re: Louisiana has highest sales tax rate in the nation

Our property taxes are like the second lowest in the nation.

When you combine the impacts of state and local income, sales, and property tax, we are right in the middle of the pack.

Now the problem is.,, when you consider the quality that the money is spent on… we are not in the middle of the pack, we are at bottom.

So while we are far from the most taxed state… we are well overpaying for what we get.

Visited Montana a few years ago and was shocked when I bought something. 0 sales tax. I kept asking the clerk in disbelief

LINK

It also seems that, at least per 2009 metrics, Louisiana had the 26th highest GDP of any state.

So 26th highest GDP, highest sales tax in the nation, state income tax, #2 in sugar production, #3 in rice production, #3 in salt production, #4 in natural gas production, #9 in oil production and we're the poorest state in the union save Mississippi.

How anyone can argue that our state government isn't corrupt is beyond comprehension

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I live in Texas which has no state income tax but high property taxes. The property taxes are assessed at the county and city level and are mostly geared to funding the local public schools. I've also lived in Kansas and they did the same thing with property taxes. Over a period of time, the best public school districts stand out and become known to everyone. People who value good education (and can afford it) are more likely to move to those areas. Conversely, people who don't give a shite tend to end up in the areas with the worse performing schools. The school districts are not at the county level. There should be about 5 school districts within a heavily populated county. The school districts compete with one another and residents are free to move to the school district of their choice. Competition is good. This is how you get your St. George!

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Louisiana decided to do vouchers and gut the public systems.

Arkansas is about to do the same.

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I live in Texas which has no state income tax but high property taxes. The property taxes are assessed at the county and city level and are mostly geared to funding the local public schools.

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I love how people shite on Texas property taxes before examining the whole tax structure.

My differences between Texas and LA. Here is my experience

Tx Property tax $11,000; La Property tax $5,000

But wait.. there's more..

Tx state income tax $0; La State income tax $8736

Tx sales tax 8.50%; La sales tax 9.25%

Texas is much cheaper tax wise to live and has better roads and schools. I am sure more taxes will help La though.

We don't need to discuss insurance or utility costs differences.

Yes. It is a very unattractive place to live and, generally speaking, to do business. We've made some strides in attracting businesses, but it's still an absolutely awful state to live in.

I say that as a lifetime LA resident that won't leave anyway. I just recognize how crappy it really is.

How else will the politicos get their incentive pay.

Exactly. We would make major strides just copying Texas tbh

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Louisiana’s combined state and local sales taxes are the highest in the nation per report released by the tax foundation last week. The research shows that Louisiana’s state sales tax of 4.45 percent ranks 38th but when you figure in the average local tax rate of 5.10 it makes us the highest!

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I tried to find that report, but I could only find last year's report from the tax foundation. It seems strange that Louisiana could have the highest state and local tax rate at 9.55 %, when New York had a state and local tax rate of over 15% last year.

LINK State and Local Tax Rates 2022

ETA: Found the report for 2023, it did show Louisiana the highest at 9.55%. Something looks fricky, the numbers across the board look drastically different from the report for 2022. There's no way there could have been that many changes.

LINK State and Local Taxes 2023

Sales tax, car insurance, and homeowner’s insurance.