Which South Carolina COVID-19 tax deadlines were moved to July 15, 2020, and which other state taxes remained due June 1?

Plain-English summary

South Carolina expanded its COVID-19 deadline relief after the IRS issued Notice 2020-23.

Deadlines moved to July 15, 2020

Income-tax, franchise-tax, and corporate-license-fee filings or payments originally or validly extended to a date from April 1 through July 15, 2020 could be completed by July 15. Covered taxpayers included individuals, corporations, partnerships, banks, savings and loans, utilities, trusts, estates, and tax-exempt organizations, including calendar- and fiscal-year filers.

The July 15 date also covered:

• estimated-tax payments due June 15, and other quarterly estimated payments due on or after April 1 and before July 15;
• refund claims whose filing deadline fell from April 1 through July 15; and
• an extension request filed by July 15, although the extension could not go beyond the normal statutory extension date and did not extend payment beyond July 15.

Interest and penalties related to this relief were waived.

Other state taxes stayed on the June 1 schedule

The earlier June 1 relief continued for Department-administered taxes with returns due from April 1 through June 1 that were outside the July 15 category. The letter listed state and local sales and use tax, Department-filed property-tax returns, withholding, motor-fuel user fees, state accommodations tax, and beer, wine, and liquor taxes.

Matters the automatic relief did not cover

Current audits, appeals, litigation, and collection matters were outside the automatic extension. Existing payment-plan installments also remained due. A taxpayer could request more time to protest a proposed assessment before the protest period expired.

What this means for you

Income, franchise, and license-fee filers

The July 15 date applied broadly but only within the specified April-to-July window and to the listed tax obligations.

Sales-tax and withholding filers

Do not import the July 15 income-tax date. Those taxes were governed by the separate June 1 relief described in the letter.

Taxpayers already in a dispute or collection process

The pandemic relief did not stop those deadlines automatically. The letter directed taxpayers to the responsible audit, appeals, litigation, or revenue officer.

Common questions

Q: Did the June 15 estimated-tax payment move to July 15?
A: Yes.

Q: Did South Carolina sales tax move to July 15?
A: No. The letter kept the separate June 1 relief for covered sales-tax deadlines.

Q: Did an extension request also extend payment after July 15?
A: No.

Q: Were existing payment-plan installments postponed?
A: No.

Citations and references

• IRS Notice 2020-23, attached; IRS Notices 2020-18 and 2020-20
• S.C. Code Ann. §§ 12-54-85 and 12-60-450(A)
• SC Revenue Ruling #13-1 and SC Revenue Procedure #20-1, as cited
• S.C. Code Ann. §§ 12-4-320 and 1-23-10(4); SC Revenue Procedure #09-3

Source

• Landing page: https://dor.sc.gov/advisory-opinion-search
• Original PDF: https://dor.sc.gov/sites/dor/files/policies/IL20-8.pdf

Original ruling text

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
300A Outlet Pointe Blvd., Columbia, South Carolina 29210
P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214-0575

SC INFORMATION LETTER #20-8

SUBJECT:

Additional Tax Relief in Response to IRS Update for Persons and Businesses
Affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)
(All Taxes)

DATE:

April 13, 2020

MODIFIES:

SC Information Letter #20-4

AUTHORITY:

S.C. Code Ann. Section 12-4-320 (2014)
S.C. Code Ann. Section 1-23-10(4) (2005)
SC Revenue Procedure #09-3

SCOPE:

An Information Letter is a written statement issued to the public to announce
general information useful in complying with the laws administered by the
Department. An Information Letter has no precedential value.

Internal Revenue Service Expands Federal Income Tax Relief. On April 9, 2020, the Internal
Revenue Service issued Notice 2020-23 to provide additional tax filing and payment relief to
those affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). This notice expanded the relief provided in Notice
2020-18 (March 20, 2020) and Notice 2020-20 (March 27, 2020) and postponed until July 15,
2020, a variety of tax form filings and payment obligations that are due between April 1, 2020
and July 15, 2020, including estimated tax payments due June 15 and the deadline to claim
refunds from 2016. The automatic relief is limited to the relief explicitly provided in the Notices
referenced and does not apply with respect to any other type of Federal tax, any other type of
Federal tax return, or any other time sensitive act. Associated interest, additions to tax, and
penalties for late filing or late payment will be suspended until July 15, 2020.
See Notice 2020-23 attached and www.irs.gov for details regarding the expanded federal tax
relief.
SC Department of Revenue Expands Income Tax Relief. In response to the expanded tax
relief provided by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department is providing additional tax filing
and payment relief as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The expanded relief to
July 15, 2020, is listed below.

