North Carolina and the national debt

Federal money in and out of North Carolina

In fiscal year 2025 the IRS collected $127.88 billion in North Carolina — $11,420 per resident, 27% below the national average. That ranks 35th highest of the 50 states and DC.

Federal grants to North Carolina — Medicaid, highways, education and hundreds of smaller programs, mostly paid to the state and local governments — came to $13.41 billion in fiscal year 2026. That is $1,197 per resident, 23% above the national average — 14th highest of the 50 states and DC.

Total federal contract and payment obligations are not compared by state: USAspending records large Medicare payments where the claims contractor or insurer is based. In fiscal year 2025 that placed about $90 billion of health spending on North Dakota, home of a major Medicare contractor. Grants are recorded with the state and local bodies that receive them, so they are the comparable figure.

Taxes and grants are not subtracted here either: taxes are counted where they are filed, often at a company’s headquarters. For an adjusted state balance of payments, see the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

In total that is $61,070 per adult with a credit record, 3% below the US figure of $63,200 — 22nd highest of the 50 states and DC. 12.5% of credit card balances were 90 or more days late, against 12.4% nationally.

North Carolina’s economy

North Carolina produced $895.92 billion of goods and services in 2025, 2.9% of US GDP. Per resident that is $80,007, 31st highest of the 50 states and DC. Measured by economic weight rather than headcount, its share of the national debt would be $1.18 trillion.

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