North Carolina Sales Tax Rates by City & County
Every North Carolina county levies a uniform local rate alongside the state rate, and a handful of counties layer on an additional transit tax that voters approved by referendum. North Carolina's data set covers 100 local jurisdictions, from Alamance County at 6.75% up to Mecklenburg County at 8.25%.
Combined Rate
10.550%
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| ZIP Code | 98101 |
| State | WA |
| Data as of | 2026-08-04 |
Source: official Streamlined Sales Tax rate & boundary files (data as of 2026-08-04).
Combined Rate
10.550%ZIP-level rates cover the 24 Streamlined Sales Tax member states. Outside those states we fall back to the statewide base rate — never an invented local figure.
Edit inputs ↑North Carolina sales tax rates by county
The official data for North Carolina is published at the county level (plus any special-district add-on) with no separate city-level breakout, so this table lists counties rather than individual municipalities.
| County | Combined Rate | vs. State Base | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 16 |
| Alexander County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 4 |
| Alleghany County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 7 |
| Anson County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 8 |
| Ashe County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 13 |
| Avery County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 11 |
| Beaufort County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 14 |
| Bertie County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 8 |
| Bladen County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 18 |
| Brunswick County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 15 |
| Buncombe County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 29 |
| Burke County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 17 |
| Cabarrus County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 18 |
| Caldwell County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 11 |
| Camden County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 5 |
| Carteret County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 19 |
| Caswell County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 14 |
| Catawba County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 16 |
| Chatham County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 21 |
| Cherokee County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 7 |
| Chowan County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 3 |
| Clay County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 3 |
| Cleveland County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 16 |
| Columbus County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 16 |
| Craven County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 14 |
| Cumberland County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 27 |
| Currituck County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 15 |
| Dare County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 14 |
| Davidson County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 18 |
| Davie County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 5 |
| Duplin County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 19 |
| Durham County | 7.50% | +0.750% | 24 |
| Edgecombe County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 13 |
| Forsyth County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 43 |
| Franklin County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 12 |
| Gaston County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 21 |
| Gates County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 7 |
| Graham County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 2 |
| Granville County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 12 |
| Greene County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 10 |
| Guilford County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 54 |
| Halifax County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 10 |
| Harnett County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 22 |
| Haywood County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 7 |
| Henderson County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 22 |
| Hertford County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 7 |
| Hoke County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 8 |
| Hyde County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 5 |
| Iredell County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 21 |
| Jackson County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 12 |
| Johnston County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 21 |
| Jones County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 10 |
| Lee County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 7 |
| Lenoir County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 12 |
| Lincoln County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 12 |
| Macon County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 6 |
| Madison County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 5 |
| Martin County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 12 |
| McDowell County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 9 |
| Mecklenburg County | 8.25% | +1.500% | 87 |
| Mitchell County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 3 |
| Montgomery County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 10 |
| Moore County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 21 |
| Nash County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 15 |
| New Hanover County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 17 |
| Northampton County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 13 |
| Onslow County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 19 |
| Orange County | 7.50% | +0.750% | 16 |
| Pamlico County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 11 |
| Pasquotank County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 3 |
| Pender County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 12 |
| Perquimans County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 4 |
| Person County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 9 |
| Pitt County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 20 |
| Polk County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 6 |
| Randolph County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 25 |
| Richmond County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 10 |
| Robeson County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 17 |
| Rockingham County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 14 |
| Rowan County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 21 |
| Rutherford County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 18 |
| Sampson County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 18 |
| Scotland County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 8 |
| Stanly County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 14 |
| Stokes County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 14 |
| Surry County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 13 |
| Swain County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 4 |
| Transylvania County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 9 |
| Tyrrell County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 1 |
| Union County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 14 |
| Vance County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 8 |
| Wake County | 7.25% | +0.500% | 69 |
| Warren County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 10 |
| Washington County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 3 |
| Watauga County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 12 |
| Wayne County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 15 |
| Wilkes County | 7.00% | +0.250% | 22 |
| Wilson County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 18 |
| Yadkin County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 6 |
| Yancey County | 6.75% | +0.000% | 4 |
Highest & lowest North Carolina rates
The ten highest and ten lowest distinct combined rates published anywhere in this data set.
