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PAYROLL TAX REGISTRATION

South Carolina payroll tax registration

What to set up in South Carolina before the first payroll, in date order, with each agency, online portal and deadline. Enter the first employee's start date and the first pay date to see the dates.

Facts checked on May 11, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. For employers. General information, not legal or tax advice: confirm a deadline with the agency before you rely on it.

Setup steps before the first payroll

  1. Date depends on the deadline below
    Workers' comp

    Get workers' compensation coverage if South Carolina's rule covers the business

    Deadline
    Before the employee who brings the business under the rule starts work
    Workers' comp in South Carolina (Worklio Insurance) (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t42c001.php (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
  2. Posters

    Put up the LLR Workplace poster and the Right-to-Work poster

    Deadline
    Before the first employee starts work
    Online
    llr.sc.gov/wage/posters.aspx (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    llr.sc.gov/wage/posters.aspx (opens in a new tab), checked September 20, 2026, read from an archived copy dated September 20, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. State tax accounts

    Register for a withholding account in MyDORWAY

    Deadline
    Before the first payday
    Agency
    Withholding: South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    mydorway.dor.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)
    Returns
    Quarterly withholding returns (April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31); payments for resident withholding agents on the same frequency as the employer's federal deposits.
    Source
    dor.sc.gov/withholding (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  4. New hire reporting

    Report each new hire to the state new hire registry

    Deadline
    Within 20 days of the employee's start date
    Agency
    South Carolina Department of Social Services, New Hire Reporting Program (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    newhire.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t43c005.php (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
  5. State tax accounts

    Register with DEW in SUITS for an unemployment account

    Deadline
    Before the first quarterly report (the last day of the month after the quarter)
    Agency
    Unemployment: SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    uitax.dew.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    dew.sc.gov/unemployment-tax-information/file-wage-report (opens in a new tab), checked May 11, 2026, read from an archived copy dated May 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. State tax accounts

    File the first quarterly unemployment tax and wage report

    Deadline
    Quarterly report and payment: April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31.January 31, 2027 is a Sunday; whether South Carolina moves it to the next business day is not confirmed.
    Rates
    South Carolina payroll tax rates
    Source
    dew.sc.gov/unemployment-tax-information/paying-your-tax (opens in a new tab), checked August 23, 2026, read from an archived copy dated August 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Federal dates for this pay date

Federal returns follow the compliance calendar, which dates them for every employer:

A 501(c)(3) organization generally owes no FUTA tax and files no Form 940 (Form 940 instructions (opens in a new tab)).

Not confirmed: no official source settled it on the check date, so none is shown.

Not needed in South Carolina

Also in South Carolina

  • Whether any city or county taxes wages: not confirmed.

More on South Carolina

WORKLIO HCM

Hiring in a new state? We help open the accounts.

We help open state withholding and unemployment accounts when you hire somewhere new, and our registration service can register your employer tax accounts for you: withholding, unemployment and paid leave contributions where the state's tax agency collects them. After that, Worklio HCM calculates, deposits and files your payroll taxes in every state and locality, new-hire state reporting is automatic, and rates and rules update without you noticing.

Registration in other states

Sources

The agency page or document behind each fact, as checked.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your advisor. You remain responsible for registering and for your employment taxes.

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