South Carolina LLC & Corporation
Annual Compliance Guidelines

South Carolina Annual Compliance Overview

Corporate maintenance rules in South Carolina differ significantly from most other states. Limited liability companies registered in South Carolina enjoy complete exemption from annual report filings with the Secretary of State. Once an LLC is formed, it retains active standing without submitting periodic renewals or recurring state report fees.

Corporations operate under an entirely separate statutory structure. All domestic and foreign corporations authorized to conduct business in South Carolina must file an annual corporate report alongside their state tax return through the South Carolina Department of Revenue rather than the Secretary of State.

When is the Corporate Annual Report Due?

Because South Carolina incorporates the corporate annual report into the state corporate income tax return, statutory deadlines track the company fiscal tax calendar:

• Limited Liability Companies: No report required. Standing is perpetual without renewal filings.
• C Corporations: Due on or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the tax year. For calendar year companies, this cutoff is April 15.
• S Corporations: Due on or before the fifteenth day of the third month following the close of the tax year. For calendar year entities, this cutoff is March 15.

Statutory Filing Costs

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?

Because corporate reports are managed by the Department of Revenue, failing to submit the required return results in tax based failure to file penalties, accrued interest, and loss of corporate good standing.

Continued tax delinquency causes the Department of Revenue to notify the Secretary of State, which subsequently initiates administrative dissolution or revocation of authority. Reinstating a dissolved corporation requires securing formal tax clearance from the Department of Revenue, submitting all delinquent tax returns and reports, paying all outstanding license fees and penalties, and filing an application for reinstatement with the Secretary of State.

How to File Corporate Annual Reports

Corporations complete their annual reporting requirements electronically via the South Carolina Department of Revenue web portal, MyDORWAY, within the corporate income tax return package.

Required Information for Corporate Filing:

• Legal entity name and state file identification number
• Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
• Principal executive office location and mailing address
• Names and business addresses of corporate directors and officers
• Calculation of corporate capital and paid in surplus for statutory license fee assessment
• Electronic payment method to settle the corporate license fee

Filing Steps for Corporate Filers:

1. Access the South Carolina Department of Revenue MyDORWAY platform using the link below.
2. Log into your established tax account or authorize your certified tax professional.
3. Locate the appropriate corporate income tax return form, SC1120 for C Corporations or SC1120S for S Corporations.
4. Complete Schedule D within the return, which serves as the official corporate annual report.
5. Calculate and include the corporate license fee, ensuring the amount meets or exceeds the statutory twenty five dollar baseline.
6. Submit the digital return and process electronic payment.
7. Retain the electronic filing confirmation and accepted return for company legal records.

Frequently Asked Questions