If you are operating your business as an S corporation, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or sole proprietorship, you may be subject to a personal income tax on the your business income that is not taxed at the corporate level, but instead passes through to you.
North Carolina imposes a bracket schedule of personal income tax rates on your adjusted gross income. The income tax brackets that you fall into will depend on your filing status and your level of income.
The applicable personal income tax rates for 2009 range from 6 to 7.75 percent. Also, for 2009 and 2010, an additional temporary surtax of 2 or 3 percent of the tax calculated using the regular marginal tax rates and brackets may have to be added. The regular marginal tax rates apply as follows for 2009:
| Single Individuals |
| Taxable Income |
Amount of Tax |
| Up to $12,750 |
6% of taxable income |
| Over $12,750 to $60,000 |
$765 plus 7% of excess over $12,750 |
| Over $60,000 |
$4,072.50 plus 7.75% of excess over $60,000 |
| Married Filing Jointly and Qualifying Widow(er) |
| Taxable Income |
Amount of Tax |
| Up to $21,250 |
6% of taxable income |
| Over $21,250 to $100,000 |
$1,275 plus 7% of excess over $21,250 |
| Over $100,000 |
$6,787.50 plus 7.75% of excess over $100,000 |
| Married Filing Separately |
| Taxable Income |
Amount of Tax |
| Up to $10,625 |
6% of taxable income |
| Over $10,625 to $50,000 |
$637.50 plus 7% of excess over $10,625 |
| Over $50,000 |
$3,393.75 plus 7.75% of excess over $50,000 |
| Head of Household |
| Taxable Income |
Amount of Tax |
| Up to $17,000 |
6% of taxable income |
| Over $17,000 to $80,000 |
$1,020 plus 7% of excess over $17,000 |
| Over $80,000 |
$5,430 plus 7.75% of excess over $80,000 |
In 2009 and 2010, once a taxpayer has calculated the tax liability using the marginal rates above, he or she may need to add a surtax of either 2 percent or 3 percent of the tax liability onto the tax bill. If married filing jointly, the surtax is 2 percent if taxable income is more than $100,000 but not more than $250,000, and it is 3 percent if taxable income exceeds $250,000. If head of household, the surtax is 2 percent if taxable income is more than $80,000 but not more than $200,000, and it is 3 percent if taxable income exceeds $200,000. If single, the surtax is 2 percent if taxable income is more than $60,000 but not more than $150,000, and it is 3 percent if taxable income exceeds $150,000. If married filing separately, the surtax is 2 percent if taxable income is more than $50,000 but not more than $125,000, and it is 3 percent if taxable income exceeds $125,000. The tax liability calculated using the marginal rates above is simply multiplied by either the 2 percent or 3 percent rate to arrive at the amount of the surtax