North Carolina sales tax rates

Rates updated monthly
Our team of 100+ researchers keeps our database up to date with the latest in rates and taxability rules for each jurisdiction.

Automate calculation

Let Avalara AvaTax calculate rates in real time.
AvaTax gives you street-level precision at the point of sale, without requiring you to look up rates or maintain a database. Because it’s a cloud-based tool, rate updates are pushed to you automatically, based on the latest jurisdiction rules and regulations.

North Carolina state sales tax rate range

4.75–7.5%
Base state sales tax rate 4.75%
Local rate range* 0%–2.75%
Total rate range* 4.75%–7.5%

*Due to varying local sales tax rates, we strongly recommend using our calculator below for the most accurate rates. 

North Carolina sales tax rates

Rates updated monthly
Our team of 100+ researchers keeps our database up to date with the latest in rates and taxability rules for each jurisdiction.

North Carolina state sales tax rate range

4.75–7.5%
Base state sales tax rate 4.75%
Local rate range* 0%–2.75%
Total rate range* 4.75%–7.5%

*Due to varying local sales tax rates, we strongly recommend using our calculator below for the most accurate rates. 

Automate calculation

Let Avalara AvaTax calculate rates in real time.

AvaTax gives you street-level precision at the point of sale, without requiring you to look up rates or maintain a database. Because it’s a cloud-based tool, rate updates are pushed to you automatically, based on the latest jurisdiction rules and regulations.

Improve accuracy with rates based on address

Look up the current rate for a specific address using the same technology that powers the Avalara AvaTax rate calculation engine.

- Or -

Why can’t I just use the ZIP code?

  • There are often multiple sales tax rates per ZIP code, county, and city.
  • ZIP codes often overlap, or become subsets of other ZIP codes, or represent no geographic region at all.
  • ZIP codes aren’t stable. In any given year, the USPS makes numerous boundary changes to ZIP code areas.

For the most accurate sales tax rate, use an exact street address.

Your sales tax rate

Rate icon

Combined Tax Rate

%

Location

Jurisdiction Breakdown

What do these tax rates mean?

  • The combined tax rate is the total sales tax rate of the jurisdiction for the address you submitted.

  • The jurisdiction breakdown shows the different sales tax rates making up the combined rate.

  • While most taxable products are subject to the combined sales tax rate, some items are taxed differently at state and local levels. Be sure to apply the correct sales tax rate to your sale.

The rates presented are current for the date and time you submitted the address, but may change at any time with new tax legislation.

Calculate your total amount

See your sales tax rate applied to any item price

$

+ Sales tax rate

Total

Tax Breakdown

Subtotal
Tax
Tax amount
Total

How to use this sales tax rate

  1. Determine who's responsible to collect and remit the sales tax amount. 

  2. Determine if your product or service is taxable in the responsible party’s jurisdictions.

  3. Apply the sales tax rate shown above to your taxable product or service’s value.

Now that you have your rate, make sales tax returns easier too

Automate returns preparation, online filing, and remittance with Avalara Returns for Small Business

Now that you have your rate, make sales tax returns easier too

Automate returns preparation, online filing, and remittance with Avalara Returns for Small Business.

Download state rate tables for multiple states

Get a free download of average rates by ZIP code for each state you select.
If you make sales in multiple states, rate tables can be used to input data into your tax system or maintain as a reference. 

North Carolina sales tax details

The North Carolina (NC) state sales tax rate is currently 4.75%. Depending on local municipalities, the total tax rate can be as high as 7.5%.

County and local taxes in most areas bring the sales tax rate to 6.75%–7% in most counties but some can be as high as 7.5%.

North Carolina requires use tax to be paid on products or services used within the state. The state provides a line on the state income tax return for identifying any use tax owed.

Anyone making retail sales of tangible personal property and certain digital property is required to register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and obtain a Certificate of Registration. This is also required of anyone renting or leasing taxable tangible personal property or operating a hotel or similar business in North Carolina.

Senate Bill 56 stipulates that a remote retailer is “engaged in business” in North Carolina if, in the current or previous calendar year, it has more than $100,000 in gross sales or 200 or more separate transactions in the state.

North Carolina sales tax resources

North Carolina sales tax guide for businesses

Our free, online guide covers multiple aspects of managing North Carolina sales tax compliance, including business registration, collecting sales tax, filing sales tax returns and state nexus obligations. 

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