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Retirement options for gig workers in North Carolina (no state plan)
Your W-2 plan covers your paycheck. Gigaverse covers your hustle.
Status as of Oct 28, 2026.
No state-run auto-IRA
North Carolina does not operate a state auto-IRA. Nothing in state law withholds retirement savings from a 1099 payment. A W-2 employer plan, or a city payroll program where one exists, covers that job's wages. Gigaverse is the layer for the 1099 income beside it, not a replacement for the plan the paycheck already has.
The 50-state status table is the state auto-IRA hub and the mandate tracker.
What the IRS counted in North Carolina, tax year 2023
IRS Statistics of Income Historic Table 2 counts returns, not people. In tax year 2023, North Carolina had 957,670 returns with Schedule C income, 19.5% of 4,923,710 returns in the state. 682,470 returns paid self-employment tax. 24,960 of those claimed the self-employed retirement-plan deduction, a rate of 3.7%. That deduction is the SEP, SIMPLE, or qualified-plan line. It does not measure Roth IRA contributions.
North Carolina self-employment tax
Federal self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of net profit: 12.4% Social Security, up to the $184,500 wage base in 2026, and 2.9% Medicare with no cap. Half of that tax is deductible. North Carolina income tax is separate and is in the next section. A state auto-IRA, where one exists, does not replace this federal tax.
Self-employment tax calculator · 1099 estimated tax calculator
North Carolina income tax on 1099 profit
North Carolina's individual income tax is a flat 3.99% for tax years beginning after 2025. The Department of Revenue lists the earlier rates as 4.5% for 2024 and 4.25% for 2025. Federal income tax and self-employment tax are separate.
North Carolina Department of Revenue, 2025 personal tax law changes
Federal quarterly estimates are separate from the state. The 1099 quarterly tax calculator uses the federal dates and self-employment tax. State tax guides for North Carolina cities are linked below and from North Carolina local taxes.
No state IRA. A portable-benefits bill is in the Senate.
North Carolina has no auto-IRA. House Bill 1083, the Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act, passed the House on second reading on June 30, 2026, 79-33. On July 1, 2026 it was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Operations. It is not law. A portable-benefits account, if the bill became law, would still be voluntary. It would not withhold retirement savings from every 1099 payment in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, or Greensboro.
The 3.99% state income tax applies to 1099 profit for tax years beginning after 2025. It does not create a retirement account. Federal quarterly estimates are a separate bill, and the calculator linked below is the federal one.
What a 1099 worker can use in 2026
These limits are federal. They do not change because North Carolina has no state plan. Catch-up contributions are not part of the $72,000 annual-additions cap.
| Account | 2026 limit | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| IRA (Roth or traditional) | $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50 or older. The limit is shared across every IRA. | Earned income, including 1099 profit, within the Roth income limits if the account is a Roth. |
| SEP IRA | Generally up to 25% of compensation, and not more than $72,000 of annual additions. | Employer contribution from the business. A sole proprietor's percentage is computed after self-employment tax adjustments. |
| Solo 401(k) | Elective deferral $24,500. Catch-up $8,000 at 50 or older, or $11,250 at ages 60 through 63. Employer contributions share the $72,000 cap with deferrals, before catch-up. | A self-employed worker with no full-time W-2 employees in the plan, who wants both a deferral and an employer contribution. |
Sources: IRS IR-2025-111, Notice 2025-67, IRS 401(k) contribution limits.
Read the Solo 401(k) for self-employed workers page, then run a number in the SEP-IRA contribution calculator. Gigaverse account opening for the Solo 401(k), the SEP and the PRActicle Roth IRA is waitlist only.
Where Gigaverse fits
Gigaverse is not a state program and is not a registered investment adviser. It sits next to a W-2 plan or a state program when one exists. Plans are Free, Pro ($4.99/mo) and Wealth Builder ($9.99/mo). The Solo 401(k), SEP and PRActicle Roth IRA are waitlist only. Gigaverse's published figure is "$5K+" labeled "Avg. tax savings per year, per worker."
City guides and job guides
These are existing local tax pages, not copies of this retirement guide.
Charlotte · Raleigh · Greensboro · Durham · Winston-Salem
Uber drivers · Lyft drivers · DoorDash drivers · Instacart shoppers · Amazon Flex drivers
Questions
Does North Carolina run an auto-IRA for gig workers?
No. North Carolina has no state-run auto-IRA in operation. A W-2 retirement plan, where one exists, covers that paycheck. It does not cover 1099 income. Status as of Oct 28, 2026.
Does North Carolina tax 1099 income?
North Carolina's individual income tax is a flat 3.99% for tax years beginning after 2025. The Department of Revenue lists the earlier rates as 4.5% for 2024 and 4.25% for 2025. Federal income tax and self-employment tax are separate.
How much can a 1099 worker contribute in 2026?
For 2026 the IRA limit is $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50 or older. A Solo 401(k) elective deferral is $24,500, plus a catch-up of $8,000 at 50 or older, or $11,250 instead at ages 60 through 63. Employer contributions plus deferrals are limited to $72,000 of annual additions, not counting catch-up. A SEP contribution is generally up to 25% of compensation, inside that same annual-additions cap. These figures are from IRS news release IR-2025-111, Notice 2025-67, and the IRS 401(k) contribution-limits page.
Is North Carolina's portable-benefits bill a state IRA?
No. House Bill 1083, the Voluntary Portable Benefits Plan Act, passed the House on second reading on June 30, 2026, 79-33, and was referred to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee on July 1, 2026. The North Carolina General Assembly bill page is the source. It is not law, and it would not create a state auto-IRA.
Can a Charlotte or Raleigh 1099 worker use a Solo 401(k)?
City of work does not change the federal limits. A self-employed worker who qualifies can use an IRA, a SEP, or a Solo 401(k). Gigaverse's Solo 401(k), SEP and PRActicle Roth IRA are waitlist only. North Carolina has no state plan that enrolls the 1099 income.
Sources
Status as of Oct 28, 2026. Verified 2026-10-28.
Educational information only, not tax or investment advice. Gigaverse AI, Inc. is not a bank and is not a registered investment adviser. We are not affiliated with North Carolina, DoorDash, or any state or city retirement program. Contribution limits are set by the IRS and can change.