# Wake County, NC Sales Tax Rate (2026)

Canonical: https://trykintsugi.com/sales-tax-guides/usa/north-carolina/wake-county
Published: 2026-09-01

The most common combined sales tax rate in Wake County, NC is 7.25% as of September 2026: 4.75% state, 2% county and 0.5% special district. Rates across the county's 63 ZIP codes range from 7.25% to 7.5%, depending on the city and special districts. North Carolina's state rate is 4.75%, so local taxes add 2.5% here.

| Component | Rate |
| --- | --- |
| State | 4.75% |
| County | 2% |
| City | 0% |
| Special district | 0.5% |
| **Combined** | **7.25%** |

Source: Kintsugi's rate table, as of September 2026. Official rates: [North Carolina DOR — Current Sales and Use Tax Rates](https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/sales-and-use-tax-rates/current-sales-and-use-tax-rates).

## Sales tax rates by place in Wake County

| Place | Combined rate | ZIP codes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Raleigh | 7.25% | 43 |
| Cary | 7.25% | 5 |
| Apex | 7.25% | 3 |
| Wake Forest | 7.25% | 2 |
| Fuquay Varina | 7.25% | 1 |
| Garner | 7.25% | 1 |
| Holly Springs | 7.25% | 1 |
| Knightdale | 7.25% | 1 |
| Morrisville | 7.5% | 1 |
| New Hill | 7.25% | 1 |
| Rolesville | 7.25% | 1 |
| Wendell | 7.25% | 1 |
| Willow Spring | 7.25% | 1 |
| Zebulon | 7.25% | 1 |

## Wake County sales tax rates by ZIP code

| ZIP | Combined rate |
| --- | --- |
| 27502 | 7.25% |
| 27511 | 7.25% |
| 27512 | 7.25% |
| 27513 | 7.25% |
| 27518 | 7.25% |
| 27519 | 7.25% |
| 27523 | 7.25% |
| 27526 | 7.25% |
| 27529 | 7.25% |
| 27539 | 7.25% |
| 27540 | 7.25% |
| 27545 | 7.25% |
| 27560 | 7.5% |
| 27562 | 7.25% |
| 27571 | 7.25% |
| 27587 | 7.25% |
| 27588 | 7.25% |
| 27591 | 7.25% |
| 27592 | 7.25% |
| 27597 | 7.25% |
| 27601 | 7.25% |
| 27602 | 7.25% |
| 27603 | 7.25% |
| 27604 | 7.25% |
| 27605 | 7.25% |
| 27606 | 7.25% |
| 27607 | 7.25% |
| 27608 | 7.25% |
| 27609 | 7.25% |
| 27610 | 7.25% |
| 27611 | 7.25% |
| 27612 | 7.25% |
| 27613 | 7.5% |
| 27614 | 7.25% |
| 27615 | 7.25% |
| 27616 | 7.25% |
| 27617 | 7.5% |
| 27619 | 7.25% |
| 27620 | 7.25% |
| 27622 | 7.25% |
| 27623 | 7.25% |
| 27624 | 7.25% |
| 27625 | 7.25% |
| 27626 | 7.25% |
| 27627 | 7.25% |
| 27628 | 7.25% |
| 27629 | 7.25% |
| 27634 | 7.25% |
| 27635 | 7.25% |
| 27636 | 7.25% |
| 27640 | 7.25% |
| 27650 | 7.25% |
| 27656 | 7.25% |
| 27658 | 7.25% |
| 27661 | 7.25% |
| 27668 | 7.25% |
| 27675 | 7.25% |
| 27676 | 7.25% |
| 27690 | 7.25% |
| 27695 | 7.25% |
| 27697 | 7.25% |
| 27698 | 7.25% |
| 27699 | 7.25% |

## Selling into Wake County: North Carolina rules

- **What's taxable:** At the state level, SaaS is exempt, clothing is taxable, groceries are partly taxable and digital goods are taxable.
- **Economic nexus:** North Carolina economic nexus applies once your gross sales sourced to the state exceed $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year. The 200-transaction threshold was removed effective July 1, 2024, so the dollar amount is the only economic trigger.
- **Filing:** North Carolina assigns monthly or quarterly filing based on liability. Returns are due the 20th of the month following the reporting period.

More in the [North Carolina sales tax guide](/sales-tax-guides/usa/north-carolina).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the sales tax rate in Wake County, NC?

The most common combined sales tax rate in Wake County, NC is 7.25% as of September 2026: 4.75% state, 2% county and 0.5% special district. Rates across the county's 63 ZIP codes range from 7.25% to 7.5%, depending on the city and special districts. North Carolina's state rate is 4.75%, so local taxes add 2.5% here.

### Why do sales tax rates differ within Wake County?

Local sales taxes follow city and district boundaries, and ZIP codes don't. Of the 63 ZIP codes in Wake County, 60 carry 7.25% and the rest range from 7.25% to 7.5%, usually because the ZIP lies in a city or special taxing district with its own tax. Always rate a sale by the delivery address, not the county or ZIP alone.

### Which places in Wake County have their own sales tax?

None of the 14 places in Wake County levies a city sales tax of its own, so the rate comes from the state and the county (2% county tax).

### Do I need to collect Wake County sales tax if I'm based out of state?

Only once you have nexus in North Carolina. North Carolina economic nexus applies once your gross sales sourced to the state exceed $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year. The 200-transaction threshold was removed effective July 1, 2024, so the dollar amount is the only economic trigger. After you register, you collect North Carolina sales tax on taxable sales delivered to Wake County.

### What does North Carolina tax?

At the state level, SaaS is exempt, clothing is taxable, groceries are partly taxable and digital goods are taxable. The North Carolina sales tax guide covers exemptions and local exceptions.