North Carolina charges 3.99% flat state income tax. Use the quarterly tax estimator pre-loaded with North Carolina rates.
Open Quarterly Tax Estimator →Quarterly estimated payments in North Carolina must cover both your federal and state obligations. North Carolina applies a flat 3.99% rate, and most states require their own quarterly payment schedule that may differ from the IRS dates. This estimator pre-loads North Carolina's tax rates so you can calculate both federal and state quarterly amounts in one place, avoiding underpayment penalties at both levels.
North Carolina levies a flat 3.99% state income tax on all taxable income regardless of how much you earn. This makes tax planning straightforward: for every additional dollar you earn, 3.99 cents goes to North Carolina. North Carolina does not impose local income taxes, so the 3.99% flat rate is the only state-level income tax you owe.
The table below shows what you actually keep at five salary levels in North Carolina, accounting for federal tax, FICA, and North Carolina's flat 3.99% state tax.
See how North Carolina compares to other South states. Each link takes you to the quarterly tax estimator landing page for that state.
For a comprehensive breakdown of North Carolina’s tax structure, salary comparisons, cost-of-living analysis, and more, visit the full North Carolina take-home pay page.