(A) A person hiring or contracting with a nonresident conducting a business or performing personal services of a temporary nature within this State shall withhold two percent of each payment in which the South Carolina portion of the contract exceeds or could reasonably be expected to exceed ten thousand dollars. This section does not apply to a nonresident which registered with the Secretary of State or the Department of Revenue and by that registration agreed to be subject to the jurisdiction of the department and the courts of this State to determine its South Carolina tax liability, including withholding and estimated taxes, together with any related interest and penalties. Registering with the Secretary of State or the department is not an admission of tax liability nor does it require the filing of an income tax or franchise (license) tax return. If the person hiring, contracting, or having a contract with a nonresident obtains an affidavit from the nonresident stating that the nonresident is registered with the department or with the Secretary of State, the person is not responsible for the withholding.

(B) The department may revoke the exemption granted by registering with the Secretary of State or the department if it determines that the nonresident taxpayer is not cooperating with the department in the determination of the nonresident taxpayer’s correct South Carolina tax liability. This revocation does not revive the duty of a person hiring, contracting, or having a contract with a nonresident to withhold, until the person receives notice of the revocation.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 12-8-550

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Nonresident: means an individual domiciled outside this State and an entity whose principal place of business is outside of this State. See South Carolina Code 12-8-10
  • Person: includes an individual, trust, estate, partnership, receiver, association, company, corporation, or any other entity including the United States, a state, a political subdivision or agency of the United States or any state, and a municipality located in this State. See South Carolina Code 12-8-10
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.

(C) This section does not apply to payments on purchase orders for tangible personal property when those payments are not accompanied by services to be performed in this State.

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