Filed in SC Months Ago - State Refund Still Missing?
I e-filed my SC1040 along with my federal return back on February 15th and received my federal refund within 21 days as expected. However, my SC state refund is still showing as "Processing" on the SC DOR MyTax portal. The estimated processing time was supposed to be 6-8 weeks max, but we're well beyond that timeframe now. Has anyone else in South Carolina experienced significant delays with their state refund this tax season? I need this money for summer tuition and the deadline is approaching fast.
20 comments
Join the conversation
Camila Castillo
I'm in SC too and having the same issue with my state refund. Have you tried calling the SC DOR helpline at all? I'm wondering if there's a specific hold code on your account or if it's just general processing delays? The last time I called, the wait time was over an hour so I gave up.
0 coins
Brianna Muhammad
•I just checked my SC refund status again and it's been exactly 97 days since filing. Called the SC DOR three times - first time on day 45, second time on day 60, and again yesterday. Each time they just say it's "in process" with no further details. My federal refund came in exactly 18 days. This is ridiculous!
0 coins
JaylinCharles
•I filed on January 29th and just got my SC refund on May 1st. That's over 90 days! The representative I spoke with on April 15th said they had a major backlog this year due to increased fraud prevention measures. Apparently they're manually reviewing more returns than in previous years.
0 coins
Eloise Kendrick
•Here's what worked for me to get more information: 1. Call early in the morning (right when they open at 8:30am) 2. Select option 3, then option 2 in the phone menu 3. Have your SC1040 handy with your SSN and exact refund amount 4. Ask specifically if there are any letters or notices that have been sent 5. Request an estimated completion date I was initially told "just wait" but when I followed these steps, they admitted there was an identity verification hold they never notified me about.
0 coins
Lucas Schmidt
SC DOR transcripts can be really confusing compared to IRS transcripts. I used https://taxr.ai to analyze mine after waiting 10 weeks with no updates. It showed me that my return had a verification hold that wasn't visible on the MyTax portal. The site explained exactly what each code meant on my transcript and gave me a realistic timeline based on current SC processing patterns. Saved me from calling the DOR multiple times just to get vague answers.
0 coins
Freya Collins
•I'm a bit skeptical about these transcript analysis tools. Couldn't this just be giving generic information that you could find on the SC DOR website? I've been dealing with SC tax issues for years and sometimes there's just no way to speed things up except waiting it out.
0 coins
LongPeri
•I was hesitant to try it too, but after waiting 11 weeks for my SC refund, I was desperate for answers. The tool actually showed me that my return was flagged for income verification (which makes sense because I had multiple W-2s this year). Once I knew what the issue was, I was able to proactively send in the documentation they needed instead of waiting for a letter. Got my refund two weeks later.
0 coins
Oscar O'Neil
I'm in the same boat and BEYOND frustrated with SC DOR this year. Here's what I've learned: • SC DOR is severely understaffed compared to previous years • They implemented new fraud detection systems that are flagging more returns • Many returns with education credits are being manually reviewed • The MyTax portal status updates are extremely delayed • They're prioritizing returns filed before March 1st right now I finally got through to someone last week who admitted they're running about 12 weeks behind on processing certain categories of returns. Ridiculous when they advertise 6-8 weeks max on their website!
0 coins
Sara Hellquiem
•Wow, I had no idea they were THIS behind! That explains a lot. I'm shocked they don't just update their website to give people realistic timelines. It's the uncertainty that drives me crazy - if I knew it would take 12 weeks from the start, I could have planned accordingly.
0 coins
Charlee Coleman
•Do you know if there's any correlation between AGI thresholds and review likelihood? I've heard that returns with AGI under $30K or over $100K are getting flagged more frequently for manual review in SC. Is that consistent with what they told you?
0 coins
Liv Park
According to the SC DOR website (dor.sc.gov/refund), they're experiencing "higher than normal processing times" - which is their way of saying they're massively behind. I tried calling their main line for three days straight and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get past the hold times and reach an actual human at SC DOR. The agent confirmed my return was selected for review but couldn't give me a timeframe. At least I know what's happening now instead of being in limbo.
