How To Register For A Louisiana Sales Tax Certificate – Jul. 2026 LLC Guide

Your Limited Liability Company (LLC) is considered a “dealer” under Louisiana law if it sells, leases, stores, or provides taxable goods or services.

When this applies, you’re required to obtain a Louisiana Sales Tax Certificate. This allows you to legally collect and remit sales tax to the Louisiana Department of Revenue (DOR) under your Sales Tax Registration Certificate in Louisiana.

I’ll walk you through how to apply for the Louisiana Sales Tax Certificate, both online and by mail.

Louisiana Sales Tax Certificate Overview

Your Louisiana LLC qualifies as a “dealer” if you use, consume, store, lease, sell at retail, or rent taxable property or provide taxable services in the state. This is governed by Louisiana R.S. 47:301(4).

In this case, your business must collect and remit Sales Tax under the Louisiana DOR requirements. To do this legally, you must first obtain a Louisiana General Sales Tax Certificate.

Currently, the state Sales Tax rate is set at 5%. If you need more information on the rates applicable to different items, you can read this resource: R-1002, Table of Sales Tax Rates for Exemptions.

Once registered, you will be sent a physical welcome packet to your primary mailing address. This should contain your Sales Tax Certificate and Resale Certificate. While you don’t need to renew your Louisiana Sales Tax Permit, you will need to renew your Resale Certificate annually. 

If you have multiple business locations in the state, they typically fall under one master Sales Tax account. However, each business location will be given its own unique Location ID and certificate. Because of this, you need to display your certificate at each of your operating locations.

1. Filing Methods And Fees

The good news is that there’s no filing fee when obtaining your certificate, regardless of your chosen submission method.

You’ve got three main application methods.

• Online via geauxBIZ – Use the same portal that you used when filing your formation docs and Initial Report. This means that you can get your Sales Tax Certificate once you’re officially formed.
• Online via LaTAP – You can register directly with the DOR using the LaTAP portal.
• Via mail – Complete the Application for Louisiana Revenue Account Number form (Form R-16019) and send it to the DOR.

Note that online submissions should be processed within 3 to 5 business days, while mail filings take up to 3 weeks.

2. Who Needs To Get A Louisiana Sales Tax Certificate?

a. In-State Sellers

In-state sellers are businesses with a physical presence or active operations in Louisiana that meet the state’s definition of a “dealer.” This includes businesses that:

• Rent, sell, or lease tangible personal property/digital products in Louisiana.
• Furnish taxable services in the state (under the statute).
• Maintain a physical business location in the state where operations take place.
• Have and maintain physical property in the state.
• Maintain an inventory in the state (tangible personal property or digital products intended for rental, lease, or delivery).

b. Out-Of-State Sellers

Out-of-state sellers are businesses that don’t have a primary physical presence in Louisiana but still create tax obligations through certain activities in the state.

This can happen when a business operates through salespeople or agents, whether they’re full-time or part-time, residents or nonresidents. It also applies when the seller delivers goods into Louisiana using a vehicle they own or operate.

How To Obtain Your Sales Tax Certificate Online Via The GeauxBIZ Online Portal

1. Choose Your Tax Type

After logging in, you will be asked to state your LLC’s tax types, depending on your chosen business activities:

• You need to select “Sales Tax Account” to register for your Sales Tax Certificate.
• You may also need to register for other tax types, such as the Withholding Tax and Unemployment insurance (if your LLC hires employees). You can check this page to find resources regarding your different tax types: Business Taxes – Louisiana DOR. 

Click “Next” to continue. You’ll then be taken to the Articles of Organization section with its set of questions. I’m going to skip those and jump straight to the “Sales Tax” section.

2. Sales Tax

First, state the date that you began making taxable sales. To do this, click the date field and choose a suitable date from the provided calendar.

Then, check the box stating “Do you file for use tax?” if your business is subject to Use Tax.

After this, check the relevant boxes in the Sales Tax type section, depending on which ones apply to your business activities. You can skip this section if none apply to your business.

