To pay your North Carolina estimated taxes online, go to the NCDOR eServices portal, select the Income Estimated NC-40 option, enter your identification and payment details, and submit the transaction using a bank draft or a Visa or MasterCard.1NCDOR. eServices The whole process takes a few minutes once you have your Social Security Number, bank or card details, and payment amount in front of you.
Steps to Submit a Payment on the NCDOR Portal
Open the NCDOR eServices page and choose “Income Estimated NC-40” from the list of payment options.1NCDOR. eServices A secure form opens where you enter your identification details, the tax year the payment applies to, and the amount you are paying.
Enter your Social Security Number (and your spouse’s, if filing jointly) exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.2North Carolina Department of Revenue. NC-40, Individual Estimated Income Tax A typo here can send the payment to the wrong account and trigger a penalty notice you don’t actually owe. Select the correct tax year so the state credits the payment to the right filing period.
Choose your payment method and enter either your bank routing and account numbers or your card information. The system then shows a confirmation screen with everything you entered. Review it carefully before clicking Submit to transmit the payment to the Department of Revenue.3North Carolina Department of Revenue. Notice Payments Online Filing and Payments
If you use commercial tax preparation software, you can also file Form NC-40 and pay through that software instead of the portal.4NCDOR. Estimated Income Tax
Paying by Bank Draft
A bank draft is a direct ACH withdrawal from your checking or savings account. You’ll need the nine-digit routing number and the account number, both printed at the bottom of a check. The portal lets you pick the exact date you want the funds pulled. The debit may take two to three business days to actually appear on your statement, but your official payment date is the date you selected. There is no fee for paying this way.
Paying by Credit or Debit Card
NCDOR accepts Visa and MasterCard for online estimated tax payments.1NCDOR. eServices A non-refundable convenience fee of $2.00 per $100 (or fraction of $100) applies. A $250 payment carries a $6.00 fee; a $1,000 payment carries a $20.00 fee.5NCDOR. FAQ about Bank Draft and Card Payments If you’d rather not pay the fee, use bank draft.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
- Your Social Security Number or ITIN, and your spouse’s if filing jointly2North Carolina Department of Revenue. NC-40, Individual Estimated Income Tax
- Your bank routing and account numbers, if paying by draft
- Your Visa or MasterCard number, expiration date, and billing zip code, if paying by card
- The payment amount from your Form NC-40 worksheet
- The tax year the payment applies to
Every field must match your official records. Mismatches are the most common cause of payments being misapplied.
Quarterly Deadlines
Calendar-year taxpayers owe estimated payments four times a year:
- First quarter: April 15
- Second quarter: June 15
- Third quarter: September 15
- Fourth quarter: January 15 of the following year
These match the federal estimated tax schedule.4NCDOR. Estimated Income Tax When a due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, it moves to the next business day. Fiscal-year taxpayers use dates based on their own accounting period.
You can skip the January 15 payment if you file your North Carolina return by January 31 and pay the full balance then.4NCDOR. Estimated Income Tax
Save Your Confirmation
After you submit, the portal shows a confirmation screen with a unique DOR Confirmation Number. Print or save this page; it is your primary proof of payment.3North Carolina Department of Revenue. Notice Payments Online Filing and Payments You’ll also receive an email acknowledgment with the same number. NCDOR does not typically mail a separate confirmation, so the on-screen receipt and email are what you keep.
When you file your annual return on Form D-400, you report the date and amount of each estimated payment as a credit against your total tax. Keeping the receipts together through the year makes that step quick. If you overpay, you can apply the excess to next year’s estimated tax instead of taking a refund.
Who Needs to Make These Payments
North Carolina requires estimated payments from anyone who expects to owe $1,000 or more in state income tax after subtracting withholding and credits.4NCDOR. Estimated Income Tax That commonly includes self-employed people, landlords, and anyone with substantial investment income where no employer withholds state tax.
If you had no North Carolina income tax liability for the prior year, you are not required to make estimated payments for the current year.6North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 105-163.15 – Failure by Individual to Pay Estimated Income Tax; Interest The Form NC-40 instructions include a worksheet for figuring the amount you owe each quarter.7NCDOR. North Carolina Individual Estimated Income Tax Revisit that number during the year if your income changes noticeably, because underpaying triggers interest on the shortfall.