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Taxes In North Carolina

North Carolina Tax Rates, Collections, and Burdens

How does North Carolina’s tax code compare? North Carolina has a flat 4.50 percent individual income tax rate. North Carolina has a 2.5 percent corporate income tax rate. North Carolina also has a 4.75 percent state sales tax rate and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 7.00 percent. North Carolina has a 0.63 percent effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing value.

North Carolina does not have an estate tax or inheritance tax. North Carolina has a 40.65 cents per gallon gas tax rate and a $0.45 cigarette excise tax rate. The State of North Carolina collects $4,859 in state and local tax collections per capita. North Carolina has $4,431 in state and local debt per capita and has an 89 percent funded ratio of public pension plans. North Carolina’s tax system ranks 12th overall on the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index.

Each state’s tax code is a multifaceted system with many moving parts, and North Carolina is no exception. The first step towards understanding North Carolina’s tax code is knowing the basics. How does North Carolina collect tax revenue? Click the tabs below to learn more! You can also explore our state tax maps, which are compiled from our annual publication, Facts & Figures 2024: How Does Your State Compare?

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Tax Data by State

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State Tax Data

Individual Taxes

Top Individual Income Tax Rate
4.50%See Full Study
State Local Individual Income Tax Collections per Capita
$1496Rank: 25
State and Local Tax Burden
9.9%Rank: 19See Full Study

Business Taxes

Top Corporate Income Tax Rate
2.5%See Full Study
State Business Tax Climate Index Ranking
12See Full Study

Sales Taxes

State Sales Tax Rate
4.75%Rank: 35See Full Study
Average Local Sales Tax Rate
2.25%See Full Study
Combined State and Average Local Sales Tax Rate
7.00%Rank: 27See Full Study
State and Local General Sales Tax Collections per Capita
$1284Rank: 30
State Gasoline Tax Rate (cents per gallon)
40.65¢Rank: 9
State Cigarette Tax Rate (dollars per 20-pack)
$0.45Rank: 47

Property Taxes

Property Taxes Paid as a Percentage of Owner-Occupied Housing Value
0.63%Rank: 36
State and Local Property Tax Collections Per Capita
$1116Rank: 40

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