North Carolina payroll tax and registration guide

  • Updated

Why is this important?

To maintain compliance with state payroll tax regulations, you must provide the following information before you can use OnPay to run payroll:

  • State Employer Identification Number and state/local tax IDs
  • Tax rates - State tax offices set these rates based on the type, age, and size of your business
  • TPA and power of attorney - Most tax offices require this before we can submit quarterly wage reports and deposits on your behalf

This information must be provided and maintained by you in order for OnPay to accurately file and deposit tax payments for your company. OnPay is not responsible for any penalties or interest that incur due to missing or incorrect company tax information.

Let Middesk handle your state tax registrations

Want help registering your business with state agencies? We've partnered with Middesk to make it simple for you to stay compliant in your state — and every state — when hiring employees.

  • Register with state agencies and get the tax IDs you need within minutes
  • Manage all your government accounts in one place using Middesk's intuitive platform
  • Stay compliant by managing agency mail and notices from your Middesk dashboard
  • Foreign Qualify with the Secretary of State to create payroll tax accounts 

Learn more about Middesk

Each state has its own requirements, so if you pay employees in more than one state, you’ll find separate tax guides for each state.

 

See what information you need to provide OnPay, and what taxes and filings OnPay handles for North Carolina Employers.

  • Information OnPay needs from you

    Use this checklist to make sure you’ve covered everything required to set up your account as a North Carolina employer, so OnPay can accurately file and pay taxes on your behalf:

    All North Carolina employers What is this?
    Make sure your business is registered with the North Carolina Department of Revenue

    Allows your business to file and pay taxes in North Carolina
    More info >

    Make sure your business is registered with the North Carolina Division of Employment Security

    Allows your business to pay required unemployment insurance in North Carolina
    More info >

    Provide OnPay with your North Carolina Withholding Revenue Account ID and deposit schedule

    The employer identification number issued by the North Carolina Department of Revenue
    More info >

    Provide OnPay with your North Carolina Employment Security ID

    A number unique to your account with the North Carolina Division of Employment Security
    More info >

    Provide OnPay with your North Carolina Unemployment (SUI) Rate

    A tax rate you receive annually from the North Carolina Employment Security Commission
    More info >

  • Taxes and filings OnPay handles for North Carolina Employers

    Withholding Tax

    NC-5P (Payment)

    Withholding Payment Voucher for Semiweekly filers

    - Annual

    NC-5 (Filing)

    Employer's Withholding Tax Return for Monthly & Quarterly Payers

    - Monthly, Quarterly

    NC-5Q (Filing)

    Quarterly Income Tax Withholding Return for Semiweekly filers

    - Quarterly

    NC-3 (Filing)

    Annual Withholding Reconciliation

    - Annual

    State W-2 (Filing)

    Wage and Tax Statement

    - Annual

    Unemployment Insurance Tax

    Form NCUI 101 (Filing)

    Employer's Quarterly Tax and Wage Report

    - Quarterly

    DOES-UC30 (Filing)

    Employer's Quarterly Contribution and Wage Report

    - Quarterly

    Other

    New Hire Report

    North Carolina Report of New Hires

    - As required


Where you can find the tax account numbers you need

If you are an existing employer who has previously run payroll in the state of North Carolina, you likely already have the IDs and online accounts needed for OnPay to process your tax filings. 

If you are a new employer in North Carolina, you will need to register your business with the Department of Revenue and the Division of Employment Security. This must be completed for OnPay to be able to file and pay your North Carolina taxes.

 

Withholding Revenue Account ID

Existing North Carolina Employer: 

  • You can find your Withholding Revenue Account ID on notices received from the North Carolina Department of Revenue
  • If you cannot locate this document or Account ID, please call the North Carolina Department of Revenue at (877) 252-3052 to request it

New North Carolina Employer: Register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue 

  • Visit the North Carolina Department of Revenue and click “Online Business Registration”
  • Make sure you have the required information listed in the Business Registration Checklist
  • Applicants typically receive their Account ID immediately (Otherwise, you'll be provided with a confirmation number and your Withholding Tax ID will be mailed to your business within 10 days)

 

Employment Security ID and Tax Rate

Updated for 2026

Existing North Carolina Employer: 

  • You can find your Employment Security Account Number and Unemployment rate on the Unemployment Tax Rate Assignment (Form NCUI 104) you should have received from the Employment Security Commission. If you have any questions, please call the North Carolina Department of Revenue directly at (919) 707-1170.
  • Your Unemployment Tax Rate can also be found on the annual Tax Rate Notice in box 2
  • Unemployment insurance rates are usually determined by an employer’s reserve ratio percentage (ERRP), which is the employer’s 2025 reserve ratio multiplied by 0.68
  • Rates range from 0.06% to 5.76%, with a wage base of $34,200
  • Learn more about these rates on their site

New North Carolina Employer: Register with the North Carolina Division of Employment Security

  • Go to the NC Division of Employment Security to register your business
  • You should receive your Account ID immediately. Otherwise, you'll be provided with a confirmation number and your Tax ID will be mailed to your business within 10 days
  • The new employer rate is 1.0%, with a wage base of $34,200

 

Paying employees in other states?

If you operate in multiple states or just have employees working from home across a state line, it's important to file the correct state forms for those workers. See what forms we file in the states where you pay employees.

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