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Tax year 2026

Illinois vs North Carolina Income Tax — 2026

A single filer earning $100,000 pays $1,324 less per year in North Carolina than in Illinois — $110 a month. Illinois charges $4,805; North Carolina charges $3,481.

Why this pair has a page: two of the largest taxing states.

Illinois at $100K
$4,805
4.81%
North Carolina at $100K
$3,481
3.48%
Annual difference
$1,324
$110 a month
National ranks
42 vs 21
of 50, lowest tax first

The bill at every income

Single filer, standard deduction, no dependents. State income tax only.

Illinois and North Carolina income tax compared at seven income levels, 2026
Gross incomeIllinois taxNorth Carolina taxDifference
$50,000$2,330$1,486$844 less in NC
$75,000$3,568$2,484$1,084 less in NC
$100,000$4,805$3,481$1,324 less in NC
$150,000$7,280$5,476$1,804 less in NC
$250,000$12,230$9,466$2,764 less in NC
$500,000$24,605$19,441$5,164 less in NC
$1,000,000$49,355$39,391$9,964 less in NC
Annual state income tax, Illinois versus North Carolina
IL at $50,000: $2,330IL at $50,000$2,330NC at $50,000: $1,486NC at $50,000$1,486IL at $75,000: $3,568IL at $75,000$3,568NC at $75,000: $2,484NC at $75,000$2,484IL at $100,000: $4,805IL at $100,000$4,805NC at $100,000: $3,481NC at $100,000$3,481IL at $150,000: $7,280IL at $150,000$7,280NC at $150,000: $5,476NC at $150,000$5,476IL at $250,000: $12,230IL at $250,000$12,230NC at $250,000: $9,466NC at $250,000$9,466IL at $500,000: $24,605IL at $500,000$24,605NC at $500,000: $19,441NC at $500,000$19,441IL at $1,000,000: $49,355IL at $1,000,000$49,355NC at $1,000,000: $39,391NC at $1,000,000$39,391

How the two systems differ

Illinois and North Carolina income tax systems compared
IllinoisNorth Carolina
Tax structureFlat rateFlat rate
Top marginal rate4.95%3.99%
Number of brackets11
Standard deduction (single)None$12,750
Personal exemption$2,925None
Local income taxesNoNo
Capital gainsordinaryordinary
Population (2024)12,710,15811,046,024

By filing status

Illinois and North Carolina tax on $100,000 by filing status, 2026
Filing statusIllinoisNorth CarolinaDifference
Single$4,805$3,481$1,324 less in NC
Married filing jointly$4,660$2,973$1,688 less in NC
Married filing separately$4,805$3,481$1,324 less in NC
Head of household$4,805$3,227$1,578 less in NC

Change the assumptions

Adjust income and filing status, or swap either state. The URL updates so you can share the exact comparison.

At $100,000 as a single filer, North Carolina costs $1,324 less per year than Illinois — $110 a month.

Illinois compared with North Carolina at $100,000
IllinoisNorth CarolinaDifference
State income tax$4,805$3,481$1,324
Per month$400$290$110
Effective rate4.81%3.48%1.32 pts
Marginal rate4.95%3.99%0.96 pts
Standard deduction$0$12,750$12,750
Taxable income$97,075$87,250$9,825
Tax structureFlat rateFlat rate
Local income taxesNoNo

Full detail: Illinois · North Carolina · methodology

What this comparison leaves out

Sources for both states

  1. 1.Illinois Department of RevenueState revenue department
    FY 2026-15, What's New for Illinois Income Taxes
    https://tax.illinois.gov/research/publications/bulletins/fy-2026-15.html
    Retrieved · "The personal exemption amount for tax year 2026 will increase to $2,925." Also states the $500,000 / $250,000 AGI cut-off.
  2. 2.North Carolina Department of RevenueState revenue department
    2026 Income Tax Withholding Tables and Instructions for Employers (Form NC-30)
    https://www.ncdor.gov/income-tax-withholding-tables-and-instructions-employers/open
    Retrieved
  3. 3.Tax FoundationResearch organisation (cross-check)
    State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026
    https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-income-tax-rates-2026/
    Retrieved

Figures on this page were last checked against these sources on . Found something wrong? Report it.