Click “Next” to continue. 

Choose your applicable tax type, and you’ll be asked specific questions generated by the online system. You can click the “?” icon if you need further details regarding the tax itself and the specific requirements. This is organized into different subcategories.

You’ll need to fill in certain information if you’ve chosen “Yes” for any of the subcategories.

• The date that you officially began business operations in your chosen subcategory.
• Other required info such as your permit number, documents, attachments, locations, etc.

Click “Next” to continue once you’ve completed the required information.

3. The Approval Process

Once you finish the Sales Tax section, you can continue and complete your Articles of Organization filing.

Your Sales Tax Certificate registration will also be submitted to the Louisiana DOR as part of that process.

A physical welcome packet containing your Sales Tax Certificate and Resale Certificate will be sent to your Primary Mailing Address.

You should also get an email containing instructions on how to set up your Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP) account. Once activated, you’ll be able to log in to your LaTAP account to download and print your completed certificate.

How To Get Your Sales Tax Certificate Online Through LaTAP

You can use the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point if you’ve already filed your Articles of Organization by mail or want to register your business directly with the Louisiana DOR.

1. Access Your Required Form

To begin your filing, access the LaTAP portal and click “Register my business.” 

Then, choose “Register my new business” and click “Next” to continue to the LLC questions.

2. Answer The LLC Questions

To begin, choose “Yes” for the “Is the business a limited liability company (LLC)?” question.

Underneath, the question asks whether or not you’ve elected to be taxed as a C-corporation. If this is the case, you’ll need to select “Yes” to then be registered for a corporation income account.

Confirm whether your business is a single-member LLC. Don’t worry about registering for a partnership or corporation income account if you choose “Yes” for this part.

Note that you’ll be treated as a multi-member LLC if you answer “No” to both questions. In this case, you’ll have to register for a partnership account later on.

Finally, press “Next” to continue.

3. Provide Your Business Information

This part asks for your basic business info. Make sure its exactly as shown on your LLC formation docs or you’ll run into issues.

• Date the organization was formed: Click the calendar icon and choose your LLC’s formation date. This can be found on your approved Articles of Organization formation documents or via the State Business Search Tool.
• Country where the organization was formed: Choose the country where your LLC was formed.
• State where the organization was formed: The state where your LLC was formed.
• FEIN: Your FEIN.
• Business legal name: Your legal business name exactly as shown on your formation documents.
• Doing Business As (DBA): State your DBA if you have one.
• Louisiana Charter Number: Provide your charter number if applicable. This can be found on your approved Articles of Organization documents.
• NAICS code: Provide your code if you already have it.
• Search for NAICS code: Click the search link, enter a keyword, and read the name and description of each code in the results table. Then, choose the most appropriate code that reflects your chosen business activities. You can check the box at the bottom of this section if you’re unsure which NAICS code to use.

Click “Next” to continue once you’ve completed the required fields.

4. Add Your Business Addresses

Next, enter your business address details based on your actual business or primary operating location.

This must be a physical address. You can’t use a P.O. box for this section.

• Country: Select the correct country from the dropdown menu.
• Street address: Provide your full business street address.
• City, State, ZIP code: Fill the required fields based on your business location
• Parish/County: Select the correct parish (Louisiana equivalent of county).

Once you’ve completed the required fields, click the “Address must be verified” link to verify your address.

If your mailing address is NOT the same as your business location, you need to check the “Different mailing address?” box. Then, you must provide additional details using the same steps that I’ve described above.

Once you’ve completed the required fields and verified your address, click “Next” to continue. 

5. Tax Families & Accounts Section

Choose “Yes” for the question asking “Are you registering an account in the sales tax family?” This allows you to register for your Sales Tax Certification.

After this, click “Next” to continue to the sales account section.

6. Complete The Sales Account Section

Next, select the types of accounts that your LLC needs to register for in the sales accounts section. Carefully check each option and provide answers based on your chosen business activities. If you need more details, you can click the blue links next to each question before choosing “Yes” or “No.”

