South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee

S 396 — License Fee on Corporations

Last action — Referred to Committee on Finance

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 26, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 16% · moderate confidence
  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-20-50, RELATING TO THE IMPOSITION OF LICENSE TAXES ON CORPORATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY PORTION OF THE FIRST FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS OF CERTAIN CAPITAL STOCK AND PAID-IN OR CAPITAL SURPLUS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 33-44-409, RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION TO REFRAINING FROM COMPETING.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

55 added · 6 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill S 396 introduces a significant change regarding the tax obligations of corporations in South Carolina. It allows corporations that have their headquarters and primary business operations in the state to exclude the first fifty million dollars of certain capital contributions from their taxable income. This change aims to encourage business growth by reducing the financial burden on companies during their initial stages and ultimately may boost investment and job creation in the region.

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2025-2026 Bill 396 Text of Previous Version (Feb.
26, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 396Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates New Matter(Text matches printed bills.
Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)                 A bill   TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-20-50, RELATING TO THE IMPOSITION OF LICENSE TAXES ON CORPORATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY PORTION OF THE FIRST FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS OF CERTAIN CAPITAL STOCK AND PAID-IN OR CAPITAL SURPLUS;
AND BY AMENDING SECTION 33-44-409, RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION TO REFRAINING FROM COMPETING.
  Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
  SECTION 1.  Section 12-20-50 of the S.C.
Code is amended by adding:
      (D)(1) A corporation subject to the provisions of this section whose corporate headquarters, as defined in Section 12-6-3410, and principal place of business, as defined in Section 12-6-30, are in South Carolina may exclude the first fifty million dollars of equity contributions from a qualifying entity from its paid-in or capital surplus subject to the annual license fee.
To qualify for this exclusion, the corporation must obtain a certificate from the South Carolina Research Authority certifying that the exclusions result from equity contributions from a qualifying entity.
       (2) For purposes of this subsection, a qualifying entity includes:
           (a) a venture capital fund as defined pursuant to 17 C.F.R.
Section 275.203(1) 1;
           (b) an angel or accredited investor, as defined pursuant to 17 C.F.R.
Section 230.501;
and            (c) a private investment firm that does not solicit capital from investors, excluding another qualifying entity or the general public, and meets one of the exemptions outlined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
       (3) A corporation claiming this exclusion must:
           (a) submit an annual report to the department that contains the name of each qualifying entity, the date of the equity contribution, the manner in which the qualifying entity meets the requirements of item (2), the amount of the paid-in or capital surplus for each year that is attributable to each qualifying entity, and any other information that the department may require;
and            (b) keep detailed books and records, including segregating out equity contributions attributable to each qualifying entity and retaining information concerning the information required to be provided in subitem (a).
  SECTION 2.  Section 33-44-409(b)(3) of the S.C.
Code is amended to read:
      (3) to refrain from competing with the company in the conduct of the company's business before the dissolution of the company.
This item does not apply when a member is also a member of another LLC and there is not an enforceable noncompete provision in the operating agreement.
  SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and first applies to the tax year beginning after July 1, 2025.
----XX---- This web page was last updated on February 26, 2025 at 03:49 PM
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Action History

  1. Referred to Committee on Finance

  2. Introduced and read first time

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 168 not signed on

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (168)

168 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 168 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does S 396 do?
A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 12-20-50, RELATING TO THE IMPOSITION OF LICENSE TAXES ON CORPORATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY PORTION OF THE FIRST FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS OF CERTAIN CAPITAL STOCK AND PAID-IN OR CAPITAL SURPLUS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 33-44-409, RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, SO AS TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION TO REFRAINING FROM COMPETING.
Who sponsors S 396?
S 396 is sponsored by Senator Thomas C. Alexander and Senator Jason Elliott.
What is the current status of S 396?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 26, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 396?
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