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How North Carolina Paycheck Tax Is Calculated (2026)
Source: North Carolina Department of Revenue| Flat state rate | 3.99% |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction (single) | $12,750 |
Federal Tax & FICA (shared across all states)
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
|---|---|
| Single | $16,100 |
| Married Filing Jointly | $32,200 |
| Head of Household | $24,150 |
| Federal brackets (all filing statuses) | 10% / 12% / 22% / 24% / 32% / 35% / 37% |
|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% up to $184,500 wage base |
| Medicare | 1.45% on all wages, +0.9% above $200,000 single/HoH, $250,000 MFJ |
Guideline version 2026-NC-v1 · Last verified 2026-07-26
North Carolina Paycheck Calculator FAQ
Is North Carolina's income tax rate still dropping?
Yes. Under Session Law 2023-134, North Carolina's flat rate has phased down annually — 4.5% (2024), 4.25% (2025), 3.99% (2026) — with further cuts to 3.75% (2027) and 3.5% (2028) scheduled if state revenue triggers are met.
What is North Carolina's standard deduction for 2026?
$12,750 for single filers under current law. A pending bill (S437) would raise it to $13,000, but that had not been enacted as of this page's last-verified date — check ncdor.gov for the final figure.
Does North Carolina have local income tax?
No. North Carolina counties and municipalities do not levy separate local income taxes on wages.
Methodology & Source
North Carolina state tax figures sourced from North Carolina Department of Revenue (https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax/tax-rate-schedules), citing Session Law 2023-134 — phased-down flat rate, 3.99% for taxable years after 2025. Federal brackets, standard deductions (single/MFJ/HoH), and FICA constants sourced from the IRS (Revenue Procedure 2025-32; married-filing-jointly Additional Medicare threshold of $250,000 is a separate, unindexed statutory figure). North Carolina's married-filing-jointly and head-of-household figures have been independently verified against the source above.
Bonus federal withholding uses the flat supplemental-wage rate (22%, 37% above $1,000,000 cumulative supplemental wages/year), per IRS Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide, 2026 edition — the alternative "aggregate method" is not modeled.
This is an estimate based on standard single-filer federal, FICA, and NC state calculations. Actual withholding may differ based on your W-4 elections, pre-tax deductions (401k, health insurance), and other factors. NC's flat rate is scheduled to keep dropping annually — check ncdor.gov for the current year's confirmed figure.
Guideline version: 2026-NC-v1 · Effective: 2026-01-01 · Last verified: 2026-07-26