Credit card processing and merchant services in North Carolina
North Carolina leaves card surcharge limits to Visa and Mastercard, but its sales tax changes county by county, and Mecklenburg's rate rose to 8.25% on July 1, 2026.
Card surcharges
Surcharging allowedNo North Carolina surcharge statute that we've found; Visa caps credit surcharges at 3% and Mastercard at 4%.
Sales tax
4.75% state rate, plus county
Last checked
October 6, 2026
North Carolina's sales tax is built in layers. The state's general rate is 4.75%. Counties add a local rate, 2% in both Mecklenburg and Wake, and some add a 0.5% transit rate on top. Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, added another 1% on July 1, 2026, after voters approved it in November 2025, which lifted its general rate to 8.25%. Wake County, which includes Raleigh, is at 7.25%.
If you sell in more than one county, give each location its own tax setup and recheck it whenever NCDOR announces a change. Restaurants have one more layer to watch: some counties levy a prepared food and beverage tax that's filed with the county rather than the state. Wake County's is 1%, and Mecklenburg runs its own monthly return for its version.
Card surcharges are simpler. As far as we can tell, North Carolina has no statute on them, so the network rules govern: up to 3% or your cost on Visa credit, 4% or your cost on Mastercard credit, nothing on debit or prepaid cards, and clear notice before the sale. Growth is the other North Carolina story. Charlotte added 20,731 residents between 2024 and 2025, more than any other US city, and Raleigh passed 500,000.
Our Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville and Cary pages go into each county's details. Statewide, Clearo offers interchange-plus pricing, no long-term contract, and a free statement review for any business that wants to know what it really pays.
What North Carolina merchants should know
Credit card surcharges in North Carolina
We haven't found a North Carolina statute that bans or caps credit card surcharges, and the 2016 NCSL table lists none. The card network rules apply:
- Visa: North Carolina merchants can go up to their merchant discount rate or 3%, whichever is lower, and must tell their acquirer 30 days before they start.
- Mastercard: North Carolina sellers can't go above their average effective merchant discount rate for Mastercard credit or 4%.
- No surcharge on debit or prepaid cards.
- Disclosure to North Carolina customers at the point of entry, at the point of sale and on the receipt.
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures, Credit or debit card surcharges statutes (2016 table); Visa, U.S. Merchant Surcharge Q and A (PDF); Mastercard, Merchant surcharge rules (US)
State, county and transit sales tax
North Carolina's general state rate is 4.75%. Counties add local rates, and some add a transit rate.
In Mecklenburg County the general rate is 8.25% from July 1, 2026: 4.75% state, 2% county, 0.5% transit and a new 1% additional county rate that voters approved on November 4, 2025. Wake County's general rate is 7.25%: 4.75% state, 2% county and 0.5% transit.
Sources: North Carolina Department of Revenue, Important notice: Mecklenburg County sales and use tax increase; North Carolina Department of Revenue, Mecklenburg County to impose additional one percent sales tax beginning July 1 (June 24, 2026); North Carolina Department of Revenue, Current sales and use tax rates
County prepared food and beverage taxes
Some counties tax prepared food and beverages separately from sales tax, and those returns go to the county. Wake County has levied a 1% prepared food and beverage tax since January 1, 1993; the merchant collects it on top of state sales tax and remits it to the county monthly.
Mecklenburg County collects its prepared food and beverage tax on a monthly county return, which since August 2024 has a line for sales already taxed by a marketplace facilitator.
Sources: Wake County, Prepared food and beverage tax; Mecklenburg County Office of Tax Administration, Prepared food and beverage tax returns are changing
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Common questions
Are credit card surcharges legal in North Carolina?
Yes. We haven't found a North Carolina statute that restricts them, so the card network rules set the limits: up to 3% or your merchant discount rate on Visa credit, up to 4% or your average effective rate on Mastercard credit, 30 days' notice to your acquirer for Visa, and disclosure at the entrance, at checkout and on the receipt.
What is the sales tax rate in North Carolina?
The state's general rate is 4.75%, and counties add their own. In Wake County, a 2% county rate and a 0.5% transit rate bring the total to 7.25%. Mecklenburg is at 8.25% after adding 1% on July 1, 2026. Check NCDOR's current rate list for your county before you set up a register.
Why did my Mecklenburg County sales tax rate change?
Voters approved an additional 1% county sales and use tax on November 4, 2025, and it took effect July 1, 2026. Mecklenburg's general rate went from 7.25% to 8.25%. If your POS, online store or invoicing software still uses 7.25%, you're undercharging, and the shortfall is still owed.
Do North Carolina restaurants pay extra tax on prepared food?
In some counties, yes. Wake County adds a 1% prepared food and beverage tax that the merchant collects and sends to the county every month, and Mecklenburg County has its own prepared food and beverage tax return. Check with your county's tax office before you set up your POS.
Which North Carolina cities do you have pages for?
Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville and Cary, each with its county's rates and local taxes. We work with businesses anywhere in the state, remotely, with a dedicated rep for every account.
Other states we serve besides North Carolina
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- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
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Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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