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• Internet sales tax bill faces tough sell in House

  May 7, 2013 7:13 AM

  WASHINGTON - Traditional retailers and cash-strapped states face a tough sell in the House as they lobby Congress to limit tax-free shopping on the Internet. The Senate voted 69 to 27 Monday to pass a bill that empowers states to collect sales taxes from Internet purchases. Under the... more »

• Bill would force online retailers to charge you tax Play Video

  February 20, 2013 5:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The Marketplace Fairness Act, which is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), would allow states to force online retailers to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases. The bill is intended to help small businesses that often lose out to online retailers who don't have to charge... more »

• Jindal seeking to expand sales tax to more items

  February 6, 2013 3:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Bobby Jindal wants to charge state sales taxes on more services and products than there are currently provided. Items like landscaping, marina services and cable TV could be included. Governor Jindal says the increase on the state's sales tax income would help offset the loss... more »

• Lafayette Parish may end tax rebate

  January 22, 2013 7:10 AM

  LAFAYETTE- The Lafayette City-Parish Government is considering ending a sales tax rebate that helps area businesses cover accounting expenses related to collecting and paying the tax. A long-standing local law has allowed businesses to keep 2 percent of total collections for city-parish government sales taxes as long as the... more »

• Livingston sales tax revenue increases

  January 18, 2013 12:49 PM

  LIVINGSTON - Livingston Parish sales tax revenue rose 7 percent in December, compared with the previous year, marking the 26th straight month that tax receipts have increased. The Advocate reports more than 70 percent of the sales taxes collected in the Denham Springs Economic Development District are still being used... more »

• Jindal tax plan would keep incentive programs

  January 16, 2013 4:42 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The leader on Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed tax code rewrite, Tim Barfield, says the administration wants to keep most of the state's economic development incentive programs as part of the revamp. Many of the programs give credits or exemptions to income taxes. Though Jindal is proposing to... more »

• Lafourche voters reject new levee tax

  December 10, 2012 9:03 AM

  THIBODAUX - Lafourche Parish votes have rejected levying a new one-cent sales tax north of the Intracoastal Waterway for flood protection. The North Lafourche Levee District's proposed new sales tax would have raised more than $8 million annually. The tax failed by a vote of 54 percent against... more »

• Ascension sales tax could help improve roads Play Video

  October 23, 2012 5:16 PM

  GONZALES - A half-cent sales tax could be the answer to solving Ascension Parish's traffic problems and voters will get the chance to have their voices heard on the measure this November. The proposed tax would generate about $8 million annually, allowing the parish to secure an $80 million... more »

• Shopper's sales tax helps Gonzales grow Play Video

  October 2, 2012 6:02 PM

  GONZALES - Construction around the Tanger Outlet mall has begun, thanks to a sales tax initiated by the city. The one percent sales tax focuses on infrustructure in Gonzales. Revenues from the tax are split, with 70 percent paying for expansion at Tanger Outlet, and 30 percent toward "The... more »

• Livingston sales tax receipts trend upward

  September 26, 2012 7:45 AM

  LIVINGSTON - For 22 consecutive months, Livingston Parish has shown increases in sales tax receipts when compared with the same months a year earlier. August sales tax collections jumped 12 percent compared with August 2011. Parish officials say the added income arrives at an opportune time. They are... more »

• '2nd Amendment Tax Holiday' underway Play Video

  September 7, 2012 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - Hunters and campers will pay no sales tax on firearms, ammunition and hunting and fishing supplies during this weekend's Louisiana Second Amendment sales tax holiday. Beginning today, eligible purchases are exempt from the 4 percent state sales tax and all local sales taxes. The exemption runs... more »

• Livingston predicts deficit for school system

  August 22, 2012 10:48 AM

  LIVINGSTON - Increases in sales tax revenue and state funding based on student enrollment will not be enough to keep the Livingston Parish school system's 2012-13 budget from running a deficit. That's according to a draft presented to School Board members Tuesday. The Advocate reports the School Board's Budget/Goals Committee... more »

• Livingston sales taxes soaring

  June 7, 2012 10:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE- April was a record breaking month for Livingston Parish sales tax collections. In fact, it was the highest April on record. That may only be the start of the good news. The parish opened a new Walmart in the Watson area. Sales from that store have not... more »

• Baton Rouge gets a sales tax bonus

  May 27, 2012 11:54 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Sales tax revenue for the first quarter of the year rose 7.5 percent over last year in East Baton Rouge Parish, suggesting the city-parish could end up with additional money above its budget for the year. Some council members are encouraging Mayor-President Kip Holden's administration to free money... more »

• Hurricane sales tax holiday set for May 26-27

  May 7, 2012 6:15 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Stocking up on flashlights, batteries and other items to get ready for hurricane season this summer? You might want to wait until May 26 and 27, when the state holds a sales tax holiday for hurricane preparedness items. That weekend, Louisiana residents won't have to pay the... more »

• Road work tax plan for Ascension Parish in the works Play Video

  March 7, 2012 9:50 PM

  ASCENSION PARISH- Parish President Tommy Martinez is gearing up to sell a sales tax plan that would revamp roads and intersections. Martinez says he's expecting the work to total $180 million, and to last over ten years. The state would put up $80 million, because the work would be... more »

• Gonzales waits for payoff from auction

  July 31, 2011 11:09 AM

  GONZALES, La.- A July auction should provide a substantial boost for sales tax collections though Mayor Barney Arceneaux and officials are still not sure how much money the city will see from the sales. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, a Houston company that liquidates heavy machinery, approached the city when one... more »