0 coins
Leeann Blackstein
Is anyone worried about potential penalties if you've already spent the money you were expecting from your refund? It's like the SC DOR is a landlord who promised your security deposit back by a certain date, but now you've already committed to expenses based on that timeline. I'm concerned about late fees on my summer tuition payment since I was counting on this refund.
0 coins
Ryder Greene
•Have you tried explaining the situation to your school's financial aid office? Sometimes they'll grant extensions if you can show you're waiting on a state tax refund, right? Or is there a partial payment option that would at least keep you enrolled while waiting for the full amount?
0 coins
Carmella Fromis
South Carolina Department of Revenue is operating under SC Code § 12-54-35, which requires them to pay interest on refunds not issued within 75 days of the filing deadline (or the date filed, if filed after the deadline). Per Regulation 117-1350.1, the interest rate is currently 3% annually. If you've waited more than 75 days from April 15th (or your filing date if later), you are legally entitled to interest on your refund. Make sure to check if this additional amount is included when you finally receive your refund.
0 coins
Theodore Nelson
I've noticed that SC refunds are taking much longer than Georgia or North Carolina this year. My brother filed in GA on the same day I filed in SC, and he got his state refund 4 weeks ago. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for SC to process mine. The most frustrating part is that the "Where's My Refund" tool for SC gives much less information than the federal one.
0 coins
AaliyahAli
Last year I had a similar issue with my SC refund. What finally worked was contacting my state representative's office. They have liaisons who work directly with SC DOR and can often get information or push processing along. I emailed my representative on a Tuesday, their office contacted DOR on Thursday, and my refund was processed the following Monday. Worth trying if you've been waiting more than 10 weeks.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed my SC return on February 12th and still showing "Processing" status. What's really frustrating is that I called the SC DOR helpline last week and was told there are no holds or issues with my return - it's just in their general processing queue. The representative said they're currently working on returns filed in late January/early February, which doesn't make sense since I filed in mid-February. Has anyone had success getting a more specific timeline by asking to speak with a supervisor? I'm considering trying the state representative route that AaliyahAli mentioned if I don't see movement in the next week or two.
0 coins
Amara Okonkwo
•I'm in a very similar situation - filed on February 18th and still waiting! The inconsistent information from SC DOR is so frustrating. When I called two weeks ago, they told me they were processing returns from "early February" but couldn't give me a specific date range. I've been tracking my case and it seems like there's no real rhyme or reason to their processing order. Some people who filed after me have already received their refunds while others from January are still waiting. The lack of transparency is the worst part - at least with the IRS you get specific codes and timeframes. I'm definitely going to try the state representative approach if I don't see any movement by next week. Thanks for sharing your experience!
0 coins
Taylor Chen
I'm also in SC and filed on February 22nd - still showing "Processing" with no updates. What's really concerning me is that I claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit on my SC return, and I'm wondering if that's causing additional delays. I've heard that returns with certain credits are being flagged for manual review more frequently this year. Has anyone else with EITC or education credits experienced longer wait times? I'm at day 89 now and getting desperate since I need this refund to cover some unexpected medical bills. The uncertainty is killing me - I'd rather know it'll take 120 days than be told "6-8 weeks" and then wait indefinitely with no real updates.
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•I'm dealing with the exact same issue with EITC on my SC return! Filed on March 2nd and also still stuck in "Processing" status. I called SC DOR last week and the representative mentioned that returns with refundable credits like EITC are part of their enhanced fraud prevention screening this year, which is causing the major delays. She couldn't give me a specific timeline but said these returns are taking "significantly longer" than the advertised 6-8 weeks. I'm at day 78 now and also need the money for bills. It's so frustrating that they don't update their website to reflect the actual processing times for different types of returns. Have you considered reaching out to your state rep like AaliyahAli suggested? I'm thinking about trying that route too since the regular customer service line just gives the same vague answers.
0 coins