Highest
| Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | 8.25% |
| Durham County | 7.50% |
| Wake County | 7.25% |
| Alexander County | 7.00% |
| Alamance County | 6.75% |
Lowest
| Jurisdiction | Rate |
|---|---|
| Alamance County | 6.75% |
| Alexander County | 7.00% |
| Wake County | 7.25% |
| Durham County | 7.50% |
| Mecklenburg County | 8.25% |
North Carolina grocery & drug rates
Jurisdictions where the official data records a groceries/drugs rate different from the general combined rate above.
| Jurisdiction | General Rate | Groceries / Drugs Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Alexander County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Alleghany County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Anson County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Ashe County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Avery County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Beaufort County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Bertie County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Bladen County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Brunswick County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Buncombe County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Burke County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Cabarrus County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Caldwell County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Camden County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Carteret County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Caswell County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Catawba County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Chatham County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Cherokee County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Chowan County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Clay County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Cleveland County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Columbus County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Craven County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Cumberland County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Currituck County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Dare County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Davidson County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Davie County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Duplin County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Durham County | 7.50% | 2.00% |
| Edgecombe County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Forsyth County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Franklin County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Gaston County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Gates County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Graham County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Granville County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Greene County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Guilford County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Halifax County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Harnett County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Haywood County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Henderson County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Hertford County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Hoke County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Hyde County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Iredell County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Jackson County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Johnston County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Jones County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Lee County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Lenoir County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Lincoln County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Macon County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Madison County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Martin County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| McDowell County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Mecklenburg County | 8.25% | 2.00% |
| Mitchell County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Montgomery County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Moore County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Nash County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| New Hanover County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Northampton County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Onslow County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Orange County | 7.50% | 2.00% |
| Pamlico County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Pasquotank County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Pender County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Perquimans County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Person County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Pitt County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Polk County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Randolph County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Richmond County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Robeson County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Rockingham County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Rowan County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Rutherford County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Sampson County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Scotland County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Stanly County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Stokes County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Surry County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Swain County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Transylvania County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Tyrrell County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Union County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Vance County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Wake County | 7.25% | 2.00% |
| Warren County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Washington County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Watauga County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Wayne County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Wilkes County | 7.00% | 2.00% |
| Wilson County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Yadkin County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
| Yancey County | 6.75% | 2.00% |
How North Carolina's rate is built
Every combined rate in the tables above starts from the same 6.75% statewide base component, per this data set. On top of that, North Carolina publishes 2 distinct special-district types that can add to the county or city rate depending on the address.
| District Type | Jurisdictions | Rate Range |
|---|---|---|
| Transit/special district (type 26) | 1 | 1.000% |
| Transit/special district (type 79) | 5 | 0.000% – 0.500% |
Rate distribution across North Carolina
Every distinct combined rate published in this data set, and how many jurisdictions charge it.
| Combined Rate | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|
| 6.75% | 50 |
| 7.00% | 46 |
| 7.25% | 1 |
| 7.50% | 2 |
| 8.25% | 1 |
Where this data comes from
Rates come from the official Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) "Rate and Boundary" files that North Carolina, as an SST member state, is required to publish free to the public under SSUTA §§305 and 307 (streamlinedsalestax.org). Jurisdiction names (city, county, and county-subdivision) are matched against U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer name files by FIPS code — this page invents no jurisdiction names of its own. The data set behind this page was last pulled 2026-08-04; SST posts updated files ahead of each calendar quarter and issues mid-quarter corrections when a jurisdiction changes its rate.
Need a single ZIP code instead of the full table? Use the sales tax rate by ZIP code lookup, or the general sales tax calculator for a quick estimate with grocery exemptions.
Frequently asked questions
What's the sales tax rate in Mecklenburg County?
Mecklenburg County has a combined sales tax rate of 8.25%, per the official Streamlined Sales Tax data as of 2026-08-04. It's the largest jurisdiction in this data set by ZIP-code coverage, used here as the best available size proxy since the SST files don't publish population figures.
Why do sales tax rates vary within the same ZIP code in North Carolina?
A combined rate is a stack, not a single number: the state's own component (6.75% per this data set) plus whatever the county, city, and any special district (transit, tourism, public safety) each add on top. ZIP codes were drawn by the Postal Service to route mail, not to follow city or county lines, so a single ZIP can straddle more than one of those taxing boundaries — which is why the ZIP-code calculator above sometimes shows a range instead of one figure.
How often is this North Carolina sales tax data updated?
The underlying data set was last pulled 2026-08-04. This site checks for a refresh monthly, but the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board itself only republishes member-state rate and boundary files on a quarterly cadence (ahead of each calendar quarter, with mid-quarter corrections when a jurisdiction changes its rate) — so most months there is nothing new to pull.
Are groceries taxed differently in North Carolina?
Yes, in at least some jurisdictions. The official data records a separate groceries/drugs rate for 100 of the jurisdictions on this page — for example Alamance County charges 6.75% on general purchases but 2.00% on qualifying groceries and drugs. Where no separate figure appears in the tables below, this data set doesn't record a grocery carve-out different from the general rate for that jurisdiction.
Which North Carolina jurisdiction has the highest combined sales tax rate?
Mecklenburg County (Mecklenburg County), at 8.25% combined, per the official Streamlined Sales Tax data as of 2026-08-04. At the other end, Alamance County sits at 6.75% — see the highest & lowest table below for the full top-10 spread each way.
Sources
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