North Carolina Sales Tax Calculator (2026)
The North Carolina sales tax rate is 4.75% at the state level. Adding the 2.25% average local rate gives a combined 7%. On a $100 purchase that is about $7.00 in tax, for $107.00 total. Enter any amount below.
What is the North Carolina sales tax rate in 2026?
The North Carolina state rate is 4.75%. With an average local rate of 2.25%, the combined average is 7%.
How much tax on a $100 purchase?
About $7.00 at the combined 7% rate. Your $100 item costs roughly $107.00.
Where does North Carolina rank nationally?
North Carolina ranks #25 of 47 taxing states by combined rate. That is 0.53% below the 7.53% US average.
Are local rates included?
Yes. This calculator uses the state rate plus the population-weighted average local rate. Your exact city or county rate may differ.
How does sales tax work in North Carolina?
North Carolina charges a 4.75% state sales tax on most retail goods. Many cities and counties add a local tax on top. The population-weighted average local rate is 2.25%.
That brings the typical combined rate to 7%. Your real rate depends on the exact city or county. The calculator above uses the state plus average local rate.
What does North Carolina sales tax cost on common purchases?
| Purchase | State (4.75%) | Avg local (2.25%) | Total tax | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $4.75 | $2.25 | $7.00 | $107.00 |
| $1,000 | $47.50 | $22.50 | $70.00 | $1,070.00 |
| $30,000 car | $1,425.00 | $675.00 | $2,100.00 | $32,100.00 |
How do you calculate North Carolina sales tax by hand?
- Take the pre-tax price of your item.
- Multiply it by the combined rate of 7% (4.75% state + 2.25% local).
- Add that tax to the price to get your total.
- To reverse it, divide the total by 1.0700.
How is car and vehicle sales tax handled in North Carolina?
Vehicles are generally taxed at the same 7% combined rate, applied to the purchase price. A $30,000 car costs about $2,100.00 in tax. Trade-in credits and county rules can change the figure.
How do you remove sales tax from a total (reverse calculation)?
Switch the calculator to reverse mode. It divides the tax-included total by 1.0700 to recover the pre-tax price. This is how you find the base price on a receipt.