Tax News

by Office of Public Information Staff
Act 396 of 2008, which repeals the "Stelly Tax Plan", became effective January 1, 2009. This means lower state income taxes for some taxpayers. These changes apply to 2009 Individual Income Tax Returns filed no later than May 15, 2010. The La. Dept. of Revenue will issue revised tax withholding tables for employers to begin using July 1, 2009. However, for those citizens who wish to reduce their state tax withholding immediately, the La. Dept. of Revenue has posted a 2009 State Income Tax Estimator on their Web site. Taxpayers may complete the Temporary Employee Exemption Certificate L-4 Form to reduce their income tax withholding immediately. Taxpayers who do so may need to complete a revised L-4 once employers implement the new tax tables on July 1, 2009, to make sure that the correct amount of state income tax is withheld for 2009.

In previous years, the Louisiana Department of Revenue provided an automatic extension to any Louisiana resident granted a federal tax extension. For 2009 and succeeding years, taxpayers needing an extension to file their state returns must request one via the department Web site or by completing the Application for Extension of Time to File Louisiana Individual Income Tax, Form R-2868, no later than the filing due date. The individual income tax filing due date for 2009 is May 15th for those filing 2008 calendar year income tax returns or, for fiscal filers, the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of the fiscal year. Extensions allow an additional six months to file a return but do not offer more time to pay any tax due. Late payments, as always, are subject to interest and penalties.