(AP) — North Carolina businesses need to sharpen their pencils, so to speak, before turning in their most recent sales tax collections.

The sales tax increased by 1 percentage point Sept. 1, but the Department of Revenue didn’t have time to produce new tax forms because the law changed in August.

Tax officials are alerting retailers how to turn in revenues this month for September or the previous quarter.

Revenue spokesman Thomas Beam said Monday businesses should use the old tax form and fill in the new collection amount with the help of an online worksheet. Businesses that don’t use the Internet can call the department to get the new amount.

Consumers in 91 counties now pay a 7.75 percent on purchases. It’s slightly higher elsewhere.