Save time. Save tax dollars. Go direct.

Encourage your customers to choose direct deposit.

A message from the South Carolina Department of Revenue

The fastest, most secure Individual Income Tax refund option is direct deposit, so it’s no wonder why it’s the refund option eight out of every 10 South Carolinians choose. The South Carolina Department of Revenue encourages you to review these three refund options with your clients.

INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX REFUND OPTIONS
Refund method The Facts
Direct deposit · Deposited directly into the taxpayer’s bank account, giving them the fastest access to their refund

· Saves tax dollars because it doesn’t require paper or mail processing

· Most accurate and secure option
Debit cards · The taxpayer can spend it like cash anywhere that accepts Visa

· Could be delayed in the mail
Paper check · Wastes tax dollars – the most expensive refund option to process, print, sort and mail

· Could be delayed in the mail

· Customers have to cash or deposit the check after they receive it by mail

 Here’s why direct deposit is the preferred refund option:

  • It’s faster. Direct deposit is the fastest refund option to process. Then, it gets directly deposited into the taxpayer’s bank account, giving them the fastest access to their refund. Mail may be delayed, but direct deposit won’t be.
  • It’s safer. Paper checks can get lost in the mail or stolen. Addresses and delivery can get mixed up, and refund checks may end up in the wrong mailbox, especially if you move during tax season. If you file online and choose direct deposit, you’re less likely to make errors thanks to system checks that help validate fields. Both Social Security and the U.S. Veteran’s Administration use direct deposit for almost all of their payments.
  • It’s easier. All the taxpayer has to do is provide bank account information, including their account number and routing number.
  • It’s cost-efficient. According to the IRS, federal refund paper checks cost the government $1 each, while direct deposit costs about a dime.
  • It’s greener. Printing and mailing checks means more paper use. At the end of September, the SCDOR had already issued almost 300,000 paper checks. That’s a lot of paper. Save some trees – choose the paperless method – choose direct deposit.

New to direct deposit? Get the information you need.

Your customer will need to provide their bank account number and routing number. Protect banking information like you would any other important taxpayer information.

No bank account? Debit cards are the way to go.

For taxpayers who don’t have a bank account, the Visa debit card option is faster and safer than paper checks. Taxpayers can spend them like cash anywhere that accepts Visa – even for online purchases.

For more information about Individual Income Taxes, visit dor.sc.gov/iit.

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