How taxes work in North Carolina
Sales tax. North Carolina charges a 4.75% statewide sales tax, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top — which is why the average combined rate of about 7% is the number that matters at the till. Groceries are exempt from the state rate but subject to a uniform 2% county food tax.
Property tax. At an average effective rate of about 0.7%, a $350,000 home in North Carolina carries roughly $2,450 a year in property tax before exemptions. That is near the middle of US states. Local assessors set actual bills, so verify with the county for any specific property.
Income tax. Flat income tax of 4.25%, scheduled to keep falling. If you are self-employed in North Carolina, you still owe federal self-employment tax plus quarterly state estimates where applicable.
Sales tax · average combined
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How North Carolina compares with similar states
The states closest to North Carolina on average combined sales tax. Property tax is the average effective rate; income tax shows the structure, not a single rate.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax | Income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this page) | 7% | 0.7% | Flat |
| Florida | 7.02% | 0.89% | None |
| Indiana | 7% | 0.84% | Flat |
| Nebraska | 7% | 1.63% | Progressive |
| Rhode Island | 7% | 1.4% | Progressive |
| All-state average (51 entries) | 6.61% | 1.04% | — |
What this means for your money in North Carolina
Property tax in North Carolina sits near the middle nationally: an average effective rate of 0.7% (rank 35 of 51; all-state average 1.04%). On a $400,000 home that is about $2,800 a year, or $233.33 a month through escrow. No single tax dominates the picture here — the state's overall position is the sum of three middling taxes rather than one extreme one.
Read together: North Carolina combines an average combined sales tax of 7% (rank 26 of 51), an average effective property tax of 0.7% (rank 35 of 51) and a flat state income tax. A household comparing states should compare all three against its own pattern — a high earner who rents weighs the income tax most; a homeowner on a fixed income weighs the property tax most.
Major cities in North Carolina
Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem. Combined sales-tax rates differ between these cities — sometimes by more than a full percentage point inside the same state — because county and city layers stack on the state base. The North Carolina sales tax guide breaks down the calculation and links the calculator where you can enter your exact local rate.
Calculators for North Carolina residents
- North Carolina Sales Tax Guide & Examples — what you actually pay, with worked amounts.
- Sales Tax & VAT Calculator — add or extract tax at any rate, including your exact North Carolina local rate.
- Mortgage Calculator — include North Carolina property tax in the monthly payment.
- Property Tax Calculator — estimate a specific property's bill.
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — federal SE tax for North Carolina freelancers.