Calculate your property tax for LA. Enter your home value, apply exemptions, and see your estimated annual tax.
Louisiana's effective property tax rates are low-to-moderate, commonly 0.3% to 0.7% of market value, because the state's assessment ratios are low (residential at 10% of market value) and because homestead exemption removes the first $75,000 of value. Property is assessed at market, then multiplied by the low ratio. Taxes are levied by parishes (counties), cities, and school boards. Relief is dominated by the $75,000 homestead exemption and a senior/disabled freeze. This guide explains the calculation and relief; the calculator below estimates your bill.
Louisiana values property at market value, then applies a 10% assessment ratio for residential (and higher ratios for other classes) to reach the assessed value; your tax is the assessed value times the combined rate (mills per $1,000) of the parish, city, school board, and special districts. Crucially, the $75,000 homestead exemption is applied to the assessed value (so it removes $7,500 of assessed value — a large share of most homes), making Louisiana's effective rate very low for owner-occupants.
Louisiana's Homestead Exemption removes the first $75,000 of a primary residence's assessed value from taxation — because residential assessed value is only 10% of market, this exempts the first $750,000 of market value. For most homeowners it eliminates the tax entirely or leaves only a small bill. It is claimed once with the parish assessor and stays while you occupy the home.
Louisiana's Special Assessment Level (SAL) — commonly called the senior freeze — freezes the assessed value of a primary residence for owners 65+ or permanently disabled (and surviving spouses) with household income under a limit (about $100,000 recently) at the 2023 level, preventing future assessment growth. It is claimed with the parish and is one of the most valuable reliefs for long-term older owners.
Louisiana grants a veterans' exemption (a set dollar reduction, larger for service-connected disability, with a full exemption for 100% disability or for certain wartime veterans), and exemptions for surviving spouses and for the totally disabled. Because the homestead exemption already removes most of the base, the veterans' exemption is a secondary benefit but meaningful for larger homes.
Louisiana's twin protections — the 10% residential ratio and the $75,000 homestead exemption — keep effective rates low; the SAL freeze then caps assessment growth for eligible seniors/disabled. There is no general Prop 13-style cap for everyone, but the combination is very generous for owner-occupants.
The figures below draw on our county datasets where available; rates differ by jurisdiction, so use your specific locality's rate in the calculator.
| County | Effective Rate | Est. tax on $250,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | 0.42% | $1,050 |
| East Baton Rouge | 0.51% | $1,275 |
| Jefferson | 0.52% | $1,300 |
Estimates apply each county's effective rate to a $250,000 market value for comparison only; your actual bill depends on your own assessed value, exemptions, and local levies.
Louisiana parishes bill annually (commonly by December 31) on the combined mill rate of the parish, city, school board, and special districts, with penalty and interest on late payment and a tax sale after sustained delinquency. The $75,000 homestead exemption is applied by the parish; the SAL senior freeze is claimed with the parish. Because the exemption removes most of the base, many owner-occupants owe little or nothing.
To lower your Louisiana bill: (1) claim the $75,000 Homestead Exemption with the parish (it exempts the first $750,000 of market value for most homes); (2) file the Special Assessment Level (senior freeze) if 65+/disabled with income under the limit to stop assessment growth; (3) claim the veterans' exemption (full for 100% disability); (4) grieve by about July 1 using comparable sales; (5) because rates are set by parish and school board, follow their budget votes. The homestead exemption is the single most valuable action.
In practice, a Louisiana bill is the 10%-assessed residential value, minus the $75,000 homestead exemption (which removes the first $750,000 of market value), times the parish/city/school mill rate. For most owner-occupants the exemption zeroes out the base, leaving a small or zero bill. The SAL freeze caps assessment growth for eligible seniors/disabled. Read the assessment notice (commonly by July 1) and grieve the market value if needed; verify your homestead exemption is active.
If you are buying in Louisiana, the $75,000 homestead exemption (which removes the first $750,000 of market value from the base) is the headline — claim it immediately after closing, because it can zero out your bill. If 65+/disabled, enroll in the SAL freeze to cap assessment growth. Compare parish and school-board mill rates. Grieve the market value by about July 1 if needed. For most owner-occupants, Louisiana property tax is among the lowest in the country.
To appeal in Louisiana, file by about July 1. (1) Compare the market value to recent sales. (2) File with the parish board of review. (3) Appeal to the Louisiana Tax Commission if needed. (4) Confirm the $75,000 homestead exemption and, if eligible, the SAL freeze. The 10% ratio means the standard is a fraction of market value.
Louisiana's defining debate is the $75,000 homestead exemption and the SAL freeze; proposals periodically adjust the exemption amount or the senior-freeze income limit. Because the exemption removes most of the base for typical homes, it is the most important relief in the state. Watch the Legislature for changes to the exemption or the freeze, since both directly affect owner-occupants.
10% residential ratio — residential value taxed at 10% of market. $75,000 homestead exemption — removes the first $750,000 of market value. SAL freeze — the senior/disabled assessment freeze. Parish — Louisiana's county equivalent. Board of review — the local appeal body (July 1).
Two $250,000 homes. Homeowner A: assessed value is 10% ($25,000); the $75,000 homestead exemption removes all of it, so the bill is often $0 or near zero. Homeowner B, a 65-year-old, also enrolls in the SAL freeze, locking the base. The example shows why Louisiana is among the lowest-burden states for owner-occupants.
Louisiana homeowners with a mortgage pay via escrow; the lender remits the parish/city/school installments. Because the $75,000 homestead exemption can zero out the base, many owners pay little or nothing — but a rate change or a lost exemption raises the escrow. Claim the exemption immediately and tell the lender. If 65+/disabled, enroll in the SAL freeze so the base (and escrow) stays stable.
What is Louisiana's residential assessment ratio? Residential property is assessed at 10% of market value; the rate is applied to that assessed value.
What is Louisiana's homestead exemption? It removes the first $75,000 of a primary residence's assessed value (equivalent to the first $750,000 of market value) from taxation; claim with the parish.
What is the Louisiana senior freeze (SAL)? The Special Assessment Level freezes the assessed value of a primary residence for owners 65+ or disabled with income under a limit, preventing assessment growth.
What veterans' relief exists in Louisiana? A veterans' exemption (larger for service-connected disability, full for 100%), plus surviving-spouse and totally-disabled exemptions.
How do I appeal my Louisiana assessment? File with the parish board of review by about July 1 (or after the notice), then to the Louisiana Tax Commission.
Enter your home value, select your state, and see your estimated annual property tax.