LLC Annual Report and Tax Filing Requirements in Louisiana

When you start a limited liability company (LLC), you enjoy the advantages of limited liability, a flexible management structure, and various taxing options. However, to keep your LLC in good standing, you'll need to keep up with your state's legal requirements.

Louisiana requires LLCs to submit an annual report and fee and to file and pay applicable business and employer taxes. Below are the most common state reporting and tax filing requirements for Louisiana LLCs.

Louisiana LLC Annual Report

The State of Louisiana requires you to file an annual report for your LLC. You can file your annual report online using Louisiana geauxBIZ, the state's one-stop site for businesses. You'll need to update or confirm the information already on file with the Louisiana Secretary of State (SOS).

The annual report is due on or before the anniversary date of your LLC's formation. You can file your report within 30 days of its due date. As of 2023, the current filing fee for an LLC annual report is $30.

State Business Taxes in Louisiana

An LLC is considered a "pass-through tax entity" for income tax purposes. With a pass-through tax entity, the business's income passes through the business to its owners. The owners (LLC members) then pay taxes on their share of the business's income and report these earnings on their personal tax returns. The LLC itself doesn't pay income tax.

As an LLC member, you'll file a personal tax return and pay your share of the LLC's taxes to the Louisiana Department of Revenue (DOR). You can use the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP) to file and pay your taxes.

No franchise tax. Some states will impose a tax or fee on LLCs and other business entities for the privilege of doing business in the state. This particular tax is often called a "franchise tax." Louisiana doesn't have a franchise tax.

Electing corporate tax status. Typically, LLCs are taxed as partnerships (a type of pass-through tax entity) by default. However, you can choose to have your LLC taxed as a corporation for federal tax purposes by filing IRS Form 2553 with the IRS. If you elect to have your LLC taxed as a corporation, your LLC will also be taxed as a corporation in Louisiana. Louisiana, like most states, taxes corporation income. The tax rate varies depending on your business's income. LLCs taxed as corporations must also pay Louisiana's corporation franchise tax. Use form CIFT-620 for your corporation income and franchise tax return.

Electing pass-through entity tax status. Louisiana LLCs—along with S corporations and other businesses taxed as partnerships—can elect to be taxed at the entity level. Typically, only the owners of a pass-through entity are taxed. However, in Louisiana, the owners of a pass-through tax entity can elect to have the business itself taxed. Use Form R-6980 to make this election.

For more details on the pass-through entity tax and the corporation income and franchise taxes, visit the DOR's corporation income and franchise taxes webpage.

One of the advantages of forming an LLC is the flexibility in how you and your business are taxed. If you're unsure about which tax strategy is the best fit for your LLC, talk to a Louisiana business attorney. They can help you review the advantages and disadvantages of each tax entity under Louisiana law.

Louisiana Employer Taxes

If your LLC has employees or plans to, you must pay employer taxes to the federal and state governments. You should get your federal employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS to report and pay these taxes as an employer.

Withholding employee wages. As a Louisiana employer, you must withhold and pay employee income taxes to the DOR. Use geauxBIZ or mail Form R-16019 to the DOR to register your business for withholding taxes and to obtain a revenue account number. Once registered, your business must file Form L-1 every quarter and make payments either quarterly, monthly, or semimonthly. You must also file Form L-3 annually to reconcile your tax withholdings. For more, check out the DOR's withholding tax webpage.

Unemployment insurance (UI) tax. In addition to withholding taxes for employees, your LLC will probably need to register to pay state UI taxes to the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC). You can register for a Louisiana UI employer account online through the LWC website. After you've registered your business, you must file quarterly reports on wages and pay the UI taxes. For more information about UI taxes and online filings, check the employers section of the LWC website.

Louisiana Sales and Use Tax

If your LLC will sell taxable goods or services to customers in Louisiana, you'll need to collect and pay sales tax to the DOR. You must register to pay the state sales tax by applying for a sales tax certificate and revenue account number. Again, you can register for a revenue account number either online through geauxBIZ or by submitting Form R-16019 to the DOR.

You must submit sales tax returns to DOR periodically—either monthly or quarterly. You can file your sales tax returns and make payments online through LaTAP.

You can read the general sales and use tax section of the DOR website for more information about this tax.

LLC Registration in Other States

Some people form businesses in one state but do business in other states. You might, for example, create your LLC in Louisiana but have business activities in Texas. If your LLC does business in a state outside of Louisiana, then you might need to register as an out-of-state (foreign) LLC in that state.

Each state has its own rules for when and how an out-of-state business must register. In general, you probably need to register as an out-of-state LLC if you have a physical presence in a state, hire employees in the state, or advertise directly to residents of the state. But you should check the state's laws around qualifying as a foreign business.

Review our state guide to qualifying to do business outside your state to determine whether you need to register your LLC in another state.

More Information About Louisiana LLCs

Louisiana's SOS and DOR websites are great resources for LLC owners. You can find information about how to register your business, file annual reports, submit tax returns, and more. (If you want information about other states' LLC requirements, you can review our article on LLC tax and filing requirements.)

If you're looking for more information about how to manage and operate your LLC, check out the various articles in the LLC section of our website. If you need answers to legal questions specific to your business, talk to a Louisiana business lawyer. They can help you navigate the reporting and tax filing processes for your Louisiana LLC.