Credit card processing and merchant services in Winston-Salem, NC
Winston-Salem sales carry 7% tax: North Carolina's 4.75% plus Forsyth County's 2.25%, with no transit tax. Greensboro, next door in Guilford County, charges 6.75%, so a two-county business needs two rates.
Forsyth County's sales tax rate is 7% on most taxable sales, according to the Department of Revenue's current rate list. That's North Carolina's 4.75% plus a 2.25% county rate. Durham County has the same county rate but adds a 0.5% transit tax; Forsyth has no transit tax, so its total stops at 7%. Mecklenburg's extra 1% from July 1, 2026 doesn't reach here either.
The neighbor to watch is Guilford County. Greensboro's rate is 6.75%, so the two Triad cities are a quarter of a point apart. An $80 taxable sale comes to $5.60 in tax at a Winston-Salem register and $5.40 at a Greensboro one. If you work a market or event in Guilford, or open a second store there, set the rate for the county where the sale happens, and keep the Forsyth rate on your home terminals.
Card fees work the way they do across the state. We haven't found a North Carolina statute on surcharges, so Visa and Mastercard rules set the limits, and our North Carolina page lists them with sources. If you're weighing a surcharge, price out a lower processing rate first. It saves money without adding a line to anyone's receipt.
The Census Bureau estimated Winston-Salem's population at 257,271 on July 1, 2025, up 3.1% from its 2020 base. For the counter, we supply POS terminals for chip, tap and swipe. For markets and pop-ups, mobile payments work with tap to pay on a phone or a mobile card reader. Every account is on interchange-plus pricing with a dedicated rep, and a free statement review shows whether the rate you pay today is a fair one.
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in Winston-Salem?
7% on most taxable sales in Forsyth County: the 4.75% state rate plus a 2.25% county rate, according to the Department of Revenue's current rate list. Forsyth doesn't levy a transit tax. Check that list again whenever you open a location in another county.
Why is Winston-Salem's rate higher than Greensboro's?
Forsyth County's local rate is 2.25% and Guilford County's is 2%, so Greensboro sits at 6.75% to Forsyth's 7%. Neither county adds the 0.5% transit tax. A business selling in both cities needs a separate rate for each, and our Greensboro page has Guilford's numbers.
Did Mecklenburg County's July 2026 increase change Forsyth's rate?
No. The extra 1% that took effect July 1, 2026 applies only in Mecklenburg County, which the Department of Revenue says is the only county with that additional rate. Forsyth stays at 7%. A Charlotte location charges 8.25%; see our Charlotte page for the breakdown.
Can a Winston-Salem business add a card surcharge?
Yes. We haven't found a North Carolina law that restricts surcharges, so the networks set the terms: up to 3% or your cost on Visa credit, up to 4% or your cost on Mastercard credit, none on debit or prepaid cards, and disclosure at the entrance, at checkout and on the receipt.
Can a Winston-Salem shop go cashless?
We haven't found a statewide North Carolina law that requires businesses to accept cash. Before you stop taking it, check for any local rule and think about how many of your customers still pay that way. A card-only counter also sends every sale through processing, so your rate matters more.
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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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