The NC General Assembly recently enacted temporary legislation increasing the state sales and use tax rate by 1%, effective 9/1/2009. As a result, the combined state and county tax rate will increase to 8.25% in Mecklenburg County, 8% in Alexander, Catawba, Cumberland, Haywood, Martin, Pitt, Sampson and Surry Counties, and 7.75% in the remaining counties, including Durham and Wake.

This increase is currently scheduled to expire July 1, 2011.

For further details, please refer to the North Carolina Department of Revenue announcement.