Use our free calculator — covers all 100 NC counties with official NCDOR rates, including the 2% grocery rate and transit taxes.
Open the Free Calculator →North Carolina sales tax is a consumption tax administered by the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR). It applies to retail sales of tangible personal property, certain digital products, and some services. The NCDOR collects both state-level and locally-allocated sales tax, redistributing county portions back to local governments.
NC's system is notable for being more uniform than most states: every one of the state's 100 counties levies the same minimum combined rate. There are no city-level sales taxes — only county-level and special transit district additions.
North Carolina's sales tax is built on three layers:
The minimum combined rate across all 100 NC counties is 6.75%. This uniformity is uncommon nationally — most states have much wider variation. The maximum rate is 7.50% in Orange County (Chapel Hill/Carrboro), which carries the full transit surtax of 0.50%.
Only four North Carolina counties impose a transit surtax for public transportation funding:
The other 96 counties have a combined rate of exactly 6.75%.
One of North Carolina's most significant and least-understood sales tax rules is the reduced 2% rate on qualifying food. Under NC General Statute § 105-164.13B, food that qualifies for the USDA Food Stamp Program (now SNAP) is taxed at only 2% — the state rate only — with no county or transit tax added.
This means a $100 grocery purchase in Charlotte (Mecklenburg County, normally 7.25%) costs only $2.00 in tax, not $7.25. That's a $5.25 savings on a single transaction — the kind of practical insight that makes a real difference for families.
The vast majority of physical goods are taxable in NC: electronics, appliances, clothing, furniture, sporting goods, tools, and general retail merchandise all carry the full combined rate. North Carolina does not exempt clothing — unlike states such as New York or Pennsylvania.
North Carolina taxes certain digital property at the full rate. Per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-164.3, this includes: digital audio works (music, podcasts), digital audiovisual works (movies, streaming), and digital books (e-books) sold for permanent use or less-than-permanent use. SaaS (Software as a Service) and cloud computing are generally taxable in NC.
NC taxes many repair, maintenance, and installation services — a category that catches many businesses off guard. Services like HVAC repair, appliance installation, and auto body work include taxable components. Always check NCDOR guidance for specific service categories.
Key NC sales tax exemptions per NCDOR include: prescription medications, certain medical devices and prosthetics, agricultural supplies (seeds, fertilizers, machinery used in farming), manufacturing equipment (partial exemption), and sales to government entities and qualifying nonprofits.
North Carolina handles motor vehicles differently from most purchases. Motor vehicles are exempt from the regular sales tax but subject to the 3% Highway Use Tax (HUT), paid to the NC Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) at the time of registration — not at the dealership.
The 3% rate applies to both new and used vehicles, based on the purchase price or retail value, whichever is greater. There is a cap of $2,000 HUT for each vehicle transfer. This rate is the same statewide — no county variation.
Any business selling taxable goods or services in NC must register with the NCDOR for a Certificate of Registration (Form NC-BR). Registration is free and can be completed online through the NCDOR's eBusiness Center. Physical location businesses must register before their first sale.
Following South Dakota v. Wayfair (2018), NC implemented economic nexus. Remote sellers must collect NC sales tax if their annual North Carolina sales exceed $100,000. Effective January 1, 2024, North Carolina removed the 200-transaction threshold — only the $100,000 dollar threshold now applies.
NC sales tax returns are due on the 20th of the month following the reporting period. The NCDOR assigns your filing frequency based on projected tax liability:
File using Form E-500 (Sales and Use Tax Return) through the NCDOR's eBusiness Center.
North Carolina's use tax mirrors the sales tax rate and applies when you purchase taxable goods or services from out-of-state sellers who don't collect NC sales tax. Common triggers include out-of-state online purchases and business equipment purchases from non-NC vendors.
Individuals report use tax on Form D-400 (Individual Income Tax Return). Businesses report it on Form E-500.
Shipping charges in NC are generally not taxable when separately stated on the invoice. However, if shipping and handling are combined, or if the shipping charge is part of the taxable sale price, it may be taxable. Always itemize shipping separately and document it clearly on invoices.
All 100 counties · 2% grocery rate · Transit tax · Reverse calculator · Compare counties
Open the Calculator →The state rate is 4.75%. All 100 counties add a mandatory 2% local tax, making 6.75% the minimum. Four counties (Mecklenburg, Wake, Durham, Orange) add transit taxes bringing their rates to 7.00%–7.50%.
No. North Carolina's annual back-to-school sales tax holiday was permanently repealed effective July 1, 2014, per Session Law 2013-316. There is no current sales tax holiday in NC.
Sales tax is collected by NC retailers at the point of sale. Use tax applies when you buy taxable goods from out-of-state sellers who didn't collect NC sales tax — you self-report it. Both are at the same rate.