You can pay your North Carolina state taxes online through the NCDOR eServices portal, by mailing a check with a payment voucher, by phone, or in person at a Department of Revenue service center. For tax year 2025, your return and any balance due must reach the state by April 15, 2026, and the individual income tax rate is 3.99%.1NCDOR. When, Where, and How to File Your North Carolina Return2NCDOR. Tax Rate Schedules Pay late and you owe a penalty plus interest on top of the tax, so pick a method and act before the deadline.
What to Have Ready
Every payment method asks for the same core information so the Department of Revenue can credit the right account. Individual taxpayers need a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Businesses need a Federal Employer Identification Number or the NCDOR account number assigned to the organization. You also need the exact tax year and the amount you are paying.
If you are mailing a payment with your individual income tax return, include Form D-400V, the Individual Income Payment Voucher, which you can generate on the NCDOR website.3NCDOR. D-400V, Individual Income Payment Voucher The voucher asks for your name, address, identification number, tax year, and payment amount. Filling it out correctly keeps the state from applying your money to the wrong period.
Pay Online Through NCDOR eServices
The NCDOR eServices portal is the fastest option, and it offers two electronic methods: a bank draft (direct debit from checking or savings) or a credit or debit card. Only Visa and MasterCard are accepted.4NCDOR. eServices
Bank Draft
A bank draft pulls the payment directly from your account at no cost. Have your routing number, account number, account type, and the amount ready. You can pick the draft date, but it must be a valid banking day, so no weekends or holidays. If you submit after 5:00 p.m. EST, the earliest draft date moves to two business days out. You can also schedule a draft up to 60 days in advance, which is useful if you want to file now but have the money leave your account closer to the deadline.5NCDOR eServices. Online Filing and Payments – Online Help
Credit or Debit Card
Paying by Visa or MasterCard carries a non-refundable convenience fee of $2.00 for every $100.00 increment of the payment. A $250 payment carries a $6.00 fee; a $100.01 payment carries a $4.00 fee.6NCDOR. Application Usage Terms and Conditions You will enter your card number, expiration date, and the ZIP code on your card statement.
Either way, the portal generates a confirmation page with a unique transaction number after you submit. Save or print it. That confirmation is your proof of payment.
Pay by Mail
To pay by mail, send a personal check, money order, or cashier’s check drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. dollars.7NCDOR. Payment Options Make it out to “NC Department of Revenue” and write your identification number, the tax type, and the tax year on the memo line.
For individual income tax, mail the payment and voucher to:1NCDOR. When, Where, and How to File Your North Carolina Return
North Carolina Department of Revenue
PO Box 25000
Raleigh, NC 27640-0640
Mailed payments take longer to process than electronic ones, so send yours well before the deadline. Keep a copy of the check and a proof-of-mailing receipt in case you need to confirm the payment later.
Pay by Phone
Call NCDOR at 1-877-252-3252 to arrange a payment.7NCDOR. Payment Options The automated system lets you enter your payment information through the keypad, though some situations may require speaking with a representative.
Pay in Person at a Service Center
NCDOR runs service centers across the state, including Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh, and Wilmington.8NCDOR. Office Locations Walk-in hours vary by location, and some centers only accept walk-ins on certain days of the week, so check the NCDOR website or call ahead. Service centers accept checks and money orders, and you will receive a physical receipt on the spot.
If You Cannot Pay the Full Amount
Paying after the April 15 deadline costs you a penalty plus interest that accrues from the original due date until the balance is paid in full. For the first half of 2026, the interest rate is 7%, and the rate is updated every six months.9NCDOR. Interest Rate for January 1, 2026 Through June 30, 2026
If you cannot pay in full, request a payment plan using Form RO-1033, the Installment Agreement Request, available on the NCDOR website or by mail.10NCDOR. Installment Payment Agreements You propose a monthly amount and schedule. The Department has authority under NC Gen. Stat. § 105-237 to enter these agreements, and an installment agreement may include a waiver of penalties, but it will not reduce the tax or interest you owe.11North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina Code Chapter 105 – Waiver, Installment Payments
Submit the request as soon as you know you cannot pay in full; the Department does not promise how long the review will take, and you will get the decision and terms by mail. Once the agreement is in place, stay current on every installment and file every future return on time. NCDOR can modify or cancel the agreement if you miss a payment, fail to file a return, provide inaccurate information, or see a significant change in your financial situation.10NCDOR. Installment Payment Agreements