The average Louisiana property tax rate is about 0.55% of a home’s value, which comes to roughly $1,180 a year on the typical Louisiana home. That makes Louisiana property tax one of the lower burdens in the country. This guide breaks down the Louisiana property tax rate, what the typical bill looks like, how your bill is figured, where the money goes, and — most useful of all — how
to check whether you are overpaying and how to pay less.
Louisiana Property Tax at a Glance
| Effective tax rate | 0.55% |
| Median annual bill | $1,180 |
| Median home value | $216,500 |
| Rank among states | #38 of 50 highest |
| vs. U.S. average | $3,091 below the U.S. average ($4,271) |
| Reassessed | Louisiana law requires assessors to reappraise every property in the parish at least once every four years; between those cycles your value generally stays the same unless you make major improvements or sell. |
Rate & bill: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2024 5-year (effective rate B25090/B25082 – the Tax Foundation method; median bill B25103; value B25077).
| Louisiana Property Tax | Figure |
|---|---|
| Effective property tax rate | 0.55% |
| Median annual property tax bill | $1,180 |
| Median home value | $216,500 |
| Rank (highest to lowest) | #38 of 50 states |
| U.S. average bill | $4,271 |
In This Louisiana Guide:
What Is the Louisiana Property Tax Rate?
The Louisiana property tax rate is not one flat number — it is the combined result of your county, city, township, and school-district rates, applied to your home’s assessed value. Across Louisiana, homeowners pay about 0.55% of their home’s value on average, or around $1,180 a year on a typical $216,500 home. That puts Louisiana in the middle nationally — ranked #38 of 50 states from highest to lowest. Two
homes worth the same amount can still owe very different bills depending on the town and school district, so treat the statewide figure as a starting point, not your exact bill.
If your bill looks high, start by reading your assessment notice and confirming the fair market value and assessed value the parish has on file — an error there flows through to everything else. Next, check whether you’re claiming every exemption you’re entitled to, such as the homestead exemption or senior/disabled/veteran relief, since many homeowners qualify without realizing it. If the value still seems too high, you may discuss it
with your parish assessor and, if needed, file a formal protest with the parish Board of Review and then the Louisiana Tax Commission (see your assessment notice for the exact dates).
Think your Louisiana bill is too high? Check in two minutes.
How Louisiana Property Tax Is Calculated
Your Louisiana property tax starts with an assessed value set by Property is assessed by elected parish assessors — each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes (Louisiana uses “parishes” rather than “counties”) has its own assessor’s office, with statewide oversight by the Louisiana Tax Commission.. Your parish assessor first determines the fair market value of your home by looking at its characteristics and recent sales of similar nearby properties. A ratio set
by state law is then applied to that market value to produce the lower “assessed value” your tax is actually based on — check the assessed value printed on your assessment notice.
That assessed value is then multiplied by the combined local tax rate to produce your bill. In Louisiana, property is generally reassessed Louisiana law requires assessors to reappraise every property in the parish at least once every four years; between those cycles your value generally stays the same unless you make major improvements or sell.. The single most important number to check is your assessed value: if it is higher
than what your home would sell for, your bill is too high — and that is exactly what an appeal fixes.
The actual rates in Louisiana are set by The assessor does not set your tax rate. Local taxing bodies — the parish or city-parish government, school board, sheriff/law enforcement, municipalities, and special districts (such as levee, drainage, or fire districts) — each set their own millage rates, and voters often approve them.. That is why your neighbor one town over can pay a different bill on an identical house.
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Where Your Louisiana Property Tax Money Goes
Louisiana property taxes mostly stay local, funding public schools, the sheriff and law enforcement, and parish and municipal services. Special districts also draw on them for things like drainage, levees, fire protection, and roads. For most Louisiana homeowners, the school-district share is the biggest single piece of the bill, which is why property taxes tend to be highest where schools rely most on local funding.
One Louisiana note: Louisiana is administered by parish (not county) assessors, and the homestead exemption is written into the state constitution. Louisiana also offers a “special assessment level” that can freeze the assessed value for qualifying homeowners (such as those 65 and older or permanently disabled) who meet an income limit, so their assessment does not rise at reassessment while they remain eligible.
How Louisiana Property Tax Compares
The U.S. average property tax bill is about $4,271 a year. The typical Louisiana bill of $1,180 is $3,091 below that. Remember that a low rate does not always mean a low bill — a state with cheap rates but expensive homes can still cost you more than Louisiana. The dollar bill and your own assessment matter more than the headline rate.
How to Lower Your Louisiana Property Tax
You cannot change the Louisiana property tax rate, but you have two real levers on your own bill. First, claim every exemption you qualify for. Louisiana offers property tax breaks that can lower your bill, including a homestead exemption on an owner-occupied primary residence, plus additional relief for many seniors (generally 65 and older), disabled homeowners, and disabled veterans. These are not automatic — you generally have to apply with
your parish assessor’s office, so it’s worth checking whether you qualify (see the data box above for any current amounts).
Second, appeal your assessment if your home is valued higher than it would sell for — studies suggest a large share of homes are over-assessed, and appeals often succeed.
Don’t want to appeal your Louisiana taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Louisiana property tax rate?
The average effective Louisiana property tax rate is about 0.55% of a home’s value, based on U.S. Census data. On the typical Louisiana home that works out to roughly $1,180 a year. Your own bill depends on your county, city, and school district, plus any exemptions you claim — see the data box above.
Why is my Louisiana property tax so high?
Property tax in Louisiana is driven mostly by your local rates (especially school levies) and by your home’s assessed value. If your assessment is higher than what your home would actually sell for, you may be overpaying — that is the most common reason a bill is too high, and it is something you can appeal.
How can I lower my Louisiana property tax?
Two things help most in Louisiana: make sure you are claiming every exemption you qualify for (homestead, senior, veteran, or disability), and appeal your assessment if your home is over-valued. Both can lower your bill, and both are free to do yourself.
Louisiana Property Tax Sources & Data
- Louisiana Department of Revenue (property tax): https://www.latax.la.gov/
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Louisiana property tax rates and typical bills on this page come from U.S. Census (American Community Survey) data as
published by the Tax Foundation, and were last checked in July 2026. Rates and bills change each year and vary by county
— confirm your own figures with your county assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.