Louisiana Sales Tax Rate (2026)

State Base Rate

4.45%

Local jurisdictions may add additional sales tax.

Last updated:

Source: Louisiana Department of Revenue

How Sales Tax Works in Louisiana

Louisiana imposes a statewide base sales tax rate of 4.45%. Louisiana is a destination-based sales tax state, meaning the tax rate is determined by the buyer's delivery address.

County taxes: Louisiana counties can levy additional sales tax on top of the state rate, and rates vary by county.

City taxes: Cities in Louisiana may impose their own sales tax, adding further variability to combined rates.

Special district taxes: Special taxing districts (transit authorities, improvement districts, etc.) in Louisiana can add additional taxes that apply within their boundaries.

Rates in Louisiana are typically updated quarterly. Businesses should monitor rate changes regularly to maintain compliance.

Why Rates Vary by County in Louisiana

The combined sales tax rate a customer pays in Louisiana depends on the specific jurisdiction of the transaction. Local governments use sales tax revenue to fund essential services such as infrastructure, public safety, and education.

This means that two addresses within the same city may have different tax rates if they fall in different special taxing districts. ZIP codes are particularly unreliable for tax determination because a single ZIP code can span multiple counties or tax jurisdictions.

For businesses operating in Louisiana, manually tracking these rate changes across every jurisdiction is impractical. An automated API solution ensures you always apply the correct rate at the point of sale, reducing compliance risk and audit exposure.

Example API Response

Query real-time sales tax rates programmatically. Here is an example response for Orleans Parish:

api-response
GETRequest
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  "https://salestaxapi.io/api/rates?state=LA&zip=70112"
200Response
{
  "state": "LA",
  "zip": "70112",
  "county": "Orleans Parish",
  "total_rate": 0.0945
}

Get real-time Louisiana sales tax rates via API

Access accurate, jurisdiction-level tax rates for every address in Louisiana. Updated daily from Louisiana Department of Revenue.

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Louisiana Sales Tax FAQ

What is the sales tax rate in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a state sales tax rate of 4.45%. With parish and city taxes, combined rates can exceed 12% in some areas, among the highest in the US.
Does Louisiana have local sales tax?
Yes. Louisiana parishes (counties), cities, and special districts all levy additional sales taxes, creating one of the most complex local tax environments in the country.
Is Louisiana an origin or destination-based state?
Louisiana is a destination-based sales tax state.
How often does Louisiana update sales tax rates?
Louisiana local rates can change quarterly. Parishes and cities independently set and adjust their tax rates.

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