Louisiana Property Tax Calculator 2026

How Louisiana Property Tax Works

Property tax in Louisiana is an annual tax levied on real estate by local governments — primarily counties, municipalities, and school districts. The amount you owe is determined by your property's assessed value multiplied by the local mill rate. On average, Louisiana homeowners pay 0.55% of their home's value in property tax each year, 0.39 percentage points below the U.S. figure of 0.94%.

The effective rate combines all local levies: county tax, municipal tax, school district tax, and any special assessments. Because Louisiana has multiple taxing jurisdictions, your actual rate depends heavily on where in the state your property is located. The 0.55% figure is all real-estate tax paid on owner-occupied homes in Louisiana divided by their total value, as published in the Tax Foundation's Property Taxes by State and County, 2026 from Census Bureau American Community Survey data for 2020–2024. It is a statewide average — not a rate any single jurisdiction charges, and not your bill.

The Census Bureau puts the median owner-occupied home in Louisiana at $216,500 and the median real-estate tax bill at $1,180 a year — roughly $98 per month when paid through a mortgage escrow account (American Community Survey, 2020–2024).

Who Collects Property Tax in Louisiana — and How Rates Are Set

In Louisiana, property is assessed at the parish level: an elected parish assessor sets values and, in most parishes, the sheriff collects the tax. State law sets the framework; parishes, municipalities, school boards and special districts each set their own millages within it.

Mill rates (expressed as dollars of tax per $1,000 of assessed value) are set annually based on local budget needs. Ten mills is 1% of assessed value, which equals 1% of market value only where homes are assessed at full market value. Louisiana assesses residential property at 10% of fair market value, so millage applies to a tenth of what the home is worth. If your home's market value rises faster than neighboring properties, your share of the tax burden can increase even if the mill rate stays the same.

To find your exact rate, contact your parish assessor's office or check its official website. Your most recent property tax bill will also show the breakdown of all levies applied to your parcel.

Louisiana Property Tax Exemptions and Relief Programs

Louisiana's homestead exemption shields the first $7,500 of assessed value of an owner-occupied home - $75,000 of market value at the 10% residential assessment level - from parish property taxes; it generally does not apply to city taxes. Owners aged 65 or older under an income limit can also freeze their assessed value through the special assessment level. Apply with your parish assessor.

Veterans may qualify for separate property-tax relief, which takes a different form in each state - an exemption, a credit or a refund - so ask your parish assessor what Louisiana offers. Agricultural land often receives a preferential assessment based on use-value rather than market value. If you believe your assessment is incorrect, you have the right to appeal — the deadline is printed on your assessment notice and is often only a few weeks away.

To apply for any exemption, contact your parish assessor. Most exemptions require an annual or one-time application and proof of eligibility (residency, age, disability documentation, etc.).

Tips to Manage Your Louisiana Property Tax Bill

First, verify your assessment is accurate. Review your property record card at your parish assessor's office and check for errors in square footage, bedroom/bathroom count, or lot size. Even small errors can inflate your assessed value and tax bill. If the assessment seems high, look up recent sale prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood and file an appeal if warranted.

Second, apply for every exemption you qualify for. Homestead, senior, veteran, and disability exemptions can reduce your taxable value by thousands of dollars. Third, if your mortgage servicer handles tax payments through escrow, review your escrow statement annually. Servicers sometimes over-estimate and hold excess funds — you may be entitled to a refund. Finally, Louisiana property taxes are due December 31 in most parishes.