North Carolina Sales Tax Calculator

The North Carolina statewide sales tax rate is 4.75%, and the average local add-on is 2.22%, for an average combined rate of 6.97% (Tax Foundation 2024 published state averages). On a $100 purchase that works out to about $6.97 in tax; on a $500 purchase, about $34.85. Your exact rate depends on the city and county where the sale takes place.

The calculator uses the standard sales-tax formula: sales tax = purchase price × tax rate, and total = purchase price + sales tax. For example, a $500 purchase in North Carolina at the average combined 6.97% rate is $34.85 in tax and $534.85 total. If you know your exact local rate (state + county + city + special districts), enter it in the Tax Rate field to override the statewide average.

Most states, including North Carolina, exempt or reduce-rate certain categories from sales tax. The most common are unprepared groceries, prescription medications, and certain medical devices; some states also exempt clothing or hold annual sales-tax holidays for back-to-school items, hurricane supplies, or energy-efficient appliances. Restaurant meals, prepared food, alcohol, and tobacco are generally taxable and may carry additional excise taxes. This calculator applies a flat rate to the full purchase price, so it overstates tax on grocery-heavy carts in states that exempt food.

Yes — since the U.S. Supreme Court's 2018 South Dakota v. Wayfair decision, North Carolina can require out-of-state online retailers to collect North Carolina sales tax once their sales into the state cross an economic-nexus threshold. Large marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Etsy) collect North Carolina tax automatically at checkout based on the shipping address. If a small seller does not collect it, you technically owe “use tax” at the same combined rate when you file your state return — most filers underreport this.

This calculator uses the North Carolina statewide average combined rate of 6.97% (state 4.75% + average local 2.22%). Your actual rate at the register can differ because: local rates vary by city, county, and special district (transit, stadium, tourism); some categories are exempt or taxed at a reduced rate; and some purchases (cars, boats, alcohol, tobacco, prepared food) carry additional excise taxes. For an exact figure, check the published combined rate for the specific zip code where the sale takes place — your state revenue department publishes a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction rate table.