If you’ve answered “Yes” for the other account types, you may need to provide additional information. Examples include your permit number, documents, attachments, and locations. As this article focuses on the Sales Tax License, I will NOT be going into further details regarding these account types.

Note that some options may be restricted depending on your business address. If this is the case, they’ll automatically show as “Unavailable.”

Click “Next” to continue once you’ve completed the required fields.

7. Business’s Primary Contact Information

Complete the Business’s Primary Contact Information section by entering the details of the main person responsible for your LLC (usually the owner or managing member). Remember, the contact that you provide here will be used by the state for important tax-related communications.

• Type of contact – Choose their role (e.g., owner/partner/member).
• Name – Enter their first and last name.
• Email – Provide a valid email address (for official communication purposes).
• Phone details – Select their phone type, choose their country, and enter their area code and phone number (you can add an extension code if applicable).

This will be the main business’s contact point with the DOR, so you should make sure the information is correct and up-to-date.

Once everything has been completed, click “Next” to continue.

8. Add Your LLC Owners/Officers

You will need to list at least one LLC owner or officer here.

To begin, click “+ Add Owner/Officer.”

Next up, the owner/officer section. Enter their main details, beginning with their personal info.

• Name – First name and last name.
• SSN – Their Social Security Number (or equivalent).
• Email – Make sure this is valid for contact purposes.

After this, fill in the LLC owner/officer address information section. This can be their residential or mailing address.

• Street address: Enter their full address, including the unit if applicable.
• City, State, ZIP code: Complete all fields.
• Parish/County: Select the correct parish from the dropdown menu.

Click “Address must be verified” to confirm it once you’ve completed the required address fields. Then, click “Add” to save your LLC owners/officers’ details.

Click “Next” to continue to the Sales Tax information section.

9. Provide Sales Tax Information

a. Sales Tax Information

Complete the Sales Tax section by entering a few key details about your business:

• Start date: Click the calendar icon and choose the date that your LLC will begin taxable services.
• Will Use Tax be filed?: Choose “Yes” if you need to report Use Tax. This commonly applies if you’re purchasing items without paying Sales Tax.
• Multiple locations: Pick “Yes” if your LLC is operating in multiple business locations. Then, enter every location’s address.
• Clearances: State if you have any required tax clearances. This question will NOT appear if you have multiple operating locations.
• Exemptions: Choose “Yes” if you plan to apply for tax exemptions. Again, this question will NOT appear if you have multiple operating locations.

b. Owner/ Officer

In the next section, you need to add your LLC owner/officer information for Sales Tax purposes.

To begin, click “Add Owner/Officer.”

Then, complete the LLC owner/officer pop-up section. This requires you to add the main details for each individual associated with your business:

• SSN: Provide their Social Security Number.
• Name: Enter their full legal name (first name and last name).
• Start date: Click the calendar icon to choose when this person became associated with your LLC.
• End date (if applicable): You only need to fill this in if the person is no longer active.

Click “Add” to save your owner/officer once you’ve completed the required fields.

Repeat the same process for all other Owners/Officers. 

c. Location

You need to complete this section if you’ve answered “Yes” to the question asking if your LLC has multiple business locations.

First, click “Add location.”

Then enter the main details for each of your business’s operating locations. This ensures that each location has the correct tax setup.

Begin with the Location Information at the top of the section:

• Location name: Provide a name to identify the business location. This could be your business name or branch name.
• Start date: Select the date that your location began operating.
• NAICS code: Enter your code or search for the appropriate code. Do this using the same steps detailed in the NAICS code section above. 
• Phone & email: Provide the contact details for this location.

Next, answer these required questions:

• Clearances: Indicate if this business location has any required tax clearances.
• Exemptions: Select “Yes” if you plan to apply for exemptions for this location.

After this, complete the location address section. You can NOT use a P.O. box and must verify this address.

