Quick Answer: This post offers information on how to register for a sales tax permit in North Carolina. Registration is best completed online via the North Carolina Department of Revenue website. More detailed information is included below.
Registration Fee: The sales tax permit registration fee in North Carolina is free.
Renewal Required?: Sales tax permit renewal is not required in North Carolina.
Turnaround Time: In North Carolina, you cannot verify until start date. To verify after 2-3 days.
Do You Need to Get a Sales Tax Permit in North Carolina?
The first step in registering for a sales tax permit is determining if you even need one. In general, you need a sales tax permit in North Carolina if you have a physical presence or meet economic nexus requirements. For more detailed information on the necessity of getting a permit, you can learn more at our blog post “Do You Need to Get a Sales Tax Permit in North Carolina?”.
If you are not sure where you should get sales tax permits, we can help determine that for you with our Fractional Sales Tax Department Service.
Once you’re sure you need a sales tax permit in North Carolina, you can proceed with registering.
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Types of Sales Tax Permits Available
There are two types of permits in North Carolina, the Use Tax Permit and the General Sales and Use Tax Permit. Please read the information associated with the two permits types carefully to determine which permit is the best choice for your business. Currently, there is no charge to apply for either sales tax permit in North Carolina
Use Tax: https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/use-tax
General Sales and Use Tax:
https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/general-sales-and-use-tax
For the purpose of this blog, we will be talking about the General Sales and Use Tax Permit. However, if you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed, you should know that we can handle the entire permit registration process for you with our sales tax permit registration service.
Where to Register for a North Carolina Sales Tax Permit
There are two ways to register for a sales tax permit in North Carolina, either by paper application or via the online website. We recommend submitting the application via the online website as it will generally be processed faster and you will receive a confirmation upon submission. Submitting your application via the North Carolina website will also generate your account number. Having a submission confirmation will help in the event that your application is not processed on-time, or in the event that it is not processed at all (which unfortunately can happen every now and again).
Online Application Location: The best place to register for a sales tax permit with the state of North Carolina is on its website at https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax.
Paper Application Location: https://www.ncdor.gov/documents/form-nc-br-business-registration-application-income-tax-withholding-sales-and-use-tax-and-other
Where to Go if You Need Help Registering for a Sales Tax Permit in North Carolina
If you are stuck or have questions, you can either contact the state of North Carolina directly or reach out to us and we can register for a sales tax permit on your behalf.
How to contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue if you have questions: You can contact the North Carolina Department of Revenue by calling (877) 252-3052.
How to contact TaxValet if you want someone to handle your permit registration for you: You can learn more about our sales tax permit registration service by clicking here.
Information Needed to Register for a Sales Tax Permit in North Carolina
Before you begin the process of registering with the state, make sure you have access to the following information:
- Federal tax ID, typically called the EIN, issued by the IRS
- Knowledge of your business entity structure
- Business owner information
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number
- Start date with the state of North Carolina
- Your estimated yearly tax liability with North Carolina
To get started, choose the link titled “Registration” on the website.
Then select “Register Online.”
At this point, you will select the box marked “Online Business Registration”
At the bottom of the page, you will select “Next” and follow the prompts to apply for your sales and use tax permit with North Carolina.
When you submit your North Carolina sales and use tax permit, please note that your account number will be listed on your confirmation page. Make note of this number because you will need it to login back into your account in order to file your returns.
What Happens After You Apply for a Sales Tax Permit in North Carolina?
Keep in mind, once you have an active sales tax permit in North Carolina, you will need to begin filing sales tax returns. Our team can handle your sales tax returns for you with our Done-for-You Sales Tax Service. You can also learn more about how to file and pay a sales tax return in North Carolina by clicking here.
After your start date with the state of North Carolina, you can then gain access to your account.
To do this, follow the link, https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax, then click on “File/Pay Sales and Use Tax.” You must enter the requested account information in order to gain access to your account.
Your sales and use permit from North Carolina will generally arrive within 8-10 business days of registration.
Of note, North Carolina no longer lists filing frequency on the sales and use permits. The following guidelines can help you determine your filing frequency.
* If your tax liability is consistently less than $100 per month, North Carolina will likely expect quarterly returns.
* If your tax liability is consistently more than $100 but less than $20,000 per month, North Carolina will likely expect monthly returns.
* If your tax liability $20,000 or more a month, North Carolina generally expects a monthly return. You will likely be expected to pay taxes on or before the 20th day of each month for all taxes due for the preceding calendar month AND include prepayment for the next month’s tax liability. Monthly returns with prepayment are required to be filed online.
You can find the above information here.
If at any point you are stuck and want a team of experts to handle all of this for you, don’t hesitate to contact us.
