๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Deutschland๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ ะ ะพััะธั๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ India๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ New Zealand๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ—ฅๆœฌ
Homeโ€บUSโ€บNC Sales Tax Calculator

North Carolina Sales Tax Calculator

Calculate NC sales tax by county, compare rates across major counties, and check grocery exemptions. North Carolina combined rate ranges from 6.75% to 7.50%.

Calculate total price including NC sales tax
NC combined sales tax ranges from 6.75% to 7.50%. Groceries are exempt from the 4.75% state tax.
$
Enter the pre-tax price of your purchase
Combined rate varies by county (6.75%-7.50%)
--

Try another scenario

How to Use This Calculator

Calculate Total tab

Enter your purchase amount, select your NC county, and toggle whether the purchase is groceries. The calculator applies the correct combined rate (or reduced grocery rate) to show the tax amount, effective rate, and total price including tax.

Rates by County tab

View all 8 major NC counties ranked by combined sales tax rate. Each entry shows the state rate (4.75% everywhere), local rate, combined rate, and grocery rate. NC is relatively uniform — most counties fall between 6.75% and 7.50%.

Exemptions & Grocery Rate tab

Review which items are exempt from NC sales tax, how the grocery rate works (state 4.75% exempt, reduced local ~2% applies), and the status of the tax-free weekend (discontinued after 2013).

Share your result

All inputs are encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact scenario to a friend, accountant, or business partner.

The Formula

NC sales tax is calculated by applying the combined state and local rate to your purchase amount:

Sales Tax = Purchase Amount × Combined Rate

Total Price = Purchase Amount + Sales Tax

Where:
  State Rate = 4.75% (all NC counties)
  Local Rate = 2.00% to 2.75% (varies by county)
  Combined Rate = 6.75% to 7.50%

Grocery formula (reduced rate):
  Grocery Tax = Purchase Amount × Local Grocery Rate
  (State 4.75% is exempt on qualifying groceries)

Example: $200 purchase in Mecklenburg County (7.25%)
  $200 × 0.0725 = $14.50 tax
  Total: $214.50

The state rate is the same in every NC county. Differences in total tax are due to local county and transit taxes, which range from 2.00% to 2.75%.

Example

James — Shopping in Wake County (Raleigh), NC

James buys $300 in general merchandise and $150 in groceries at a store in Wake County (Raleigh). He wants to know the total sales tax on each purchase.

General merchandise ($300)

Purchase amount$300.00
CountyWake County (Raleigh)
Combined rate7.25%
State tax (4.75%)$14.25
Local tax (2.50%)$7.50
Total tax$21.75
Total price$321.75

Groceries ($150)

Purchase amount$150.00
CountyWake County (Raleigh)
State tax (4.75%)Exempt
Local grocery tax (~2.00%)$3.00
Total tax$3.00
Total price$153.00

James saves $4.13 on groceries compared to the full 7.25% rate thanks to the NC grocery exemption. Over a year of $600/month grocery spending, that adds up to about $382 in savings versus the full combined rate.

FAQ

North Carolina has a 4.75% state sales tax rate. Local county taxes add 2.00% to 2.75%, bringing the combined rate to between 6.75% and 7.50% depending on the county. Durham County has the highest combined rate at 7.50%, while several counties including Guilford, Forsyth, and Cumberland have the lowest at 6.75%. NC is relatively uniform compared to states like Louisiana or Alabama where combined rates can exceed 10%.
Groceries are exempt from the 4.75% NC state sales tax. However, a reduced local tax of approximately 2.00%-2.50% still applies depending on your county. Qualifying groceries include staple food items intended for home preparation. Prepared foods, candy, and soft drinks do not qualify for the exemption and are taxed at the full combined rate.
No. North Carolina discontinued its annual sales tax holiday (tax-free weekend) after 2013. The state eliminated it as part of broader tax reform legislation. Unlike neighboring states like South Carolina and Virginia that still offer tax-free weekends, NC shoppers pay full sales tax year-round on all taxable purchases.
Durham County has the highest combined sales tax rate in North Carolina at 7.50% (4.75% state + 2.75% local). This is followed by Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) and Wake County (Raleigh), both at 7.25%. The lowest combined rate among major counties is 6.75%, found in Guilford (Greensboro), Forsyth (Winston-Salem), and Cumberland (Fayetteville) counties.
Motor vehicles in North Carolina are not subject to regular sales tax. Instead, they are subject to a 3% highway use tax, collected at the DMV when you register the vehicle. This is generally lower than the standard combined sales tax rate of 6.75%-7.50%. Boats and aircraft are also taxed at a 3% rate, capped at $1,500 maximum.

Related Calculators

NC Paycheck Calculator
Calculate take-home pay with NC state income tax (4.50% flat rate), FICA, and deductions.
NC Property Tax Calculator
Estimate NC property taxes by county — compare rates and check relief programs.
Sales Tax Calculator
Calculate sales tax for any US state — compare NC to other states.

Add This Calculator to Your Website

Embed the sum.money NC Sales Tax Calculator on your site. Free, responsive, always up-to-date.

<iframe src="https://sum.money/embed/us/north-carolina-sales-tax-calculator" width="100%" height="600"></iframe>