2026 NC pay stub rules
North Carolina Pay Stub Generator
North Carolina taxes wages at a flat 3.99% for 2026. Create a North Carolina pay stub with federal, FICA and state withholding calculated for you, preview it live, and download the PDF. From $14.99 per stub, no account needed.
Create a North Carolina pay stubWhat is withheld on a North Carolina pay stub
Every pay stub shows gross pay, each deduction, and net pay for the period and the year to date. These are the employee taxes that apply in North Carolina for 2026.
- Federal income tax
- Withheld from the employee’s Form W-4 using the IRS Publication 15-T method. Same in every state.Source
- Social Security
- 6.2% of wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500.Source
- Medicare
- 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages above $200,000 in the year.Source
- North Carolina income tax
- North Carolina taxes wages at a flat 3.99% for 2026. Cut from 4.25% to 3.99% for 2026.Source
- Disability and paid leave
- None
- Local income taxes
- None. No city, county or school district income or wage tax is withheld from employee paychecks.
Example: a $2,000 biweekly paycheck in North Carolina
Calculated by the same engine that builds every Swift Paystubs order: 2026 rules, single filer, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions or local taxes, first paycheck of the year. Your figures depend on your own details.
| Gross pay | $2,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | -$156.15 |
| Social Security | -$124.00 |
| Medicare | -$29.00 |
| North Carolina income tax | -$79.80 |
| Net pay | $1,611.05 |
North Carolina wage rules that shape a pay stub
- Minimum wage
- $7.25 an hour as of October 6, 2026. State minimum equals the federal $7.25.Source
- Pay frequency
- No minimum frequency; wages must be paid on regular paydays (daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly).Source
- Pay stub law
- Employers must give employees an itemized statement of deductions for each pay period in which deductions are made. They must also tell employees in writing at hiring what wages are promised and when and where pay is given.Source
- Employer unemployment tax
- Paid by the employer on the first $32,600 of each employee’s wages (2025 wage base). It is an employer cost and does not reduce the employee’s net pay.
Creating a North Carolina pay stub with Swift Paystubs
- Choose North Carolina as the work state. The state withholding line follows from it.
- Enter the pay rate, hours or salary, pay frequency and W-4 filing status.
- Check the live preview: gross pay, every deduction, net pay and year-to-date totals.
- Pay at checkout and download the PDF. Larger orders cost less per stub.
North Carolina pay stub questions
Does North Carolina withhold state income tax from paychecks?
North Carolina taxes wages at a flat 3.99% for 2026. The amount depends on the employee’s pay, pay frequency and state withholding certificate, and appears as its own line on the pay stub.
Do employers in North Carolina have to provide pay stubs?
Employers must give employees an itemized statement of deductions for each pay period in which deductions are made. They must also tell employees in writing at hiring what wages are promised and when and where pay is given.
What is the minimum wage in North Carolina?
The general minimum wage in North Carolina is $7.25 an hour as of October 6, 2026. State minimum equals the federal $7.25.
How often must employees be paid in North Carolina?
No minimum frequency; wages must be paid on regular paydays (daily, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly).
Can I use a North Carolina pay stub as proof of income?
Landlords and lenders usually ask for your two or three most recent pay stubs. A pay stub must reflect wages that were actually paid; lenders often check pay stubs against bank deposits, tax returns or the employer.
Create your North Carolina pay stub
From $14.99 per stub. Live preview before you pay, PDF download after checkout.
Create a Pay StubRelated
Facts checked October 6, 2026 against the linked sources. Rules change; check the source before relying on a figure. Swift Paystubs creates documents from the details you enter and does not give tax or legal advice.