About the Setoff Debt Collection Program

The Setoff Debt Collection Act, Chapter 56 of Title 12 of the South Carolina Code (1976), authorizes public entities to participate in the state's Setoff Debt Collection Program. Using a 1992 amendment to the Setoff Debt Collections Act, SCAC has been assisting county governments and other county entities to participate in the Setoff Debt Collection Program. County entities submit delinquent debts to SCAC for possible matches against state income tax refunds due their debtors. SCAC acts as a clearinghouse between county governments and the S.C. Department of Revenue for the processing of these debts and returns the money to the counties. Monies, which otherwise would have gone uncollected, are returned to the counties this way.

SCAC Services are FREE to participating entities. Fees are added to the debt for SCAC and the SC Department of Revenue and paid by the debtors.

SCAC provides free software and technical assistance to participating entities to manage their debt data. (View all SCAC services for debt collection.)

Entities must have valid Social Security Numbers for individuals to submit an account.

Debts must be at least $50, or multiple accounts must sum to $50, to be submitted to the Setoff Debt program.

There is a one-time placement of debts into the Setoff Debt program each year. SCAC sends the data files to the SC Department of Revenue each December.

Entities must follow due process procedures for debtors, as defined in the statute (see Setoff Debt Collection Act). Entities must provide notice and an opportunity to be heard to debtors.

Entities must meet the deadlines for sending letters and submitting their data file. (See Dates to Note.)

Any age debt can be submitted to Setoff.

After January 1, the SC Department of Revenue matches the data in the debt files with the state income tax returns. SCDOR processes three matches a week from January through June and one match a week from July through December.