Hospitals Face New Tax Refund Rules | Raleigh News

Raleigh News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 7, 2026 · 2m

North Carolina lawmakers just shut down a hospital tax loophole by forcing all related hospital entities to file as one unit for sales tax refunds, eliminating the ability to split claims to exceed the $45 million annual cap. The move, dubbed the “Atrium rule,” targets systems accused of “double dipping” and aims to level the playing field — though UNC Health remains exempt due to its unique tax structure. With the budget awaiting the governor’s signature, this change signals a broader push to curb tax breaks for large hospital systems while reducing the state’s fiscal burden. Listen in…