Credit card processing and merchant services in Cary, NC
Cary's town limits reach into Wake, Chatham and Durham counties, and North Carolina sets local sales tax by county. A Cary register might need 7%, 7.25% or 7.5%, depending on the address.
Cary is one town in three counties. The Town's own tax page says its limits now span Wake, Chatham and Durham counties, and because North Carolina sets local sales tax county by county, a Cary address can come with any of three rates.
In the Wake County part of town, the rate is 7.25%: 4.75% state, 2% county and 0.5% transit. The Department of Revenue lists Chatham County at 7%, which is the state rate plus a 2.25% local rate, with no transit tax. Durham County is at 7.5%, the same 2.25% local rate plus a 0.5% transit tax. On a $200 taxable sale, that's $14.50 in tax on the Wake side, $14.00 in Chatham and $15.00 in Durham.
Restaurants on the Wake side collect one more tax. Wake County's 1% prepared food and beverage tax is collected on top of sales tax and paid to the county each month, so a Wake-side dinner check carries 8.25% in all. It's a Wake County levy, so a cafe in the Chatham or Durham part of Cary should ask its own county what applies rather than copying a Raleigh setup.
The practical step is to confirm your county before anyone programs a terminal. The property tax records for your address will name it. A second location across a county line gets its own tax setting, even though both receipts say Cary.
The Census Bureau estimated Cary's population at 183,582 on July 1, 2025. Card fees are the easier part: we found no North Carolina law on surcharges, so Visa's and Mastercard's caps decide, as our North Carolina page explains. Our POS terminals handle chip, tap and swipe at the counter, every account is priced on interchange-plus, and a free statement review shows what each card type costs you now.
Rules that matter in Cary
Cary's three county sales tax rates
The Town of Cary says its limits span three counties: Wake, Chatham and Durham. North Carolina's local sales tax is set by county, and the Department of Revenue lists Wake County at 7.25% (4.75% state, 2% county, 0.5% transit), Chatham County at 7% (4.75% state, 2.25% local) and Durham County at 7.5% (4.75% state, 2.25% local, 0.5% transit).
Restaurants and other sellers of prepared food in the Wake County part of town also collect Wake County's 1% prepared food and beverage tax and remit it to the county monthly.
Sources: Town of Cary, Taxes and assessments; North Carolina Department of Revenue, Current sales and use tax rates; North Carolina Department of Revenue, Instructions for Form E-500, Sales and Use Tax Return; Wake County, Prepared food and beverage tax
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in Cary, NC?
It depends on the county. Cary's town limits span Wake, Chatham and Durham counties, and the Department of Revenue's current list puts them at 7.25%, 7% and 7.5%. Restaurants in the Wake part of town also add Wake County's 1% prepared food and beverage tax.
How do I find out which county my Cary business is in?
Check the property tax records for your address, which name the county. Don't go by the town name on your mailing address, since Cary covers parts of three counties with three different sales tax rates. If your address sits near a county line, ask the county before you set up your POS.
Do Cary restaurants charge Wake County's food and beverage tax?
Restaurants in the Wake County part of Cary do. Wake has levied a 1% prepared food and beverage tax since January 1, 1993, collected on top of sales tax and remitted to the county every month. A restaurant in the Chatham or Durham part of town falls outside Wake, so it should check with its own county instead.
Will a second Cary location need a different tax rate?
Only if it's in a different county. Two stores in the Wake part of Cary both charge 7.25%, but a second store in the Chatham part charges 7%, and one in the Durham part charges 7.5%. Give each location its own tax setting, and check NCDOR's current rate list before you open.
Can a Cary business add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, within the card networks' limits, since we haven't found a North Carolina statute on surcharges. Visa caps one at your merchant discount rate or 3%, Mastercard at your average effective rate or 4%, and neither allows it on debit or prepaid cards. On an $80 credit sale, 3% comes to $2.40, and the fee has to be posted and printed on the receipt.
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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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