• Street address: Enter the full physical address (include the unit number if applicable).
• City, State, ZIP, Parish: Fill in your main location details.
• Address verification: Confirm your address before proceeding.

Finally, enter your mailing address. Use the same process as discussed for your location address. 

Click “Add” to save the location once you’ve completed the required fields.

Repeat the same process for your other business locations. 

d. Account Address

The last section asks you to complete your account address information. This is used to receive legal notices about your Sales Tax account. 

To begin, click “Add account address.”

First, choose whether your account address is the same. You can check the appropriate box to auto-fill this section and skip the fields discussed below.

If your address is different, complete the required fields as follows:

• Country: Choose the correct country (e.g., USA).
• Street address: Enter your full address (include the unit/suite if needed).
• City, State, ZIP code: Fill in the location fields as requested.
• Parish/County: Select your applicable parish.
• Additional details: Add your unit type/number or attention line (if needed).

You must verify your address by clicking “Address must be verified” once you’ve completed the required fields.

Click “Add” to save the address once everything is finished.

10. Partnership/ Corporation Income Account Information

This section asks you to enter information based on your answers in the “Limited Liability” section at the start of your application.

Complete the following information based on your LLC:

• A partnership account: This is required if you’re a multi-member LLC. This is the most common account type, which I’ve illustrated in the example below.
• Corporation income account: This is for LLCs who have elected to be taxed as corporations.

If your business is a single-member LLC, you won’t have to register both types of accounts.

Enter the key filing dates and tax information:

• Charter/registration date: Click the calendar icon and choose the date that your LLC was officially registered/began operations in the state.
• Tax year end: Select the month that your LLC’s tax year finishes. Choose “December” if you want your tax year to match your calendar year (this is the most common option). Choose the month that your accounting year closes if you’re using a fiscal year.

After that, you’ll need to answer a few required compliance questions.

For nonresident partners, select “Yes” or “No” based on whether your partnership includes partners who are not Louisiana residents and don’t have a Louisiana filing agreement. If you select “Yes,” you’ll also need to provide the date your business first became responsible for submitting those payments.

Finally, add your account address.

Once everything is complete, click “Next” to go to the LaTAP login section.

11. LaTAP Login (Optional)

You can choose whether or not to open a LaTAP account. It’s optional, but it’s usually worth setting up. It gives you a central place to manage your tax accounts and handle filings and reports.

You can skip it for now, but most businesses end up needing it anyway.

Choose “Yes” to begin your account creation. Your first task is to complete the profile and contact info section.

• Username – Make a unique username for your account.
• Contact name – Provide your full name (first name and last name).
• Email – Add a valid email address and confirm it in the applicable field.
• Phone number – Select your phone type and enter your contact phone number.

You should see the security credentials section underneath.

Create a password that meets the listed requirements. These relate to the length, uppercase/lowercase, use of numbers, and special characters used. Simply re-enter the same password to confirm it.

Finally, select a security question and add a suitable answer. You’ll need this if you ever recover your account.

Click “Next” to continue.

12. Complete The Banking Information Section

Adding your banking information at this stage is optional, but it’s worth doing.

Once it’s saved, you won’t have to enter the same details every time you make a payment, which makes handling your taxes much easier going forward.

Click “Yes” then add your billing information.

Once you’ve completed everything, click “Next” to continue.

13. Attach Your FEIN Documents

Attach your FEIN letter by clicking “Add FEIN Letter.” You can upload either your Confirmation Letter (Form CP575) or Verification Letter (Form 147C).

Click “Choose File” and upload your document. Then enter a description, such as “Form CP575” or “Form 147C”.

Once that’s done, click “OK” to continue.

Finally, click “Next” to continue

14. Complete The Final Review Section

Take a moment to review all the information you’ve entered throughout the application.

If anything needs to be changed, you can click on the relevant section in the timeline to go back and edit it.

Click “Submit” and enter your email twice.

15. System Confirmation

The system will notify you that you’ve successfully applied for your tax account. You should then receive a confirmation code.