• Sales tax holiday set for August

  July 18, 2011 3:05 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's annual sales tax holiday is scheduled for Aug. 5-6. During those two days, the first $2,500 of the purchase price of eligible items is exempt from the 4 percent sales tax. The items are largely for personal, non-business use. Vehicle purchases aren't covered by the holiday. Neither... more »

• Stock up on hurricane supplies during sales tax holiday

  May 24, 2011 8:00 AM

  The 2011 Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will be May 28 and May 29. This weekend you can get ready for the hurricane season by purchasing emergency supplies free from the four-percent state sales tax. State sales tax will not be collected on the first $1,500 of... more »

• Hurricane Supply Tax Holiday

  May 23, 2011 7:03 AM

  The 2011 Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will be May 28 and May 29. In this two-day period, state sales tax will not be collected on the first $1,500 of storm supplies. For a list of the items that qualify, visit the Louisiana Department of Revenue's website . more »

• Restaurant owner pleads guilty to tax fraud, bribery

  April 1, 2011 3:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The owner of several Baton Rouge-area restaurants has pleaded guilty to cooking his books and keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales taxes, according to the U. S. Attorney's Office. Jamal Roman entered a guilty plea in district court today to all charges against him... more »

• Sales tax increase approved to pay for Juban Crossing

  December 20, 2010 7:28 PM

  LIVINGSTON - The Livingston Parish Council has approved a one-cent sales tax increase to help pay for development of a new retail center. Developers of the Juban Crossing retail center asked the parish for the increase after being turned down by the state. Supporters of the tax said... more »

• Parts of EBR school tax plan could go broke

  November 4, 2010 10:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge School District is facing more bad news about its tax plan. The district's financial folks said sales taxes will get worse before they get better, and if more isn't done to bring in money, the balances for two of its three propositions... more »

• Baton Rouge school board scales back construction

  October 12, 2010 6:02 AM

  The East Baton Rouge Parish school system is scaling down plans for construction because of a sharp falloff in sales tax revenue. Superintendent John Dilworth released some initial proposals callin for closing three elementary schools in May, and drastically rewriting construction plans. Dilworth said the ideas are preliminary and may... more »

• State revenues drop by $140 million in September

  October 11, 2010 11:15 AM

  State revenues are down eight percent as compared to this time last year, according to the state treasury department. They report that total state revenues from July to September are down $140 million for a total collection of $1.707 billion. It’s another drop for the state, which had recorded a... more »

• Parish agencies file lawsuit

  October 6, 2010 7:13 AM

  Nearly every government agency in Concordia Parish has filed suit against Louisiana Machinery Rentals, LLC and Louisiana Machinery Company, LLC for sales tax dollars totaling approximately $626,546. According to Wednesday's Natchez Democrat, the Concordia Parish School Board, the Concordia Parish Hospital District 1, the Concordia Parish Police Jury, the City... more »

• Shop tax free this weekend

  August 5, 2010 5:24 PM

  If you plan on going shopping anytime soon, you can probably get a deal this weekend. The annual state sales tax holiday weekend begins Friday and ends Saturday. The four percent tax exemption applies to the first $2,500 of your purchase. Items not eligible are vehicles, meals, hotels, athletic... more »

• About 100 school employees to be reassigned

  June 3, 2010 6:05 AM

  The Rapides Parish School District plans to cut about $4 million from the budget, and will reassign about 100 employees. The plan calls for using consolidation and attrition to eliminate positions, but it does not require any layoffs of existing employees. The plan, designed by Superintendent Gary Jones, is in... more »

• Tax holiday set for weekend

  May 28, 2010 9:34 AM

  The 2010 Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday starts tomorrow and ends Sunday. Louisianians can get a tax break when buying emergency supplies, including self-powered light sources like flashlights and candles; portable self-powered radios; two-way radios and weather-band radios; tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting. Other state-tax exempt items include... more »

• Sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies

  May 12, 2010 5:23 AM

  Louisiana residents can get a tax break when buying emergency supplies on May 29 and 30. The tax holiday exempts the 4 percent state sales tax on the first $1,500 on the items' cost. Local sales taxes still apply. Hurricane season starts June 1. For a list of the... more »

• Tax exemption on table for Lamar Dixon Expo Center

  February 18, 2010 6:04 PM

  Ascension Parish will consider a tax exemption for the Lamar Dixon Expo Center Thursday evening during the Town Council Meeting. The motion will exempt local sales tax collection for events at the center including admission, parking, and concessions. The move is an attempt to lure business to the Parish... more »

• Donaldsonville looking at sales tax hike

  January 27, 2010 4:25 PM

  Donaldsonville city leaders are finalizing a tax proposal that could go before voters in May. The plan includes a half cent sales tax that would generate almost $50,000 a year. The money would pay for road projects, law enforcement, and recreation. A portion would also support downtown development. ... more »

• Livingston Parish sales tax drops

  January 25, 2010 5:59 AM

  A weak second half of 2009 wiped out the year's strong start in Livingston Parish and left sales tax revenue collections below those of 2008. Records show collections by local government dropped 14.5 percent in November and 7.3 percent in December, compared to the same months in 2008. For the... more »

• Sales tax revenue down in East Baton Rouge Parish

  December 18, 2009 10:31 AM

  Sales tax revenue for East Baton Rouge Parish dropped more than 22 percent in October compared to last year, according to figures released Friday. Mayor-President Kip Holden says city leaders anticipated the deficit, and he blamed it on what he called the "Hurricane Gustav effect." Holden says in October 2008,... more »

• Second Amendment sales tax holiday

  September 4, 2009 4:40 AM

  The state second amendment sales tax holiday starts today. People buying guns, bullets, and other items will not pay any taxes through Sunday. That saves about nine-cents for every dollar spent depending on where you shop. It applies to any item that could be used for hunting or fishing, including... more »