North Carolina doesn't collect sales tax on purchases of most prescription drugs. Groceries and prepared food are subject to special sales tax rates under North Carolina law. In most states, necessities such as groceries, clothes, and drugs are exempted from the sales tax or charged at a lower sales tax rate.

Some items may not be eligible for these reduced sales tax rates, such as expensive clothing, unhealthy food or drinks like soda, and certain non-essential pharmaceuticals. North Carolina does not treat candy or soda as groceries, which means they are not subject to reduced grocery sales tax rates. Other items including gasoline, alcohol, and cigarettes are subject to various North Carolina excise taxes in addition to the sales tax.

North Carolina has seven sales tax holidays, during which certain items can be purchased sales-tax free. For more details, see the North Carolina sales tax holiday calendar.

In some states, items like alcohol and prepared food (including restaurant meals and some premade supermarket items) are charged at a higher sales tax rate. Prepared Food is subject to a higher state sales tax then other items. The NC sales tax applicable to the sale of cars, boats, and real estate sales may also vary by jurisdiction. North Carolina's sales tax rates for commonly exempted items are as follows:

$100 Restaurant Dinner	$100 of groceries	$100 in clothes	$100 of consumer products
$8.50 sales tax $108.50 total	$2.00 sales tax $102.00 total	$4.75 sales tax $104.75 total	$4.75 sales tax $104.75 total

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North Carolina Sales Tax Exemption Certificate

Unlike a Value Added Tax (VAT), the North Carolina sales tax only applies to end consumers of the product. Individuals and companies who are purchasing goods for resale, improvement, or as raw materials can use a North Carolina Sales Tax Exemption Form to buy these goods tax-free.

Companies or individuals who wish to make a qualifying purchase tax-free must have a North Carolina state sales tax exemption certificate, which can be obtained from the North Carolina Department of Revenue . On making an exempt purchase, Exemption Certificate holders may submit a completed North Carolina Sales Tax Exemption Form to the vendor instead of paying sales tax.

Sales tax exemption forms (as well as business sales tax id applications, sales tax returns, and the full North Carolina sales tax code) can be downloaded from the North Carolina Department of Revenue here .

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North Carolina Sales Tax Calculator

Purchase Details:

$ in zip code Enter the zip code where the purchase was made for local sales tax

Whenever you make a purchase at a licensed North Carolina retailer, your sales tax will be automatically calculated and added to your bill. To lookup the sales tax due on any purchase, use our North Carolina sales tax calculator.

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North Carolina Use Tax [View Main Article]

If you buy goods and are not charged the North Carolina Sales Tax by the retailer, such as with online and out-of-state purchases, you are supposed to pay the 4.75% sales tax (less any foreign sales tax paid) for these items yourself as the North Carolina Use Tax.

Your are expected to voluntarily list your liable purchases on a North Carolina Use Tax Return, which should be attached with payment to your North Carolina Income Tax Return. Historically, compliance rates with with the North Carolina Use Tax have been low.

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North Carolina Local Sales Taxes

North Carolina does not allow local jurisdictions like cities or counties to collect a local sales tax. The North Carolina state sales tax of 4.75% is applicable statewide. You can view the sales tax rates for various cities in North Carolina here.

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