Louisiana income tax in 2026
Louisiana has a flat 3% income tax. Traditional 401(k) contributions lower your Louisiana taxable income as well as your federal taxable income. Louisiana then subtracts its own standard deduction of $12,875 for single filers ($25,750 married filing jointly).
Louisiana rules and notes
- Flat 3% rate since 2025 (Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session), replacing the old 1.85%/3.5%/4.25% brackets.
- The standard deduction replaced the personal and dependent exemptions. It is CPI-U indexed from $12,500 / $25,000 (2025). The 2026 figures here ($12,875 single/MFS; $25,750 joint, head of household and surviving spouse) come from LDR's 2026 withholding tables and IT-540ESi. LDR says the final 2026 amounts may differ slightly after the calendar-2025 CPI-U data.
- Taxpayers 65+ can exclude up to $12,000 of retirement income each. That amount became CPI-U indexed from January 1, 2026, so the 2026 figure is slightly higher. Social Security is exempt.
Louisiana take-home pay by salary
Single filer, paid every two weeks, 2026 rules, standard deduction and no pre-tax deductions; includes Louisiana income tax but not local taxes.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security + Medicare | Louisiana income tax | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $3,060 | $814 | $33,506 | $1,288.70 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,114 | $41,241 | $1,586.20 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $4,590 | $1,414 | $48,976 | $1,883.70 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $1,864 | $59,729 | $2,297.26 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $2,614 | $76,566 | $2,944.86 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $4,114 | $109,677 | $4,218.36 |
Hourly wages after taxes in Louisiana
Full-time (40 hours a week, 2,080 hours a year), no overtime, single filer:
| Hourly wage | Annual pay | Weekly take-home | Bi-weekly take-home | Take-home per year | Take-home per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $31,200 | $513.45 | $1,026.90 | $26,699 | $12.84 |
| $20.00 | $41,600 | $668.15 | $1,336.30 | $34,744 | $16.70 |
| $25.00 | $52,000 | $822.85 | $1,645.70 | $42,788 | $20.57 |
| $30.00 | $62,400 | $977.55 | $1,955.10 | $50,833 | $24.44 |
Louisiana vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), with the difference from Louisiana. Federal taxes are identical in every state, so the gaps come from state income tax. On a $75,000 salary, Louisiana ranks #13 of 51 (50 states and DC) for take-home pay. Nationally, take-home pay on $75,000 ranges from $56,538 in Oregon to $61,593 in states without a wage tax; the median is $59,005.
| State | State income tax | Take-home per year | Per bi-weekly paycheck | vs. Louisiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $1,864 | $59,729 | $2,297.26 | — |
| Texas | None | $61,593 | $2,368.94 | +$1,864 |
| Mississippi | $2,268 | $59,325 | $2,281.71 | −$404 |
| Arkansas | $2,287 | $59,305 | $2,280.96 | −$424 |
Neighboring state calculators: Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas. See all 50 states and DC on the national paycheck calculator.
How your Louisiana paycheck is calculated
- Gross pay for the year is your salary, or your hourly wage × hours × 52 plus overtime at 1.5×.
- Pre-tax deductions such as a traditional 401(k), health premiums and HSA contributions are subtracted before federal income tax.
- Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets, your filing status’s standard deduction ($16,100 single) and credits for children and other dependents.
- Social Security and Medicare take 6.2% (up to $184,500 of wages) and 1.45%.
- Louisiana income tax is figured on the annual amount using the rules above, then divided across your paychecks.
We divide the annual totals by your number of paychecks, which is how a correctly completed 2026 Form W-4 is designed to withhold. Your employer’s withholding tables may differ by a few dollars per check. For your full-year tax bill, use the income tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $75,000 a year after taxes in Louisiana?
A single filer earning $75,000 in Louisiana takes home about $59,729 a year in 2026, or $2,297.26 per bi-weekly paycheck. That is after $7,670 of federal income tax, $5,738 of Social Security and Medicare and $1,864 of Louisiana income tax. Pre-tax 401(k) or health deductions would lower your taxes but also your take-home pay.
Does Louisiana have a state income tax?
Yes. Louisiana has a flat 3% income tax in 2026. On a $75,000 salary, that works out to about $1,864 a year, or $71.68 per bi-weekly paycheck, an effective state rate of 2.49% of gross pay. Employers withhold it from each paycheck along with federal taxes.
How much is $20 an hour after taxes in Louisiana?
Full time (40 hours a week), $20 an hour is $41,600 a year. After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare and Louisiana income tax, a single filer in Louisiana takes home about $34,744 a year, or $1,336.30 per bi-weekly paycheck, about $16.70 per hour worked.
How does take-home pay in Louisiana compare with nearby states?
On a $75,000 salary (single, bi-weekly), take-home pay is $59,729 a year in Louisiana. In neighboring states it ranges from $59,305 to $61,593; Texas (the highest nearby) is $1,864 higher. Federal taxes are the same everywhere, so the gap comes entirely from state income tax.
How much federal tax comes out of each paycheck on a $75,000 salary?
Federal taxes don’t depend on the state. For a single filer paid every two weeks on $75,000, about $295.00 of federal income tax, $178.85 of Social Security (6.2%) and $41.83 of Medicare (1.45%) come out of each 2026 paycheck, based on the $16,100 standard deduction. Children, pre-tax deductions and W-4 choices change the federal amount.