitting to make residence more hurricane resistant.

Section 12-6-3665. Credit for sales tax paid on purchases of tangible personal property to retrofit residence.

Section 12-6-3670. Credit for excess premium paid for property and casualty insurance.

Section 12-6-3695. Alternative fuel property income tax credit.

Section 12-6-3710. Income tax credit for taxpayers that hire formerly incarcerated individuals; eligibility; regulations; definitions.

Section 12-6-3720. Income tax credit for taxpayers that hire veterans; eligibility; regulations; definitions.

Section 12-6-3750. Nonrefundable tax credit for processing donated deer for charitable distribution.

Section 12-6-3770. Repealed.

Section 12-6-3775. Solar energy tax credits.

Section 12-6-3780. Credit for preventative maintenance.

Section 12-6-3790. Educational Credit for Exceptional Needs Children's Fund.

Section 12-6-3795. South Carolina housing tax credit.

Section 12-6-3800. Income tax credit for service as a preceptor.

Section 12-6-3910. Estimated tax payments form; due dates; treatment of excess where estimated payments or withholdings more than tax liability; waiver of penalties.

Section 12-6-3920. Extension for filing and paying estimated taxes.

Section 12-6-3930. Imposition of interest and penalties on National Guard and Reserve members activated as a result of Iraq conflict or war on terrorism.

Section 12-6-4410. Taxable years.

Section 12-6-4420. Method of accounting.

Section 12-6-4430. "S" corporation elections.

Section 12-6-4910. Persons, corporations, and other entities required to make tax returns.

Section 12-6-4920. Interstate motor carrier required to file return.

Section 12-6-4930. Tax return of estate or trust; by whom to be made.

Section 12-6-4940. Trust institutions maintaining common trust fund must make tax return; contents.

Section 12-6-4950. Information returns.

Section 12-6-4960. Form of tax return; department to furnish blank forms; effect on taxpayer of failure to receive form.

Section 12-6-4970. Time to file returns.

Section 12-6-4980. Extension of time for filing return.

Section 12-6-4990. Payment of tax due upon filing return; effect of extension; requirement of making estimated tax payment.

Section 12-6-5000. Filing of separate or joint federal returns by husband and wife; same status required on state return; nonresidents; where no federal return filed.

Section 12-6-5010. Release of claim to personal exemption by custodial parent.

Section 12-6-5020. Authorized filing of consolidated corporate income tax return; terms and conditions.

Section 12-6-5030. Composite returns for partnership or "S" corporation.

Section 12-6-5050. Tax preparer's taxpayer identification number.

Section 12-6-5060. Voluntary contribution to certain funds may be designated on return; reporting of contributions annually by department.

Section 12-6-5095. Rounding to nearest whole dollar on tax returns.

Section 12-6-5510. Certificate of compliance as prima facie evidence.

Section 12-6-5520. Notification to domestic or foreign corporation of failure to file return; penalty upon continued failure to comply.

Section 12-6-5530. Income taxes payable by check; taxpayer liable for tax and penalties when check dishonored by bank.

Section 12-6-5540. Copies of returns; verification of information on returns.

Section 12-6-5550. State income tax refund as belonging to surviving spouse.

Section 12-6-5570. Authority to make expenditures.

Section 12-6-5580. Failure to do an act deemed committed in person's county of residence.

Section 12-6-5590. Donative intent; requirements; determining factors.

Section 12-6-5595. Timber deeds as real property conveyances.

Section 12-6-5600. Residency of individuals and businesses; boundary clarification.