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Payroll Stack

North Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026

North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax and withholds at 4.09%. Estimate your take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina withholding.

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Your pay in North Carolina

How are you paid?

Other states are coming soon.

Check if you have more than one job, or you and your spouse both work, and you ticked Step 2(c).

Traditional (pre-tax). Lowers income tax, not FICA.

Pre-tax (Section 125). Lowers income tax and FICA.

From your Form NC-4; many people claim 0.

More W-4 and paycheck options

Include any tips or overtime deduction you claim here.

Roth 401(k) and similar.

Optional. Places the Social Security cap and the extra Medicare tax.

Estimated take-home pay per paycheck

$1,629.11

$42,356.86 a year, 26 paychecks in North Carolina

Paycheck breakdown
ItemPer paycheckPer year
Gross pay$2,000.00$52,000.00
Federal income tax−$156.15−$4,059.90
Social Security (6.2%)−$124.00−$3,224.00
Medicare (1.45%)−$29.00−$754.00
North Carolina income tax−$61.74−$1,605.24
Take-home pay$1,629.11$42,356.86

Total taxes: $370.89 per paycheck, $9,643.14 a year. Amounts are shown in cents; payroll systems may round withholding to whole dollars.

Rates as of: IRS Pub 15-T (2026), rev. Dec 3, 2025 · SSA 2026 · North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Revenue, NC-30 Income Tax Withholding Tables and Instructions for Employers (2026). Methodology and sources

This is payroll withholding, not your final tax bill. Your actual tax may differ when you file.

North Carolina payroll taxes in 2026

State income tax withholding
4.09% flat
  • North Carolina’s 2026 income tax rate is 3.99%, but employers withhold at 4.09% (the rate plus 0.1%).
  • The NC-4 standard deduction is $12,750 for single and married filers and $19,125 for head of household; each NC-4 allowance is $2,500.
  • Married people each file their own NC-4, so the deduction per paycheck is the same as for a single filer.
  • State wages are assumed to equal federal income tax wages (401(k) and Section 125 contributions excluded).

Rates in effect January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026; checked against the sources on October 1, 2026. Sources: North Carolina Department of Revenue, NC-30 Income Tax Withholding Tables and Instructions for Employers (2026).

Paycheck calculators for nearby states

  • Virginia (coming soon)
  • Tennessee
  • Georgia (coming soon)
  • South Carolina (coming soon)

See all states

North Carolina paycheck questions

Does North Carolina have income tax?

North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax and withholds at 4.09%. The NC-4 standard deduction is $12,750 for single and married filers and $19,125 for head of household; each NC-4 allowance is $2,500. Married people each file their own NC-4, so the deduction per paycheck is the same as for a single filer.

Are local taxes in North Carolina included?

No. City, county and school district taxes are not included in this estimate. If you pay one, your paycheck will be smaller than shown.

Do 401(k) contributions reduce Social Security tax?

No. Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) contributions lower the wages used for federal income tax, but not for Social Security and Medicare. Section 125 benefits (health, dental and vision premiums, and HSA contributions through a cafeteria plan) lower both. In Pennsylvania, 401(k) contributions are also subject to state income tax.

Is this tax advice?

No. It is an estimate of payroll withholding, not your final tax bill and not tax, legal or financial advice. Your actual tax may differ when you file. For your situation, use the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (irs.gov/w4app) or a tax professional.

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