Louisiana Property Tax Calculator

Louisiana Property Taxes

Louisiana has some of the lowest property tax rates in the U.S., as only Alabama and Hawaii residents pay less on average than residents of the Pelican State. Compared to the nationwide 0.99% average effective property tax rate, Louisiana has a generous rate at 0.55%.

One reason Louisiana has such low property taxes is the state’s generous homestead exemption, which reduces the taxable value of owner-occupied properties by $7,500 in assessed value. That saves many homeowners hundreds of dollars each year.

If you’re looking to buy a home in Louisiana, take a look at our Louisiana mortgage guide to gain a better sense of the ins and outs of getting a mortgage in Louisiana.

A financial advisor can help you understand how homeownership fits into your overall financial goals. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

How Louisiana Property Taxes Work

Property tax bills in Louisiana follow an annual cycle. They are generally sent out in November of each year and are due by Dec. 31. Any bills not paid by that date are considered delinquent. The taxes due are based on two factors: the assessed value of your property and your local tax rate.

Local assessors are in charge of establishing assessed values. The first step is to determine market value. By state law, all property in a parish (which is equivalent to a county) must be assessed at least once every four years for existing properties. To calculate value most assessors use a sales approach. This is when they use the sales prices of nearby comparable properties to determine market values for properties across a certain area.

Once a property’s market value has been determined, the assessment percentage is applied. For residential property in Louisiana, assessed value is equal to 10% of market value. So if your home has a market value of $100,000, your assessed value would be $10,000.

Homeowners in Louisiana are eligible for the homestead exemption, which can significantly reduce property taxes owed. The homestead exemption applies to owner-occupied primary residences and reduces assessed value by $7,500. Thus, the net assessed taxable value for the home in the above example would be just $2,500.

Note, however, that the homestead exemption does not apply to city taxes. Thus, when calculating city taxes, you must use the full assessed value without the exemption.

Louisiana Property Tax Rates

Many types of local government entities in Louisiana can levy property taxes. These tax authorities each have their own rates, which generate the revenue they need to operate. Thus, for a single homeowner, the total tax rate is the sum of all the individual rates of any local tax districts.

The property tax rates that appear on bills are denominated in millage rate. A mill is equal to $1 of tax for every $1,000 of net assessed taxable value. If your net assessed taxable value is $10,000 and your total millage rate is 50, your taxes owed will be $500.

Another way of comparing tax rates between districts and between states is the effective tax rate. The effective tax rate is equal to annual tax payment divided by home value. It gives a good idea of what taxes will be based on the actual market value of a home. The table below shows average effective property tax rates for every parish in Louisiana.

Want to learn more about your mortgage payments? Check out our mortgage calculator.

East Baton Rouge Parish

East Baton Rouge Parish is the most populous county in Louisiana and contains the state capital of Baton Rouge. While the property tax rate in East Baton Rouge Parish ranks among the highest in Louisiana, it is still quite low when compared to the rest of the U.S. The average effective property tax rate in East Baton Rouge Parish is 0.72%, which is over half the national average.

Jefferson Parish

Located in southeast Louisiana adjacent to the city of New Orleans, Jefferson Parish has a property tax rate of 0.59%. This rate is based on a median home value of $193,600 and a median annual tax payment of $1,149.

Orleans Parish

Thinking about a move to New Orleans? The city, which is coterminous with Orleans Parish, has the second highest property tax rate in the state of Louisiana, although it's still far below the national average. The average effective property tax rate here is 0.79% and the median annual property tax payment is $1,972.

If you have questions about how property taxes can affect your overall financial plans, a financial advisor in New Orleans can help you out.

Caddo Parish

The typical homeowner in Caddo Parish pays $909 annually in property taxes, which is less than half the national average. That amount will vary depending on where you live and how much your home is worth. However, the median home value in the parish is $150,200.

St. Tammany Parish

St. Tammany Parish has the highest property taxes in Louisiana, with an average effective rate of 0.89%. One of the largest recipients of property tax dollars in the parish are local schools. It’s also worth noting that the schools in St. Tammany Parish received an A grade from the state of Louisiana in 2017. It was one of just 17 districts out of 74 to score top marks.

Lafayette Parish

Located in southern Louisiana, Lafayette Parish has property tax rates similar to those of other urban parishes in Louisiana. The average effective property tax rate in the parish is 0.68%. At that rate, the taxes due on a home equal to the county's $189,700 median value would be $1,299 per year. In comparison, the statewide median home value is $192,800 and the median annual property tax payment is $1,065.

Calcasieu Parish

Calcasieu Parish is one of the most populous parishes in Louisiana. The median annual property tax payment in Calcasieu Parish is just $1,096 per year. While the parish's $160,800 median home value is relatively low compared to national marks, property tax rates are even lower. The parish’s average effective property tax rate of 0.68% ranks among the lowest of all U.S. counties and parishes.

Ouachita Parish

Ouachita Parish is located in northeast Louisiana and contains the city of Monroe. A typical homeowner in the Parish can expect to pay around $926 in annual property tax payments on a home valued at about $150,200. The average effective property tax rate in the county is 0.62%. 

Rapides Parish

Situated in central Louisiana along the Red River, Rapides Parish has an average effective property tax rate of 0.55%. That comes in at the state average of 0.55%, and is almost half of the 0.99% U.S. average.

Livingston Parish

At 0.59%, Livingston Parish has a near average effective property tax rate in Louisiana. But because median home values reside around $173,200, the median property tax bill ranks in the upper half of the state. In fact, residents here will pay somewhere around $1,028 a year in property taxes.