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Additional Taxpayers and Payments Eligible for Relief. South Carolina tax relief to July 15,
2020, now applies to all taxpayers that have an income tax, franchise tax, or corporate license fee
filing or payment deadline (originally or pursuant to a valid extension) between April 1, 2020
and July 15, 2020. Individuals (including individuals working or living outside the United
States), corporations, partnerships, banks, savings and loans, utilities, trusts and estates, and
tax-exempt organizations qualify. The South Carolina tax returns and payments on the following
returns qualify for this relief: SC 1040, SC 1120, SC 1120U, SC 1120S, SC 1065, SC 1101B,
SC 1104, SC 1041, and SC 990-T. The taxpayer may be a calendar year or fiscal year taxpayer.
Interest or penalties related to this tax relief will be waived.
Additional Estimated Tax Payments Eligible for Relief. South Carolina tax relief to July 15,
2020, now applies to estimated tax payments due June 15, 2020. A taxpayer that has a quarterly
estimated tax payment due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, may make the
payment by July 15, 2020, without penalty.
Additional Time for Filing a Claim for Refund. South Carolina tax relief allows affected
taxpayers to July 15, 2020, to file a claim for refund that was due to be filed between April 1,
2020, and July 15, 2020. See Code Section 12-54-85 for the statutory time limitation for filing
claims for refunds and SC Revenue Ruling #13-1 for general rules for limitations on filing a
claim for refund.
Additional Extension of Time to File Tax Returns beyond July 15, 2020. Taxpayers who need
additional time to file may choose to file the appropriate extension form by July 15, 2020, to
obtain an extension to file their return. The extension date may not go beyond the original
statutory extension date. For example, a Form SC 4868, “Request for Extension of Time to File
South Carolina Individual Income Tax Return,” may be filed by July 15, 2020, to extend the time
to file an individual income tax return, but that extension will only be to October 15, 2020. The
extension will not extend the time to pay South Carolina income tax beyond July 15, 2020.
Questions and Other Relief.
General Tax Relief Questions and Information. Taxpayers with general tax relief questions
should contact the Department at 1-844-898-8542 (toll free) or see updated tax relief information
at dor.sc.gov/emergencies.
As previously announced by the Department, taxpayers will continue to have until June 1, 2020
to file and pay taxes for returns that are due between April 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020 for other
state taxes (i.e., those taxes other than the taxes eligible for relief to July 15, 2020). The June 1,
2020 relief applies to taxes administered by the Department, or tax returns filed with the
Department between April 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020, including, but not limited to: 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 accommodations taxes, and
beer, wine, and liquor taxes. See SC Information Letter #20-4, dated March 23, 2020, for more
information.

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Questions Concerning a Current Audit, Appeal or Litigation Matter. This relief does not apply to
current audit, appeals, or litigation matters. A taxpayer may request an extension of time to file a
protest of a proposed assessment by submitting a written request for extension with the Audit
Section before the expiration of the applicable time period. See Code Section 12-60-450(A).
A taxpayer with a matter currently pending in the Appeals or Litigation Sections may contact
Appeals at 803-898-5913 or Litigation at 803-898-5130 to discuss any time sensitive deadlines
relating to the appeal or litigation matter. See SC Revenue Procedure #20-1, “Department of
Revenue Internal Tax Appeals Process and Procedure,” for time sensitive deadlines.
Questions Concerning Current Collection Matters. This relief does not apply to current collection
matters, including payments due under any payment plan previously entered into with the
Department. Taxpayers with questions concerning a current Department collection matter should
contact the Revenue Officer who is handling their specific matter.

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Part III - Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous

Update to Notice 2020-18, Additional Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Ongoing
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Notice 2020-23

I.

