North Carolina Sales Tax Calculator 2026
4.75% state rate plus local taxes averaging 2.24%
Calculate Sales Tax
Enter your amount to see the complete sales tax breakdown for North Carolina
- State rate
- 4.75%
- Avg local add-on
- 2.24%
- Combined average
- 6.99%
- Rank of 50
- 26
North Carolina sales tax rates at a glance
How sales tax works in North Carolina
North Carolina has a 4.75% state rate with 2% or 2.75% local rates in most counties.
Because local rates vary, the 6.99% figure is an average rather than a rate you will always be charged. Enter the exact rate for your city or county in the calculator when you need a precise figure — the difference between the 4.75% state floor and the local maximum is what makes North Carolina sales tax awkward to estimate by hand.
States with a similar combined rate
Worked examples at 6.99%
Adding sales tax
A $100.00 item in North Carolina costs $106.99 once 6.99% sales tax of $6.99 is added.
Removing sales tax
A receipt totalling $106.99 at 6.99% breaks down to $100.00 before tax plus $6.99 tax.
To remove sales tax, divide the total by 1.0699 rather than subtracting 6.99% — subtracting the percentage from the gross figure gives the wrong answer.
North Carolina sales tax questions
What is the sales tax rate in North Carolina?
The North Carolina state rate is 4.75%. Local jurisdictions add their own on top, averaging 2.24% more, for a typical combined rate of 6.99%.
Does North Carolina have local sales tax on top of the state rate?
Yes. Counties, cities and special districts levy their own rates in addition to the 4.75% state rate, which is why the combined rate averages 6.99%. North Carolina has a 4.75% state rate with 2% or 2.75% local rates in most counties.
Is sales tax high in North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks 26 of 50 states by combined rate at 6.99%, which is 0.38 points above the national average of 6.61%. The highest is Louisiana at 10.11%; the lowest that charges anything is Alaska at 1.76%.
Who collects sales tax in North Carolina?
Retailers collect sales tax from the customer at the point of sale and remit it to the North Carolina tax authority. The consumer bears the cost; the business acts as collector.
How do I work out the pre-tax price from a North Carolina receipt?
Divide the total by 1 + the rate. At 6.99%, a $106.99 total works back to $100.00 before tax. The calculator above does this for you in "Remove Sales Tax" mode.