# How much is North Carolina income tax?

Estimates 2026 North Carolina income tax from federal AGI, filing status, and dependents.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/north-carolina-income-tax-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/north-carolina-income-tax-calculator.json
- Version: a00f91c998fb

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Filing status Single, Federal adjusted gross income $75,000.00, Dependents 0): On $75,000.00 of AGI, filing Single, North Carolina income tax is $2,483.78 (3.31% effective).

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| status | Filing status | Your federal filing status. |
| income | Federal adjusted gross income | Your federal AGI (Form 1040 line 11). |
| deps | Dependents | Dependents you claim, not yourself or your spouse. |
| itemized | State itemized deductions | Used if above the standard deduction. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| total | North Carolina income tax | State tax after credits, plus any local tax. |
| stateTax | State income tax | State tax after credits. |
| effectiveRate | Effective rate | Tax as a percent of AGI. |
| marginalRate | State marginal rate | State rate on the next dollar. |
| taxableIncome | State taxable income | AGI less deduction and exemptions. |
| deduction | Deduction | Standard or itemized, whichever is larger. |
| exemptions | Exemptions | Personal and dependent exemptions. |
| credits | Credits | State credits used. |

## Method

Taxable income = AGI − larger of standard or itemized deduction − exemptions; tax = state rates on taxable income − credits.

## Assumptions

- An estimate for a full-year resident, 2026 rates, not tax advice.
- Starts from federal AGI; North Carolina additions and subtractions are not modelled.
- Not modelled: part-year and nonresident returns, other state credits, and state AMT.

## Worked examples

1. status = single, income = $50,000.00, deps = 0 gives taxableIncome = $37,250.00, stateTax = $1,486.28, total = $1,486.28. Source: NCDOR, NC-30 2026 Income Tax Withholding Tables and Instructions (3.99%), https://www.ncdor.gov/income-tax-withholding-tables-and-instructions-employers/open (worked from it at AGI $50,000, single).
2. status = mfj, income = $100,000.00, deps = 2 gives taxableIncome = $74,500.00, stateTax = $2,972.55, total = $2,972.55.
3. status = hoh, income = $200,000.00, deps = 1 gives taxableIncome = $180,875.00, stateTax = $7,216.91, total = $7,216.91.
4. status = mfj, income = $125,500.00, deps = 0 gives stateTax = $3,990.00.

## FAQ

### What is the North Carolina income tax rate?

North Carolina taxes income at a flat 3.99%. For a single filer the schedule is 3.99% above $0 of taxable income. These are the 2026 rates.

### How is North Carolina income tax calculated?

Start from federal adjusted gross income. Subtract the larger of the North Carolina standard deduction and your itemized deductions, then the exemptions. Apply the rates to what is left and subtract any credits. The standard deduction is $12,750 single, $25,500 married filing jointly, $12,750 separately, and $19,125 head of household. The model has no exemptions or credits for this state.

### Does North Carolina have a local income tax?

This page has no local income tax for North Carolina; if your city or county has one, add it yourself.

### What does this North Carolina calculator leave out?

It also leaves out state additions and subtractions to federal AGI (such as retirement or Social Security exclusions), part-year and nonresident returns, and credits such as child care, earned income, and tax paid to another state.

### Which tax year do the North Carolina rates cover?

Tax year 2026, the return you file in 2027. They come from NCDOR.

### Which states have no income tax on wages?

Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. They have no page of their own, because there is no wage income tax to work out; the state income tax calculator answers 0 for them. Federal income tax and Social Security and Medicare still apply.

### Is this the same as my paycheck withholding?

No. This is the tax for the whole year on your return. Your employer withholds by the state's own withholding formula, so your refund or balance due is the difference between the two.

## Sources

- NCDOR, NC-30 2026 Income Tax Withholding Tables and Instructions (3.99%), https://www.ncdor.gov/income-tax-withholding-tables-and-instructions-employers/open; 2025 D-401 instructions (standard deduction), https://www.ncdor.gov/2025-d-401-individual-income-tax-instructions/open