PURPOSE
On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States issued an emergency

declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
in response to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
(Emergency Declaration). The Emergency Declaration instructed the Secretary of the
Treasury “to provide relief from tax deadlines to Americans who have been adversely
affected by the COVID-19 emergency, as appropriate, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 7508A(a).”
Pursuant to the Emergency Declaration, this notice provides relief under section
7508A(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) for the persons described in section III.A
of this notice that the Secretary of the Treasury has determined to be affected by the
COVID-19 emergency. This notice amplifies Notice 2020-18, 2020-15 IRB 590 (April 6,
2020), and Notice 2020-20, 2020-16 IRB 660 (April 13, 2020).

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II.

BACKGROUND
Section 7508A of the Code provides the Secretary of the Treasury or his

delegate (Secretary) with authority to postpone the time for performing certain acts
under the internal revenue laws for a taxpayer determined by the Secretary to be
affected by a Federally declared disaster as defined in section 165(i)(5)(A). Pursuant to
section 7508A(a), a period of up to one year may be disregarded in determining
whether the performance of certain acts is timely under the internal revenue laws.
On March 18, 2020, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2020-17 providing relief under section
7508A(a), which postponed the due date for certain Federal income tax payments from
April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020. On March 20, 2020, the Treasury Department and
the IRS issued Notice 2020-18, which superseded Notice 2020-17 and provided
expanded relief, postponing the due date from April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, for
filing Federal income tax returns and making Federal income tax payments due April 15,
2020. On March 27, 2020, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued Notice 202020, which amplified Notice 2020-18 and provided additional relief, postponing certain
Federal gift (and generation-skipping transfer) tax return filings and payments.
This notice further amplifies the relief provided in Notice 2020-18 and Notice
2020-20, providing additional relief to affected taxpayers as described in section III. In
addition, section III.D of this notice postpones due dates with respect to certain
government acts, and section III.E of this notice postpones the application date to
participate in the Annual Filing Season Program.
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The relief provided under section 7508A in this notice, Notice 2020-18, and
Notice 2020-20, is limited to the relief explicitly provided in these notices and does not
apply with respect to any other type of Federal tax, any other type of Federal tax return,
or any other time-sensitive act. For information about additional relief that may be
available in connection with the COVID-19 emergency, including relief provided to
employers that allows them to delay the deposit of certain employment taxes, go to
IRS.gov/Coronavirus.
III.

GRANT OF RELIEF
A. Taxpayers Affected by COVID-19 Emergency
The Secretary of the Treasury has determined that any person (as defined in

section 7701(a)(1) of the Code) with a Federal tax payment obligation specified in this
section III.A (Specified Payment), or a Federal tax return or other form filing obligation
specified in this section III.A (Specified Form), which is due to be performed (originally
or pursuant to a valid extension) on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, is
affected by the COVID-19 emergency for purposes of the relief described in this section
III (Affected Taxpayer). The payment obligations and filing obligations specified in this
section III.A (Specified Filing and Payment Obligations) are as follows:
•

Individual income tax payments and return filings on Form 1040, U.S. Individual
Income Tax Return, 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors, 1040-NR, U.S.
Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return, 1040-NR-EZ, U.S. Income Tax Return for
Certain Nonresident Aliens With No Dependents, 1040-PR, Self-Employment
Tax Return - Puerto Rico, and 1040-SS, U.S. Self-Employment Tax Return
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(Including the Additional Child Tax Credit for Bona Fide Residents of Puerto
Rico);
•

Calendar year or fiscal year corporate income tax payments and return filings on
Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, 1120-C, U.S. Income Tax
Return for Cooperative Associations, 1120-F, U.S. Income Tax Return of a
Foreign Corporation, 1120-FSC, U.S. Income Tax Return of a Foreign Sales
Corporation, 1120-H, U.S. Income Tax Return for Homeowners Associations,
1120-L, U.S. Life Insurance Company Income Tax Return, 1120-ND, Return for
Nuclear Decommissioning Funds and Certain Related Persons, 1120-PC, U.S.
Property and Casualty Insurance Company Income Tax Return, 1120-POL, U.S.
Income Tax Return for Certain Political Organizations, 1120-REIT, U.S. Income
Tax Return for Real Estate Investment Trusts, 1120-RIC, U.S. Income Tax
Return for Regulated Investment Companies, 1120-S, U.S. Income Tax Return
for an S Corporation, and 1120-SF, U.S. Income Tax Return for Settlement
Funds (Under Section 468B);

