South Dakota Filing Guide

Last updated: February 4, 2026

Tax Rate

2.50%

Filing Frequency

Quarterly

Quarterly filings: Q1 (Jan-Mar) due May 15, Q2 (Apr-Jun) due Aug 15, Q3 (Jul-Sep) due Nov 15, Q4 (Oct-Dec) due Feb 15. All transactions must be reported within 30 days of policy effective date. Foreign insurer reconciliation reports due quarterly. Alien insurer reconciliation reports due annually by June 30.

Filing Method

Contact state for details

Format: Online portal submission via SLAS Clearinghouse SLIP+. Insurers can submit via manual data entry or XML batch process.

Requirements

Three declinations required for diligent search. All policies must be filed through SLAS Clearinghouse SLIP+. South Dakota does not maintain an eligible surplus lines insurer list - brokers must independently verify solvency and trust fund status. Every surplus lines contract must have stamped disclosure language in 10-point or larger boldface type.

Filing Steps

1Fire insurance (code 1018) subject to 3% tax rate
2Fire Property Tax (FPT) 0.175% applies to property codes
3Fire Inland Marine Tax (FIMT) 0.075% applies to inland marine codes
4Fire Other Tax (FOT) 0.1% applies to select auto physical damage and aircraft codes
5SLIP+ transaction fee 0.175% applies to all gross premium
6Report all business through SLAS Clearinghouse single-state platform
7As of September 2024, insurers must also report through SLIP reconciliation portal
8Multistate policies reported as single-state with 100% premium to home state
9Must obtain and document at least 3 declinations
10Contract must display non-admitted disclosure stamp in 10pt+ boldface
11No eligible insurer list maintained - verify trust fund independently
12Ocean marine and certain aircraft coverages are tax-exempt

Common Issues to Avoid

Incorrect fire tax rate or fire subcategory calculation
Missing SLIP+ transaction fee
Failure to report within 30-day deadline
Inadequate diligent search documentation
Missing contract disclosure stamp
Using ineligible insurer without trust fund verification
Attempting to write prohibited life/health coverage

Helpful Tips

Fire tax has 4 subcategories - system auto-calculates based on coverage code
SLIP+ fee is in addition to premium tax and applies to gross premium
Keep documentation of all 3 declinations for compliance
Email declinations to [email protected] for verification
Report transactions promptly to avoid late filing issues
Verify non-admitted insurer has requisite trust fund
Commercial purchaser exemption exists but not NRRA-updated
No zero filings or annual reports required for SLIP+ policies

Important Notes

IMPORTANT: Fire insurance taxed at 3% (2.5% base + 0.5% fire tax). Additional fire-related taxes apply based on coverage type: FPT 0.175%, FIMT 0.075%, FOT 0.1%. South Dakota does not maintain an eligible insurer list. No quarterly affidavits required. Life/health insurance prohibited except disability coverage exceeding admitted limits (effective July 1, 2015) and international health insurance (effective July 1, 2019). Per Bulletin 13-04, rebating and commission negotiation with consumers are prohibited.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the surplus lines tax rate in South Dakota?

The surplus lines tax rate in South Dakota is 2.50%.

When is surplus lines tax due in South Dakota?

How do I submit surplus lines filings in South Dakota?

Contact the state insurance department for filing instructions.

Contact Information

Phone