Financial institutions may pause transactions amid exploitation concerns

A financial institution may delay or refuse certain transactions when it believes financial exploitation may have occurred or may be underway. This applies to accounts held by older or disabled adults and accounts where they are beneficiaries or beneficial owners. The institution must base its belief on observations or information it receives and promptly begin an internal review. The institution may extend a delay by up to 30 business days if it reasonably believes exploitation may continue. A delay ends within 30 business days after the institution first acts, when it decides exploitation is unlikely, or when a court orders release. It may be extended by up to 30 business days if the institution reasonably believes exploitation may continue.

Businesses and government retailers may round the cash portion of a transaction to the nearest five-cent amount. This covers businesses that accept cash and government entities acting as retailers. ABC stores have a separate rule. Rounding is allowed only if the one-cent coin is no longer in production. Customers may pay the exact amount if they have exact change. Rounding does not change the sales price or tax owed. Amounts ending in one, two, six, or seven cents round down; amounts ending in three, four, eight, or nine round up; amounts ending in zero or five stay the same. The rule applies only if the one-cent coin is no longer in production. Starting July 1, 2027, ABC stores must round cash transactions if that condition is met.

Licensed sports wagering and advance deposit wagering operators must withhold State income tax from winnings when federal law requires withholding. This applies to interactive sports wagering operators and advance deposit wagering licensees. The withholding rate is the State individual income tax rate. Operators must report and pay the withheld tax under the rules for wage withholding. This applies to winnings paid on or after January 1, 2027.

A peer-to-peer vehicle sharing provider must pay State tax on rental receipts, which is added to the renter's charge. The State rule covers peer-to-peer vehicle sharing providers. The regional authority tax applies to providers when the customer takes delivery within the authority's area. The State tax rate for short-term rentals is 8% of gross receipts. A regional transportation authority may also impose a tax of up to 5% when the customer takes delivery within its jurisdiction. These provisions apply to rental or lease receipts billed on or after October 1, 2026.

A credit union may allow certain low-income people and people in remote census tracts to join. This applies to North Carolina credit unions organized under the specified State credit union laws and to people in the listed groups. Low-income individuals and families must meet the federal poverty threshold, and the account holder must be at least 25 years old. For people in a census tract more than nine miles from a bank branch, a credit union without a branch there must establish one. This provision takes effect July 1, 2026.