•

Calendar year or fiscal year partnership return filings on Form 1065, U.S. Return
of Partnership Income, and Form 1066, U.S. Real Estate Mortgage Investment
Conduit (REMIC) Income Tax Return;

•

Estate and trust income tax payments and return filings on Form 1041, U.S.
Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts, 1041-N, U.S. Income Tax Return for
Electing Alaska Native Settlement Trusts, and 1041-QFT, U.S. Income Tax
Return for Qualified Funeral Trusts;
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•

Estate and generation-skipping transfer tax payments and return filings on Form
706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, 706NA, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, 706-A,
United States Additional Estate Tax Return, 706-QDT, U.S. Estate Tax Return for
Qualified Domestic Trusts, 706-GS(T), Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return
for Terminations, 706-GS(D), Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return for
Distributions, and 706-GS(D-1), Notification of Distribution from a GenerationSkipping Trust (including the due date for providing such form to a beneficiary);

•

Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return,
filed pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2017-34;

•

Form 8971, Information Regarding Beneficiaries Acquiring Property from a
Decedent and any supplemental Form 8971, including all requirements contained
in section 6035(a) of the Code;

•

Gift and generation-skipping transfer tax payments and return filings on Form
709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return that are
due on the date an estate is required to file Form 706 or Form 706-NA;

•

Estate tax payments of principal or interest due as a result of an election made
under sections 6166, 6161, or 6163 and annual recertification requirements
under section 6166 of the Code;

•

Exempt organization business income tax and other payments and return filings
on Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return (and proxy
tax under section 6033(e) of the Code);
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•

Excise tax payments on investment income and return filings on Form 990-PF,
Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Trust Treated as Private
Foundation, and excise tax payments and return filings on Form 4720, Return of
Certain Excise Taxes under Chapters 41 and 42 of the Internal Revenue Code;
and

•

Quarterly estimated income tax payments calculated on or submitted with Form
990-W, Estimated Tax on Unrelated Business Taxable Income for Tax-Exempt
Organizations, 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, 1040-ES (NR), U.S.
Estimated Tax for Nonresident Alien Individuals, 1040-ES (PR), Estimated
Federal Tax on Self Employment Income and on Household Employees
(Residents of Puerto Rico), 1041-ES, Estimated Income Tax for Estates and
Trusts, and 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations.
The Secretary of the Treasury has also determined that any person performing a

time-sensitive action listed in either § 301.7508A-1(c)(1)(iv) – (vi) of the Procedure and
Administration Regulations or Revenue Procedure 2018-58, 2018-50 IRB 990
(December 10, 2018), which is due to be performed on or after April 1, 2020, and before
July 15, 2020 (Specified Time-Sensitive Action), is an Affected Taxpayer. For purposes
of this notice, the term Specified Time-Sensitive Action also includes an investment at
the election of a taxpayer due to be made during the 180-day period described in
section 1400Z-2(a)(1)(A) of the Code.
B. Postponement of Due Dates with Respect to Certain Federal Tax
Returns and Federal Tax Payments
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For an Affected Taxpayer with respect to Specified Filing and Payment
Obligations, the due date for filing Specified Forms and making Specified Payments is
automatically postponed to July 15, 2020.
This relief is automatic; Affected Taxpayers do not have to call the IRS or file any
extension forms, or send letters or other documents to receive this relief. However,
Affected Taxpayers who need additional time to file may choose to file the appropriate
extension form by July 15, 2020, to obtain an extension to file their return, but the
extension date may not go beyond the original statutory or regulatory extension date.
For example, a Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S.
Individual Income Tax Return, may be filed by July 15, 2020, to extend the time to file
an individual income tax return, but that extension will only be to October 15, 2020.
That extension will not extend the time to pay federal income tax beyond July 15, 2020.
This relief includes not just the filing of Specified Forms, but also all schedules,
returns, and other forms that are filed as attachments to Specified Forms or are required
to be filed by the due date of Specified Forms, including, for example, Schedule H and
Schedule SE, as well as Forms 3520, 5471, 5472, 8621, 8858, 8865, and 8938. This
relief also includes any installment payments under section 965(h) due on or after April
1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Finally, elections that are made or required to be
made on a timely filed Specified Form (or attachment to a Specified Form) shall be
timely made if filed on such Specified Form or attachment, as appropriate, on or before
July 15, 2020.

