NCNorth Carolina · Free guides

Free North Carolina Tax Guides

Plain-English North Carolina tax guides for Leland, Wilmington and the rest of the state: starting a business, sales tax, NCDOR letters, your paycheck, life changes, rentals and side income. Free to read, no signup.

Serving Leland, Wilmington and all of North Carolina, remotely and by appointment.

Start a business in North Carolina

State steps first, then your town's checklist.

NCNewStarting a Business in NCLLC filing, NCDOR registration, sales tax, unemployment tax and the April 15 annual report, with 2026 fees.Open guide →NCNewStarting a Business in Wilmington, NCZoning permits, home occupations, the New Hanover County assumed name and January business listing.Open checklist →NCNewStarting a Business in Leland, NCNo town business license, but zoning, home occupation permits and the Brunswick County steps still apply.Open checklist →

Sales tax in North Carolina

Rates for Wilmington, Leland and all 100 counties, plus how and when to file and pay Form E-500.

NCNewGuideNorth Carolina Sales Tax GuideFree NCDOR registration, county rates (New Hanover 7%, Brunswick 6.75%), Form E-500 due dates, and filing and paying online.Open guide →NewCalculatorCT & NC Sales Tax CalculatorAdd tax, back it out of a total, or estimate what’s due this period, with all 100 NC county rates.Open calculator →NewQuizDo I Need to Collect Sales Tax?Six quick questions for CT and NC sellers, service businesses and Airbnb hosts.Take the quiz →

Letters and paychecks

Make sense of what NCDOR mails you and what comes out of your pay.

NCNewNCDOR Letters ExplainedAssessments, notices to file, adjustments, collection letters and refund holds: what each means and the deadline.Open guide →NCNewCalculatorNC Paycheck Calculator 2026Take-home pay after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and NC withholding (NC-30 formula).Open calculator →

Life changes and side income

What changes on your NC taxes when life does.

NCNewNC Life Event Tax ChecklistMarriage, a baby, a home, job loss, retiring, divorce, a death in the family and moving to NC.Open checklist →NCNewNC Side Hustle TaxesGig work, 1099 income, NC-40 estimated payments and sales tax for online sellers.Open guide →

Jump to a life change:

Rentals, Airbnb and equipment

Hosting short stays near Wilmington or Leland, renting out a home, or buying equipment for your business.

NewGuideAirbnb and Short-Term Rental TaxesThe 14-day rule, Schedule C vs. E, and NC sales and occupancy tax for stays in Wilmington, Leland and the rest of NC.Read the guide →NewHubRental Property and Airbnb TaxesEvery rental and Airbnb tool and guide in one place, for North Carolina and Connecticut.See all rental tools →NewQuick checkShort-Term Rental Day Count CheckerSee if the 14-day rule, vacation-home limits or the 7-day average stay rule applies to your rental.Check my rental →NewCalculatorEquipment Depreciation CalculatorCompare Section 179, 100% bonus depreciation and MACRS for equipment and vehicles, with a yearly schedule and CT and NC add-backs.Open calculator →

Free tools that work in any state

Federal calculators and tools you can use in North Carolina today.

CalculatorMileage Deduction CalculatorBoth official 2026 IRS rates, compared with your actual car costs.Open calculator →CalculatorHome Office Deduction CalculatorSimplified vs. regular method, side by side.Open calculator →CalculatorFreelance Hourly Rate CalculatorWork back from the income you want to the rate you should charge.Open calculator →ToolFree Invoice GeneratorFill in your client and line items, then download a clean PDF invoice.Open tool →

Rather have help with it?We work with North Carolina individuals and small businesses remotely: tax returns (priced by quote), help understanding an NCDOR or IRS letter and preparing your response, and bookkeeping and business setup.

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Moving between Connecticut and North Carolina? Our Moving to or From CT checklist covers the Connecticut side, and the NC moving section covers Schedule PN. Our Connecticut guides are on Free Tax Guides.

For general education only. Not tax, legal or investment advice, and not a promise of any result. Tax rules, fees and due dates change, so confirm with the IRS (irs.gov), the NC Department of Revenue (ncdor.gov), the NC Secretary of State (sosnc.gov) or your county and town before you act, and ask a tax professional about your own situation.

Not sure where to start? Talk it through with Andrew on a short call.

Talk it through with Andrew We can help with this

Or call (475) 242-7941. Services are priced by quote.

Andrew Nocera, Tax Preparer & Small-Business Finance Consultant, Enhance Finance. Serving Leland, Wilmington and all of North Carolina, remotely and by appointment.