N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-187.16 — Tax imposed

(a) Levy. A privilege tax is imposed on a tire retailer at a percentage rate of the sales price of each new tire sold at retail by the retailer. A privilege tax is imposed on a tire retailer and on a tire wholesale merchant at a percentage rate of the sales price of each new tire sold by the retailer or wholesale merchant to a wholesale merchant or retailer for placement on a vehicle offered for sale, lease, or rental by the retailer or wholesale merchant. An excise tax is imposed on a new tire purchased for storage, use, or consumption in this State or for placement in this State on a vehicle offered for sale, lease, or rental. This excise tax is a percentage rate of the purchase price of the tire. These taxes are in addition to all other taxes. (b) Rate. The percentage rate of the taxes imposed by subsection (a) of this section is set by the following table; the rate is based on the bead diameter of the new tire sold or purchased: Bead Diameter of Tire Percentage Rate Less than 20 inches 2% At least 20 inches 1%. (1991, c. 221, s. 1; 1993, c. 548, s. 1; 1997-209, s. 1; 2001-414, s. 22; 2002-10, s. 1.) § 105-187.17. Administration. The privilege tax this Article imposes on a tire retailer who sells new tires at retail is an additional State sales tax and the excise tax this Article imposes on the storage, use, or consumption of a new tire in this State is an additional State use tax. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, these taxes shall be collected and administered in the same manner as the State sales and use taxes imposed by Article 5 of this Chapter. As under Article 5 of this Chapter, the additional State sales tax paid when a new tire is sold is a credit against the additional State use tax imposed on the storage, use, or consumption of the same tire. The privilege tax this Article imposes on a tire retailer and on a tire wholesale merchant who sell new tires for placement in this State on a vehicle offered for sale, lease, or rental is a tax on the wholesale sale of the tires. This tax and the excise tax this Article imposes on a new tire purchased for placement in this State on a vehicle offered for sale, lease, or rental shall, to the extent practical, be collected and administered as if they were additional State sales and use taxes. The privilege tax paid when a new tire is sold for placement on a vehicle offered for sale, lease, or rental is a credit against the use tax imposed on the purchase of the same tire for placement in this State on a vehicle offered for sale, lease, or rental. (1991, c. 221, s. 1.)