Credit card processing and merchant services in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh passed 500,000 residents in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimate. Its restaurants add Wake County's 1% food and beverage tax to 7.25% sales tax, and card fees follow network rules.
Raleigh crossed 500,000 residents between 2024 and 2025, according to the Census Bureau, and its July 2025 estimate is 506,306. For businesses, the tax setup is steady: Wake County's general sales tax rate is 7.25%, made up of the 4.75% state rate, a 2% county rate and a 0.5% transit rate.
Restaurants and food sellers pay one more tax. Wake County has levied a 1% prepared food and beverage tax since January 1, 1993. It covers prepared food and drinks sold at retail for eating on or off the premises, and the county's page says it reaches any business that dispenses beverages or prepares food, down to popcorn and cotton candy. You collect it on top of sales tax and send it to the county every month, so a restaurant check in Raleigh carries 8.25% in total.
Card fees work the same as anywhere in North Carolina. We haven't found a state surcharge statute, so Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% caps apply, debit and prepaid cards are off limits, and you disclose the fee before the sale and on the receipt. A Raleigh restaurant adding 3% to a $90 check collects $2.70, on a bill that already carries about $7.43 in tax.
Health care is a big part of the local economy too, with $7.39 billion in receipts in 2022 per the Economic Census, and our medical and dental page covers how we work with practices. Whatever you sell, interchange-plus pricing shows what each card costs, and a free statement review puts numbers on it.
Rules that matter in Raleigh
Wake County prepared food and beverage tax
Wake County levies a 1% tax on the sale price of prepared food and beverages sold at retail for consumption on or off the premises, in effect since January 1, 1993. It applies to restaurants, sandwich shops and delicatessens, and to any business that dispenses beverages or prepares food such as popcorn or cotton candy.
The merchant collects it in addition to state sales tax and remits it to the county monthly.
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in Raleigh?
7.25% on most taxable sales: 4.75% state, 2% Wake County and 0.5% transit. Prepared food and beverages also carry Wake County's 1% food and beverage tax, so a restaurant bill comes to 8.25% in total.
Does the Wake County food and beverage tax apply to my business?
If you sell prepared food or drinks at retail, probably. The county applies it to restaurants, sandwich shops and delicatessens, and to any business that dispenses beverages or prepares food, even popcorn or cotton candy. You collect 1% on top of sales tax and remit it to the county each month.
Can Raleigh businesses add a credit card surcharge?
Yes. North Carolina has no surcharge statute that we've found, so the network caps apply: 3% or your cost on Visa credit and 4% or your cost on Mastercard credit, with nothing on debit or prepaid cards. Post the fee at the entrance and checkout, give Visa's 30 days' notice through your processor, and print it on receipts.
Is Raleigh's sales tax rate the same as Charlotte's?
No. Since July 1, 2026, Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, charges 8.25% after adding a 1% county rate. Wake County stays at 7.25%. If you sell in both, set up separate tax codes, and see our Charlotte page for the details.
Do you work with Raleigh medical and dental practices?
Yes, along with retailers, restaurants and service businesses. A practice can take payments at the front desk with a terminal and by phone or payment link with a virtual terminal. Our medical and dental page explains how that works on interchange-plus pricing.
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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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