North Carolina Capital Gains Tax 2026: Flat 4.5% state rate

North Carolina capital gains are modeled as Flat 4.5% state rate. Use this free calculator to estimate capital gains tax in North Carolina, including federal rates, NIIT when applicable, and North Carolina's state treatment (flat 4.5% state rate).

State treatment: Flat 4.5% state rate·Official source ↗

Rates last verified: August 2026

Capital Gains Calculator

Federal · NIIT · All 50 states

2026 ratesIRS verified

Follow the three steps, save the sale, then calculate. Required fields are marked with *.

Your tax profile

These apply to every sale in this estimate.

Tax year

Filing status

State

Annual taxable income (before these gains)

Capital loss carried from prior years

What you sold

Prices and quantity for this lot. Give it a name if you will add more than one sale.

Asset type

Asset name

Buy price

Sell price

Quantity / units

Selling expenses

Repurchased within 30 days (wash-sale check)

When you bought and sold

The IRS uses these dates to decide short-term vs long-term rates.

Buy date

Sell date

Next: Save this sale to the order log, then click Calculate now. Tax results do not update until you calculate.

Order log

Sales included in this tax estimate.

Please fill in the details to see your results. Follow the three steps on the left, then save a sale here.

North Carolina capital gains tax overview

North Carolina capital gains tax planning starts with the federal rules, then layers on North Carolina's own treatment (flat 4.5% state rate). This calculator estimates both so you can see a combined effective rate before you sell stocks, crypto, real estate, or other capital assets.

Federally, short-term gains (held one year or less) are taxed as ordinary income, while long-term gains generally use 0%, 15%, or 20% preferential rates for tax years 2025 and 2026. High earners may also owe the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax when MAGI exceeds the IRS threshold for their filing status.

North Carolina applies a flat state rate to capital gains in our model (Flat 4.5% state rate). Flat-rate states are simpler to estimate than graduated systems, but deductions, credits, and local rules can still change your final bill — always confirm with the official revenue agency.

North Carolina figures in this model are drawn from the official source we cite for the state: https://www.ncdor.gov/. Confirm the current-year statute or agency page before you file — rates and special rules can change.

North Carolina is encoded as a flat 4.5% state rate on taxable capital gain. The state line is that 4.5% times taxable gain in this model.

Short-term and long-term gains use the same 4.5% North Carolina rate here. Only the federal column changes with the one-year holding test.

Official source: https://www.ncdor.gov/.

Use the calculator above with filing status and income to stack federal long-term or short-term tax, NIIT, and North Carolina state tax. Compare nearby states from the links below, review our methodology for data sources (including North Carolina's official reference), and consult a CPA before filing. This page is educational and not tax advice.

North Carolina rate snapshot

Category	flat
Summary	Flat 4.5% state rate
Abbreviation	NC
Flat / modeled rate	4.50%

Illustrated tax on a long-term gain

Long-term stock gain while living in North Carolina. Federal and NIIT use the same income on every state page. The North Carolina column is the only state tax that changes.

Gain	Federal	NIIT	North Carolina	Texas state tax
$50,000.00	$7,500.00	$0.00	$2,250.00	$0.00
$100,000.00	$15,000.00	$0.00	$4,500.00	$0.00
$250,000.00	$37,500.00	$4,940.00	$11,250.00	$0.00

Single filer, tax year 2026, $80,000.00 of other taxable income. Texas is the no-tax comparison. Illustration only, not your return.

Always verify rates with theNorth Carolina revenue agencyand review ourmethodology. Not tax advice.

FAQ

North Carolina FAQs

How does North Carolina tax capital gains?

North Carolina is modeled as a flat-rate state: Flat 4.5% state rate. We apply that modeled rate to taxable gains after federal asset-class rules. Federal short-term and long-term capital gains tax, and the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax when MAGI exceeds the IRS threshold, can still apply.

Is the North Carolina rate the same for short-term and long-term gains?

In this calculator, North Carolina's modeled flat rate applies to taxable gains regardless of holding period. Federal treatment still differs for short-term vs long-term. Always confirm North Carolina statutes for any special exclusions.

Where do these North Carolina rates come from?

Our North Carolina model cites https://www.ncdor.gov/. Deductions, credits, and local taxes are not fully modeled — treat the state line as a planning estimate.

Do I still file a North Carolina return if my only income is a capital gain?

Often yes if you are a North Carolina resident and the state taxes that gain at the modeled flat rate (Flat 4.5% state rate). Filing thresholds, credits, and part-year rules are not fully modeled. Confirm with https://www.ncdor.gov/.

Is North Carolina’s capital-gains rate a flat 4.5%?

Yes in this calculator. The model uses 4.5% rather than a graduated table.

Does North Carolina use a lower rate after one year?

Not on the state line. The flat 4.5% rate does not change when the federal gain becomes long-term.

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