Louisiana sales tax rates and estimate (2026)

Louisiana sales tax rate

Louisiana charges a statewide sales tax of 5%. Cities, counties and special districts can add their own local sales taxes on top, which brings the population-weighted average combined rate to about 10.11% in 2026. Because local rates differ from place to place, the exact rate at a given address may be higher or lower than the average.

How to calculate Louisiana sales tax

Multiply the price by the rate: sales tax = price × rate ÷ 100, then add it to the price for the total. For a $100 purchase at the combined 10.11% rate, the tax is $10.11 and the total is $110.11. Use the calculator above for any amount, and swap in your local rate if you know it.

Rates as of January 1, 2026 (source: Tax Foundation). Verify the current rate with the relevant Louisiana state or local tax authority before invoicing or filing.

Last reviewed October 20, 2026 by the CedarBill Editorial Team. Thresholds and exemptions: Sales Tax Institute, AARP and each state tax authority. See how sources are selected and updated in our methodology.

Louisiana sales tax at a glance

What's taxed in Louisiana

Groceries (food for home consumption) are exempt from Louisiana's state sales tax, but city or county taxes may still apply to food. Clothing is taxed like any other goods. Whether services are taxable depends on the state and the type of service. If you invoice for services, confirm the rule with the Louisiana Department of Revenue before adding sales tax.

Selling into Louisiana and which rate to charge

Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, a business with no physical presence in Louisiana must register and collect its sales tax once sales into the state exceed $100,000. The measurement period (current or previous year, or a rolling 12 months) is set by the state, so check it before you cross the line. Louisiana is not a Streamlined Sales Tax member, so out-of-state sellers register directly with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

Louisiana uses destination-based sourcing: charge the rate at the buyer's delivery address. That's why the same order can carry different rates in different parts of the state — and why the average above is only a reference.

Good to know about Louisiana

Louisiana raised its state rate to 5% in 2025, and parish-level local taxes push its average combined rate to the highest in the country. Local taxes are collected by parish tax collectors, while remote sellers can file through the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers.

Louisiana vs. neighboring states

Among Louisiana's neighbors, Mississippi has the lowest average combined rate (7.06%) and Arkansas the highest (9.46%). Rates matter when you ship across state lines: the buyer's state decides the tax.