Southeast · NC
How to file North Carolina sales tax
2026 due dates, filing frequencies, form E-500, and official filing resources.
- State return: E-500
- Monthly returns due: 20th of the month following the period
- Filing frequencies: Monthly, Quarterly
When is North Carolina sales tax due?
Monthly North Carolina sales tax returns are due the 20th of the month following the period. Quarterly returns are due the last day of the month following the period (Jan 31 / Apr 30 / Jul 31 / Oct 31). When a due date lands on a weekend or federal holiday it moves to the next business day; the 2026 calendar on this page already applies that adjustment.
North Carolina sales tax due dates for 2026
Every date below comes from the state's published deadline rule (dataset 2026.07.0) and is already moved to the next business day when it lands on a weekend or federal holiday. Your account's assigned filing frequency decides which table applies.
Monthly North Carolina sales tax due dates
Rule: 20th of the month following the period.
| Period | Period ends | Return due |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Jan 31, 2026 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| February 2026 | Feb 28, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 |
| March 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Apr 20, 2026 |
| April 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | May 20, 2026 |
| May 2026 | May 31, 2026 | Jun 22, 2026 (moved: 2026-06-20 falls on a Saturday) |
| June 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 | Jul 20, 2026 |
| July 2026 | Jul 31, 2026 | Aug 20, 2026 |
| August 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 (moved: 2026-09-20 falls on a Sunday) |
| September 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| October 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 |
| November 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 (moved: 2026-12-20 falls on a Sunday) |
| December 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 20, 2027 |
Quarterly North Carolina sales tax due dates
Rule: Last day of the month following the period (Jan 31 / Apr 30 / Jul 31 / Oct 31).
| Period | Period ends | Return due |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 |
| Q2 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 | Jul 31, 2026 |
| Q3 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | Nov 2, 2026 (moved: 2026-10-31 falls on a Saturday) |
| Q4 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Feb 1, 2027 (moved: 2027-01-31 falls on a Sunday) |
North Carolina filing notes
- Filers at $20,000+/month file monthly with a prepayment of the next month's liability on the same return (info only).
Return and form
The principal repository-tracked return is E-500. A paper channel exists, but the current form version and account eligibility still require confirmation.
Tracked form version: E-500 Web-Fill 10-14 (October 2014 and Forward) + E-536 Web-Fill 7-24 (July 2024 and Forward)
Paper filing posture: accepted
Official North Carolina filing resources
File North Carolina sales tax from reviewed data, not spreadsheets
Prophit.ai tracks every North Carolina due date above inside the return workspace, builds the period from your transaction data, and produces worksheet for portal entry that a reviewer approves before anything is submitted.
See sales tax filing software · Compare plans — from $199/month
Workflow support does not by itself establish registration, filing authority, credentials, agency acceptance, or tax advice. Confirm your assigned filing frequency with the state.
North Carolina sales tax filing questions
When is North Carolina sales tax due?
Monthly North Carolina sales tax returns are due the 20th of the month following the period. Quarterly returns are due the last day of the month following the period (Jan 31 / Apr 30 / Jul 31 / Oct 31). When a due date lands on a weekend or federal holiday it moves to the next business day; the 2026 calendar on this page already applies that adjustment.
How often do you file sales tax in North Carolina?
North Carolina assigns a filing frequency to each account. The published cadences are monthly and quarterly filing; the state assigns the frequency based on tax volume and notifies the account, so confirm the assigned basis before relying on a calendar.
What form is used to file North Carolina sales tax?
The North Carolina return tracked here is E-500. The principal repository-tracked return is E-500. A paper channel exists, but the current form version and account eligibility still require confirmation.
What happens if a North Carolina due date falls on a weekend or holiday?
The due date moves to the next business day. In 2026, 5 of the North Carolina due dates listed on this page are adjusted for a weekend or federal holiday; each adjusted date is marked in the calendar.
Can North Carolina sales tax be filed on paper?
Paper filing posture tracked for North Carolina: accepted. The principal repository-tracked return is E-500. A paper channel exists, but the current form version and account eligibility still require confirmation.