You should receive your Louisiana Revenue Account Number and registration details within 3 business days. You will also get a physical welcome packet containing your Sales Tax Certificate and Resale Certificate at your primary mailing address.

If you created an account earlier in the process, you can log in to the LaTAP portal to view your tax accounts.

They’ll show up on your main dashboard, where you can also download and print your certificates.

How To Get Your Sales Tax Certificate By Mail

Prefer to do things on paper? You can register for your Sales Tax Certificate by completing the Application for Louisiana Revenue Account Number form (Form R-16019). Then, file it via mail.

Things are easy to begin with. Download your form using the link above or the “Download” button on the right-hand side of the screen.

You’ll need to make sure that your submission includes a completed Form R-16019 along with a copy of your FEIN letter from the IRS. This will be either your EIN Confirmation Letter (CP-575) or the EIN Verification Letter (147C).

1. Enter Your Business Name Information

Start by entering your LLC’s legal name exactly as it appears on your approved Articles of Organization.

When your business operates under a different name, enter it in the Business Trade Name (DBA) field. Otherwise, leave that section blank.

2. Add Your Tax Identification Details

Enter your EIN in this section. For individuals who don’t have an EIN, use your SSN instead.

3. Clarify Your Contact & Business Start Details

Next up, your basic contact and business details.

• Business phone number – Provide a valid contact number and
• Louisiana Charter Number – Enter this if available. You can find it in your Articles of Organization (optional).
• Start date – Add the date your business began operating in the state.
• Business email – Provide a valid email address for official state communication.

4. Complete Your Business Address Information

Enter both your main business address and your mailing address.

Your primary business address must be a physical location. A P.O. box won’t be accepted here.

For the mailing address, using a P.O. box is fine.

5. State Your Business Type & Reason

For Reason for applying, select “Started new business.”

Next, choose “LLC”, and then select the correct tax classification.

• For a multi-member LLC, go with “LLC Partnership.” That selection means you’ll handle partnership tax registration afterward.
• Things change a bit when the LLC is taxed as a corporation. In that case, choose either “C-Corporation” or “S-Corporation,” based on your IRS election. You will need to register for corporation tax later.
• A single-member LLC is more straightforward. Select “single-member LLC (disregarded entity),” and you won’t need to deal with either partnership or corporation tax registration.

6. Business Activity

Provide a short description of what your business actually does.

Then enter a NAICS code that matches that description. You can use the NAICS search tool to look up the most accurate code for your activities.

7. Provide Your LLC Owner/Officer Information

You’ll need to list at least one LLC owner or officer in this section. Enter their name, title, SSN, phone number, and home address.

For additional owners or officers, repeat the same details in the fields on the right-hand side of the form if you have additional LLC owners or officers.

8. Sales Tax Registration Details

Next up, your Sales Tax registration details. Add the official start date that your business will begin operating.

Choose your applicable tax types in the section underneath.

The Louisiana General Sales Tax should be chosen if you sell taxable goods or services. You only need to worry about New Orleans-specific taxes if you operate in certain locations. Some special categories may apply depending on your chosen business activities.

Underneath, you need to select your preferred filing frequency according to your business operations.

• Monthly – Typically used by businesses with regular or higher sales volumes.
• Casual – This is commonly used by infrequent or one-time sellers.

Confirm directly with the Louisiana DOR at (855) 307-3893 if you’re unsure which filing frequency to use.

9. Sign Your Completed Paper

So, carefully check your completed filing, print it out, and sign it by hand. This confirms that all provided info is accurate and complete to the best of your knowledge.

This is how to complete the required fields.

Sign your name in the “Signature of Applicant” field. This will be your LLC owner or authorized person. Add their role, either member, owner, or manager, then state the current date.

You only need to do the preparer field if someone else is completing the filing for you. Get them to sign and move on. Simple.

