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COLUMBIA (WACH) -- South Carolinians receiving a tax refund from the state can now ask for plastic.

The South Carolina Department of Revenue announced today that for the 2012 individual income tax filing season, they are working with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Visa to provide taxpayers with an income tax refund prepaid debit card in place of a paper check.

SCDOR says the debit cards will eventually replace paper checks, saving the state printing and mailing costs as well as processing time.

“Through the SCDOR Income Tax Refund Prepaid Debit Card and direct deposit options, SCDOR aims to expedite the process in which individuals receive their income tax refunds. It is our goal to make this method as cost-effective and easy to use as possible for the South Carolina taxpayers,” stated Director Jim Etter.

South Carolina taxpayers will still have the option to designate direct deposit or to receive a paper check on their income tax return if they do not prefer a debit card.

For more information on the SCDOR Income Tax Refund Prepaid Debit Card visit www.sctax.org under “What’s New”.