Credit card processing and merchant services in Charlotte, NC
Mecklenburg County's sales tax went up a full point on July 1, 2026. If your Charlotte register or online checkout still charges 7.25%, fix that first, then look at what you pay to take cards.
The biggest change at Charlotte registers this year had nothing to do with cards. On July 1, 2026, Mecklenburg County began levying an additional 1% sales and use tax that voters approved on November 4, 2025, and the general rate went from 7.25% to 8.25%. The Department of Revenue breaks it down as 4.75% state, 2% county, 0.5% transit and the new 1%. Any register, online store or invoice template set up before July needs checking.
Restaurants have a second county tax to file. Mecklenburg collects a prepared food and beverage tax on its own monthly return, and since the August 2024 return the form has had a line to deduct sales that a delivery marketplace already collected tax on. If you sell through third-party delivery apps, that line keeps you from paying the county twice.
Charlotte gained 20,731 residents between 2024 and 2025, more than any other US city, for a July 2025 estimate of 964,784, according to the Census Bureau. The 2022 Economic Census counted $24.4 billion in retail sales in the city.
On card fees, North Carolina has no surcharge statute that we've found, so Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% caps apply. With 8.25% tax already on the receipt, think about how a fee will look to customers before adding one. Clearo's interchange-plus pricing and a free statement review let you compare that against simply paying less to process.
Rules that matter in Charlotte
Mecklenburg's additional 1% sales tax
Mecklenburg County levies an additional 1.00% county rate of sales and use tax from July 1, 2026, approved by voters on November 4, 2025. The general rate in the county is 8.25%.
Update every register, online checkout and invoicing template that calculates tax.
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, Frequently asked questions: additional 1% sales and use tax for Mecklenburg County
Prepared food and beverage tax
Mecklenburg County's prepared food and beverage tax is filed on a monthly county return. Starting with the August 2024 return (for July sales), the form has a line to deduct sales already reported and taxed by a marketplace facilitator, such as a third party that takes and delivers orders for you. County taxes are due on the 20th of each month.
Sources: Mecklenburg County Office of Tax Administration, Prepared food and beverage tax returns are changing; Mecklenburg County Office of Tax Administration, Important tax due dates
Payment services we provide
Guides worth reading next
All guidesFees and pricing
Cross-border fees: what merchants pay on foreign cards
Cross-border fees are what you pay to accept a card from another country. What each fee is, where it shows on your statement and how to keep it down.
Industries
Credit card processing for lawyers: trust accounts and fees
Credit card processing for lawyers: keep unearned fees in trust, keep card fees and chargebacks out of it, and check your state bar's rules first.
Hardware and POS
How to accept credit card payments on your phone or by phone
How to accept credit card payments on a phone: Tap to Pay on iPhone and Android, Bluetooth readers, and taking cards over a call with a virtual terminal.
Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in Charlotte?
8.25% on most taxable sales since July 1, 2026: 4.75% state, 2% county, 0.5% transit and Mecklenburg County's new 1% additional rate. Before July 1, 2026, the rate was 7.25%.
When did Mecklenburg County's sales tax go up?
On July 1, 2026. Voters approved the additional 1% county sales and use tax on November 4, 2025. If a POS, online store or invoice template was set up before July and nobody has touched it since, it's probably still charging 7.25%.
How does the county food and beverage tax work with delivery apps?
Since the August 2024 return (for July sales), Mecklenburg's prepared food and beverage tax form has a line to deduct sales that a marketplace facilitator already reported and collected tax on. A third party that takes and delivers orders for you counts as one. Report your sales, then deduct those on that line.
Can a Charlotte business add a credit card surcharge?
Yes. North Carolina has no surcharge statute that we've found, so the card networks set the limits: 3% or your cost on Visa credit, 4% or your cost on Mastercard credit, nothing on debit or prepaid cards, and disclosure before the sale and on the receipt. On a $150 order, 3% is $4.50.
Do you work with Charlotte businesses in person?
No. We work with Charlotte merchants remotely, and every account gets a dedicated rep. We set up POS terminals, online payments and mobile payments, and price them on interchange-plus with no long-term contract.
More North Carolina cities besides Charlotte
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.
Let's talk about your payments
Tell us about your business and how you take payments now, and a Clearo rep will reach out within one business day.