North Carolina income tax in 2026
North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax. Traditional 401(k) contributions lower your North Carolina taxable income as well as your federal taxable income. North Carolina then subtracts its own standard deduction of $12,750 for single filers ($25,500 married filing jointly).
North Carolina rules and notes
- Flat 3.99% for tax year 2026 (down from 4.25% in 2025); NCDOR's 2026 withholding tables (NC-30) are built on the 3.99% rate.
- SB 257, the 2026 Appropriations Act signed July 7, 2026, replaces the earlier revenue-trigger schedule with fixed future cuts: 3.49% for 2027-2029, 3.24% for 2030-2032 and 2.99% for 2033-2034 (with up to two more trigger-based cuts possible from 2035). The 2026 rate is unchanged.
- North Carolina starts from federal AGI. Standard deduction: $12,750 single/MFS, $25,500 MFJ/qualifying surviving spouse, $19,125 HOH (not indexed). No personal exemptions.
- A child deduction of up to $3,000 per qualifying child (a child for the federal child tax credit) is available, falling in $500 steps as AGI rises: MFJ $3,000 up to $40,000 AGI, $0 over $140,000 ($20,000 steps); HOH $3,000 up to $30,000, $0 over $105,000 ($15,000 steps); single/MFS $3,000 up to $20,000, $0 over $70,000 ($10,000 steps) (G.S. 105-153.5(a1)).
North Carolina take-home pay by salary
Single filer, paid every two weeks, 2026 rules, standard deduction and no pre-tax deductions; includes North Carolina income tax but not local taxes.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security + Medicare | North Carolina income tax | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $1,087 | $33,233 | $1,278.18 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,486 | $40,869 | $1,571.87 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,885 | $48,505 | $1,865.57 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,484 | $59,109 | $2,273.41 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $3,481 | $75,699 | $2,911.49 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $5,476 | $108,315 | $4,165.95 |
Hourly wages after taxes in North Carolina
Full-time (40 hours a week, 2,080 hours a year), no overtime, single filer:
| Hourly wage | Annual pay | Weekly take-home | Bi-weekly take-home | Take-home per year | Take-home per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $31,200 | $509.87 | $1,019.73 | $26,513 | $12.75 |
| $20.00 | $41,600 | $662.59 | $1,325.17 | $34,454 | $16.56 |
| $25.00 | $52,000 | $815.31 | $1,630.61 | $42,396 | $20.38 |
| $30.00 | $62,400 | $968.03 | $1,936.05 | $50,337 | $24.20 |
North Carolina vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), with the difference from North Carolina. Federal taxes are identical in every state, so the gaps come from state income tax. On a $75,000 salary, North Carolina ranks #22 of 51 (50 states and DC) for take-home pay. Nationally, take-home pay on $75,000 ranges from $56,538 in Oregon to $61,593 in states without a wage tax; the median is $59,005.
| State | State income tax | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck | vs. North Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $2,484 | $59,109 | $2,273.41 | — |
| Tennessee | None | $61,593 | $2,368.94 | +$2,484 |
| South Carolina | $2,657 | $58,935 | $2,266.75 | −$173 |
| Georgia | $2,994 | $58,599 | $2,253.79 | −$510 |
| Virginia | $3,498 | $58,094 | $2,234.39 | −$1,015 |
Neighboring state calculators: Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia. See all 50 states and DC on the national paycheck calculator.
How your North Carolina paycheck is calculated
- Gross pay for the year is your salary, or your hourly wage × hours × 52 plus overtime at 1.5×.
- Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), health premiums and HSA contributions are subtracted before federal income tax.
- Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets, your filing status’s standard deduction ($16,100 single) and credits for children and other dependents.
- Social Security and Medicare take 6.2% (up to $184,500 of wages) and 1.45%.
- North Carolina income tax is figured on the annual amount using the rules above, then divided across your paychecks.
We divide the annual totals by your number of paychecks, which is how a correctly completed 2026 Form W-4 is designed to withhold. Your employer’s withholding tables may differ by a few dollars per check. For your full-year tax bill, use the income tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $75,000 a year after taxes in North Carolina?
A single filer earning $75,000 in North Carolina takes home about $59,109 a year in 2026, or $2,273.41 per bi-weekly paycheck. That is after $7,670 of federal income tax, $5,738 of Social Security and Medicare and $2,484 of North Carolina income tax. Pre-tax 401(k) or health deductions would lower your taxes but also your take-home pay.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax in 2026. On a $75,000 salary, that works out to about $2,484 a year, or $95.53 per bi-weekly paycheck, an effective state rate of 3.31% of gross pay. Employers withhold it from each paycheck along with federal taxes.
How much is $20 an hour after taxes in North Carolina?
Full time (40 hours a week), $20 an hour is $41,600 a year. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare and North Carolina income tax, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $34,454 a year, or $1,325.17 per bi-weekly paycheck, about $16.56 per hour worked.
How does take-home pay in North Carolina compare with nearby states?
On a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), take-home pay is $59,109 a year in North Carolina. In neighboring states it ranges from $58,094 to $61,593; Tennessee (the highest nearby) is $2,484 higher. Federal taxes are the same everywhere, so the gap comes entirely from state income tax.
How much federal tax comes out of each paycheck on a $75,000 salary?
Federal taxes don’t depend on the state. For a single filer paid every two weeks on $75,000, about $295.00 of federal income tax, $178.85 of Social Security (6.2%) and $41.83 of Medicare (1.45%) come out of each 2026 paycheck, based on the $16,100 standard deduction. Children, pre-tax deductions and W-4 choices change the federal amount.