10. File Your Form With The Louisiana DOR

Finally, place your completed form in an envelope along with a copy of the FEIN letter. Then, send it to the following address:

• Louisiana DOR
  P.O. Box 1469
  Baton Rouge, LA 70821

Mail filings take up to 3 weeks to process.

Your account information and instructions will be sent to the primary mailing address you provided on the form.

You will also receive a welcome packet once your filing has been approved. This should include your Sales Tax Registration Certificate, Resale Certificate, and instructions regarding your assigned filing frequency (monthly or quarterly). Alongside this, you’ll receive instructions on where to mail your future Sales Tax returns.

11. Creating Your LaTAP Logon After Finishing Your Mail Registration

Even if you register by mail, the Louisiana DOR encourages you to manage everything online.

You can create an account through LaTAP and link it to your existing business. Just make sure you’re registering a new business profile, not opening a new tax account.

Once your account is set up, you can log in to LaTAP to download and print your certificates whenever needed.

Your Sales Tax Certificate Display Requirements

Your Sales Tax Certificate acts as the official proof that you’re authorized to collect and remit Sales Tax under Louisiana R.S. § 47:359(E). Getting one is mandatory if it’s needed.

It has to be clearly displayed, whether that’s attached to the relevant machines or posted at your operating location. Get this in place, and you’re good to go.

So, your certificate must be placed somewhere that customers and inspectors can clearly see it. When put into practice, this rule applies across all of your operating locations, even though you operate under one main Sales Tax account. Make sure this is sorted before operating.

You face issues if you fail to meet this important requirement. The state sees it as if you’ve never obtained a certificate, which leads to penalties. I’ve covered this in the next section. Not what you want.

The Importance Of Obtaining Your Sales Tax Certificate In Louisiana

As I’ve already mentioned earlier in my article, you need to collect and remit Louisiana Sales Tax if your business uses, stores, consumes, leases, sells at retail, or rents taxable property or offers taxable services in the state. Because of this, you must first obtain a Sales Tax Certificate.

The state doesn’t assign a direct penalty just for not having the certificate. The issue usually shows up elsewhere. Late filings, missed returns, or errors tied to not being properly registered can trigger penalties, especially if the DOR catches it during an audit.

1. Monetary Penalties

LLCs and business owners, including those responsible for Sales Tax, may face monetary penalties if they fail to file their tax returns at all or on time under Louisiana R.S. §47:1602. These penalties can grow bigger as the delayed filing period increases.

• Late filing for Sales Tax returns: A 5% penalty will be applied every 30 days, up to a maximum of 25%.
• Late payment for Sales Tax owed: A 5% penalty will be applied to the unpaid Sales Tax every 30 days, up to a maximum of 25%.
• Late payment after notice from the state: A 0.5% penalty will be applied for every 30 days on your remaining balance, up to a maximum of 25%.

You will NOT face multiple filing penalties within the same period. However, tax incentives and benefits associated with your LLC may be suspended until the outstanding Sales Tax is paid in full.

2. Tax Evasion

LLC owners and business operators, including those responsible for handling sales tax, can face criminal penalties for willful failure to pay taxes or for fraud under Louisiana R.S. §47:1642.

• Higher penalty (more than $1,000 tax owed): You must pay a fine of up to $2,000 or face up to 2 years in prison (with/without hard labor).
• Lower penalty (less than $1,000 tax owed): You must pay a fine of up to $1,000 and/or face up to 1 year in prison.

3. Local Penalties

Penalties don’t stop at the state level. Your LLC can also face consequences from the city or local authority where you operate.

For example, under New Orleans Code 150-614, failing to collect tax is treated as a misdemeanor. That can mean a fine of up to $100, up to 90 days in jail, or both. On top of that, you’re still responsible for paying the unpaid tax.

Contact Info For The Louisiana Department Of Revenue

I recommend contacting the Louisiana Department Of Revenue if you have any issues or questions about your Sales Tax registration or general tax registration procedures.

• Business tax inquiry: Contact Form.
• In office visits: Office Location.
• Make an appointment: Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions