Louisiana offers one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country, boasting a statewide effective rate of just 0.55%. Homeowners benefit from a massive constitutional Homestead Exemption that shields the first $75,000 of a primary residence’s market value from state and parish taxes. Furthermore, residential property is assessed at a fractional 10% of its market value, keeping tax bills artificially low compared to neighboring states (est., Tax Foundation 2026 / U.S. Census ACS 2023).
Louisiana is heavily reliant on high sales taxes to fund government services, leaving property taxes extraordinarily low. With a statewide effective property tax rate of 0.55%, Louisiana sits well below the national average (0.90%). The state’s massive $75,000 constitutional Homestead Exemption wipes out the property tax liability entirely for tens of thousands of lower-income homeowners across the state.
The 10% Assessment Ratio and Quadrennial Reappraisals
The Louisiana Tax Commission oversees the assessment process, which applies different fractional ratios depending on the type of property. While commercial property is assessed at 15% of its market value, residential property is assessed at just 10%.
For example, if your Parish Assessor determines your home has a fair market value of $200,000, your Assessed Value for tax calculation purposes is only $20,000. Your local millage rates are applied only to that $20,000 figure.
To keep values updated, state law requires all property to be reappraised at least once every four years (a quadrennial cycle).
Louisiana statewide effective rate. On a $220,000 home (after a $75,000 Homestead Exemption), expect approximately $797 per year at the statewide average. (est., Tax Foundation 2026 / Census ACS 2023).
| Home Value | Annual Tax (est.) * | Monthly Payment | vs. U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $412 | $34 | -$938 below avg. |
| $220,000 | $797 | $66 | -$1,183 below avg. |
| $350,000 | $1,512 | $126 | -$1,638 below avg. |
| $500,000 | $2,337 | $194 | -$2,163 below avg. |
| $750,000 | $3,712 | $309 | -$3,038 below avg. |
* Estimates use 0.55% statewide effective rate and assume the homeowner claims the $75,000 Homestead Exemption. U.S. average uses 0.90% with no exemption. Source: est., Tax Foundation / Census ACS 2023.
The Homestead Exemption ($75,000 Market Value)
The cornerstone of Louisiana’s property tax system is the constitutional Homestead Exemption. If you own and occupy a home as your primary residence, the state exempts the first $7,500 of its Assessed Value from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes.
Because residential property is assessed at 10% of its market value, this $7,500 assessed value exemption translates directly to a $75,000 market value exemption.
If your home is worth $75,000 or less, you pay absolutely no parish property taxes. (Note: The Homestead Exemption generally does not apply to municipal/city taxes, except in Orleans Parish).
Special Assessment Level (The “Freeze”)
Louisiana offers a Special Assessment Level that acts as a “freeze” for eligible, vulnerable homeowners. Rather than freezing the tax bill itself, it freezes the property’s Assessed Value, protecting the homeowner from inflation-driven reappraisals.
- Eligibility: You must qualify for the Homestead Exemption and be either a senior (age 65 or older), permanently and totally disabled, a disabled veteran (with a 50%+ service-connected rating), or the surviving spouse of a military member killed in action/MIA/POW.
- Income Limit: To qualify, your combined adjusted gross income cannot exceed a specific limit (set at $102,700 for 2026, indexed annually to the CPI).
Note: If you make major physical improvements to the home (like adding a new room), the frozen value will increase to reflect the new construction.
Major Parish Tax Rates in Louisiana
Orleans Parish (New Orleans) carries the highest effective property tax rate among major population centers (0.85%). This is due to a combination of high municipal millage rates and the unique structure of the city’s tax code.
Suburban and rural parishes, such as Tangipahoa and Ouachita, enjoy incredibly low effective tax rates, often dropping below 0.45%.
| Parish | Effective Rate | Annual Tax on $220,000 Home (with Exemption) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge | 0.70% | $1,015 | State Capital area; higher millage rates for schools. |
| Jefferson | 0.53% | $768 | Suburban New Orleans; tracks near state average. |
| Orleans | 0.85% | $1,232 | New Orleans; highest effective rate due to high municipal taxes. |
| St. Tammany | 0.69% | $1,000 | “Northshore” suburban area; higher property values. |
| Lafayette | 0.67% | $971 | Hub city of Acadiana; slightly above state average. |
| Caddo | 0.59% | $855 | Includes Shreveport. |
| Calcasieu | 0.55% | $797 | Includes Lake Charles; exactly aligns with state average. |
| Ouachita | 0.41% | $594 | Includes Monroe; very low tax burden. |
| Livingston | 0.46% | $667 | Suburban Baton Rouge area. |
| Tangipahoa | 0.33% | $478 | Hammond area; lowest effective rate in the top 10. |
Disclaimer and Methodology
This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only, based on historical effective property tax rates (actual median taxes paid divided by median home values). Under Louisiana law, residential property is assessed at just 10% of its market value before millage rates are applied. Because exact millage rates vary heavily by exact address, school district, and levee district, this calculator uses “effective rates” to bypass fractional math and provide a highly realistic estimate of actual homeowner burden.
What this calculator does not account for:
- Municipal (City) Taxes: In most parishes, the massive $75,000 Homestead Exemption does not apply to city taxes. If you live inside city limits, your final bill will be slightly higher than an identical home in an unincorporated area.
- Voter-approved bond issues for local schools or law enforcement that can temporarily spike local mill levies.
How to get an accurate estimate:
- Find your home’s 10% Assessed Value on your Parish Assessor’s website.
- If it is your primary residence, subtract $7,500 from the Assessed Value (for parish taxes).
- Multiply the remaining Assessed Value by the total millage rate for your tax district, then divide by 1,000.
Data sources: Statewide effective rate and parish effective rates derived from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 and SmartAsset aggregations. Statutory rules and exemption limits from the Louisiana Tax Commission.
Return to the National Property Tax Calculator to compare Louisiana with other states.