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Mecklenburg County voters approve transit sales tax referendum

On November 5, 2025, voters in Mecklenburg County, NC approved a one-cent transit sales tax. The new rate takes effect April 1, 2026 — and gives Mecklenburg the highest countywide rate in North Carolina.

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Written by Alex Lamachenka

Head of DemandGen

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TL;DR

  • Mecklenburg County has passed a new 1.0% transit sales tax, effective April 1, 2026
  • The measure passed with 52% of the vote
  • Estimated revenue: $19 billion over 30 years to fund transit, roads, and light rail
  • New combined sales tax rate will be 8.25%, the highest in North Carolina

What’s changing

  • Referendum passed: November 5, 2025
  • New sales tax rate: +1.0% local transit tax
  • Effective date: April 1, 2026
  • Applies to: All taxable sales in Mecklenburg County
  • Projected revenue: $19B over 30 years
  • New transit authority: Will replace the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), managing assets and operations

Who this affects

  • Retailers and eCommerce sellers with customers in Santa Clara County
  • Finance teams forecasting Q2 sales tax liability
  • Platforms needing to update POS and tax rate tables in advance of April 1, 2026

Why this matters

This change makes Mecklenburg County the highest-taxed locality in North Carolina for sales tax. The referendum funds major transportation improvements, including light rail expansion and road upgrades.

For sellers, this is a significant local rate change with a confirmed start date. POS systems and eCommerce tax settings must be updated before April 1 to avoid under-collection.

Next steps

  • Confirm if you have customers in Mecklenburg County
  • Update local tax rates to 8.25% effective April 1, 2026
  • Use automated software like TaxCloud to stay ahead of changes and avoid rate errors

Official Source:

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