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As a result of the postponement of the due date for filing Specified Forms and
making Specified Payments, the period beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on July
15, 2020, will be disregarded in the calculation of any interest, penalty, or addition to tax
for failure to file the Specified Forms or to pay the Specified Payments postponed by
this notice. Interest, penalties, and additions to tax with respect to such postponed
Specified Filing and Payment Obligations will begin to accrue on July 16, 2020.
C. Relief With Respect to Specified Time-Sensitive Actions
Affected Taxpayers also have until July 15, 2020, to perform all Specified TimeSensitive Actions, that are due to be performed on or after April 1, 2020, and before July
15, 2020. This relief includes the time for filing all petitions with the Tax Court, or for
review of a decision rendered by the Tax Court, filing a claim for credit or refund of any
tax, and bringing suit upon a claim for credit or refund of any tax. This notice does not
provide relief for the time period for filing a petition with the Tax Court, or for filing a
claim or bringing a suit for credit or refund if that period expired before April 1, 2020.
D. Postponement of Due Dates with Respect to Certain Government Acts
This notice also provides the IRS with additional time to perform the timesensitive actions described in § 301.7508A-1(c)(2) as provided in this section III.D
(Time-Sensitive IRS Action). Due to the COVID-19 emergency, IRS employees,
taxpayers, and other persons may be unable to access documents, systems, or other
resources necessary to perform certain time-sensitive actions due to office closures or
state and local government executive orders restricting activities. The lack of access to
those documents, systems, or resources will materially interfere with the IRS’s ability to
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timely administer the Code. As a result, IRS employees will require additional time to
perform time-sensitive actions.
Accordingly, the following persons (as defined in section 7701(a)(1) of the Code)
are “Affected Taxpayers” for the limited purpose of this section III.D:
•

persons who are currently under examination (including an investigation to
determine liability for an assessable penalty under subchapter B of Chapter 68);

•

persons whose cases are with the Independent Office of Appeals; and

•

persons who, during the period beginning on or after April 6, 2020 and ending
before July 15, 2020, file written documents described in section 6501(c)(7) of
the Code (amended returns) or submit payments with respect to a tax for which
the time for assessment would otherwise expire during this period.

With respect to those Affected Taxpayers, a 30-day postponement is granted for TimeSensitive IRS Actions if the last date for performance of the action is on or after April 6,
2020, and before July 15, 2020.
As a result of the postponement of the time to perform Time-Sensitive IRS
Actions, the 30-day period following the last date for the performance of Time-Sensitive
IRS Actions will be disregarded in determining whether the performance of those
actions is timely.
This section III.D is subject to review and further postponement, as appropriate.
E. Extension of Time to Participate in the Annual Filing Season Program
Revenue Procedure 2014-42, 2014-29 IRB 192, created a voluntary Annual
Filing Season Program to encourage tax return preparers who do not have credentials
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as practitioners under Treasury Department Circular No. 230 (Regulations Governing
Practice before the Internal Revenue Service) to complete continuing education courses
for the purpose of increasing their knowledge of the law relevant to federal tax returns.
Tax return preparers who complete the requirements in Rev. Proc. 2014-42 receive an
annual Record of Completion. Under Rev. Proc. 2014-42, applications to participate in
the Annual Filing Season Program for the 2020 calendar year must be received by April
15, 2020. The 2020 calendar year application deadline is postponed to July 15, 2020.
IV.

EFFECT ON OTHER DOCUMENTS
Notice 2020-18 and Notice 2020-20 are amplified. Rev. Proc. 2014-42 is

modified, applicable for calendar year 2020.
V.

DRAFTING INFORMATION
The principal author of this notice is Jennifer Auchterlonie of the Office of

Associate Chief Counsel, Procedure and Administration. For further information
regarding this notice, you may call the COVID-19 Disaster Relief Hotline at (202) 3175436 (not a toll-free call). For further information regarding estate, gift, trust, and
generation-skipping transfer tax issues related to this notice, please contact Daniel
Gespass, of CC:PSI: Br. 4 at (202) 317-6859 (not a toll-free call).

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