Register Your Business with the Louisiana Department of Revenue
Whether you're starting a new business or adding tax accounts to an existing business, this page will help you determine the correct registration option.
Before You Begin: Have your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), business information, and owner information available before starting your registration.
Choose Your Registration Option
🟢 I'm Starting a New Louisiana Business
Choose this option if you are:
- Forming a new LLC, corporation, partnership, nonprofit, sole proprietorship, or other business.
- Registering your business for the first time.
- Registering with multiple Louisiana state agencies.
Through geauxBIZ you can:
- Register your business with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- Register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
- Register with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, if applicable.
- Complete multiple registrations through one application.
Estimated Time: 15–20 minutes
➡ Start a New Business with geauxBIZ
🔵 My Business Already Exists
Choose this option if your business is already registered and you need to:
- Add a Louisiana tax account.
- Register for Sales Tax.
- Register for Withholding Tax.
- Register for another Louisiana business tax.
- Reopen an inactive account.
Estimated Time: 5–10 minutes
➡ Register Through LaTAP
What Type of Business Are You Registering?
Your business structure determines how your business is organized under Louisiana law and may affect your tax filing requirements.
Business Type | Description |
Sole Proprietorship | Owned by one individual. |
Limited Liability Company (LLC) | Owned by one or more members with liability protection. |
Corporation | Separate legal entity owned by shareholders. |
Partnership | Owned by two or more individuals or entities. |
Nonprofit Organization | Organized for charitable, educational, religious, or other qualifying purposes. |
Important: All new businesses begin with geauxBIZ, regardless of business structure. Your business activities—not your business structure—determine which Louisiana tax accounts you must register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
Which Louisiana Tax Accounts May I Need?
If your business... | You may need... |
Sells taxable goods, leases, or services | Sales Tax |
Has employees subject to Louisiana withholding | Withholding Tax |
Operates as a corporation | Corporation Income Tax |
Operates as a partnership | Partnership Tax |
Operates as an estate or trust | Fiduciary Income Tax |
Purchases taxable items without paying Louisiana sales tax | Consumer Use Tax |
Manufactures, distributes, or sells regulated products | Excise Tax, if applicable |
Which Registration Do I Need?
I need to... | Register Through |
Start a new Louisiana business | geauxBIZ |
Register an existing business for Louisiana taxes | LaTAP |
Add Sales Tax | LaTAP |
Add Withholding Tax | LaTAP |
Add another tax account | LaTAP |
Reopen an inactive account | LaTAP |
Before You Begin
- Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- Legal Business Name
- Trade Name, DBA, if applicable
- Physical Address
- Mailing Address
- Telephone Number
- Email Address
- Owner, partner, member, or corporate officer information
- Social Security Number or FEIN
- Ownership percentage
Business Activity
- Business start date
- NAICS code
- Description of business activity
Adding Sales Tax
If your business is already registered with the Louisiana Department of Revenue and is open for business and actively making taxable sales, leases, or providing taxable services in Louisiana, you must register for a Louisiana Sales Tax account through LaTAP before collecting and remitting sales tax.
Use this option if you:
- Are open for business and have begun making taxable sales.
- Begin selling taxable goods, leases, or services.
- Purchase an existing business with sales tax responsibilities.
- Expand into taxable business activities.
Important: If your business is not yet open or has not begun making taxable sales, you should wait to register for Sales Tax until you are ready to begin business operations that require sales tax collection.
Adding Withholding Tax
If your business is already registered with the Louisiana Department of Revenue and is open for business and has employees from whose wages Louisiana income tax is required to be withheld, you must register for a Louisiana Withholding Tax account through LaTAP before filing withholding returns or remitting withheld taxes.
Use this option if you:
- Are open for business and have employees subject to Louisiana withholding.
- Hire your first employee.
- Begin withholding Louisiana income tax from employee wages.
- Need to add Withholding Tax to an existing Louisiana Revenue Account.
Important — One Withholding Account Per Business
Most businesses need only one active Louisiana Withholding Tax account.
Continue using your existing withholding account even if you:
- Hire additional employees.
- Open additional business locations.
- Change payroll providers.
- Change your business or mailing address.
- Increase or decrease your workforce.
If you already have an active withholding account, do not register for another one.
If you are unsure whether your business already has an active withholding account, sign in to LaTAP or contact the Department before registering.
Need to Update an Existing Account?
If you already have a Louisiana tax account, do not register for a new account simply because your information has changed.
Use LaTAP to:
- Update your business address.
- Update your mailing address.
- Change responsible parties.
- Update your payroll provider.
- Add or remove authorized users.
- Close a tax account.
- Reopen an inactive account, if eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register with the Louisiana Secretary of State first?
If you are forming a new legal entity, such as an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit organization, begin with geauxBIZ. GeauxBIZ allows you to register with the Louisiana Secretary of State and participating state agencies through a single application.
If you are operating as a sole proprietor and are not required to register with the Secretary of State, you may register directly with the Louisiana Department of Revenue if your business activities require a Louisiana tax account.
I already have a Federal Employer Identification Number. Am I registered with the Louisiana Department of Revenue?
No. A Federal Employer Identification Number issued by the IRS identifies your business for federal tax purposes only. It does not register your business with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
If your business is required to file Louisiana taxes, you must register with the Department before filing returns or making payments.
I already have a Louisiana Secretary of State Charter Number. Do I still need to register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue?
Yes. Registering your business with the Secretary of State does not automatically register your business for Louisiana tax accounts. If your business has Louisiana tax obligations, you must register for the appropriate tax accounts through LaTAP.
When do I need to register for a Sales Tax account?
Register for a Louisiana Sales Tax account before your business begins making taxable sales, leases, or providing taxable services in Louisiana. Once registered, you are responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting Louisiana sales tax as required by law.
When do I need to register for a Withholding Tax account?
Register for a Louisiana Withholding Tax account before you begin withholding Louisiana income tax from employee wages. If you hire employees whose wages are subject to Louisiana income tax withholding, you must register before filing withholding returns or remitting withheld taxes.
Can my business have more than one Louisiana Withholding Tax account?
Generally, no. Most businesses should maintain only one active Louisiana Withholding Tax account, regardless of the number of employees, business locations, or payroll providers.
If you already have an active withholding account, continue using that account for all withholding tax filings and payments. If you are unsure whether your business already has an account, contact the Department before submitting a new registration request.
What happens after I submit my registration?
After your registration is reviewed and approved, you will receive your Louisiana Revenue Account Number. Once your account has been established, you can sign in to LaTAP to:
- File tax returns.
- Make payments.
- View notices and correspondence.
- Update your account information.
- Manage authorized users.
- View your filing history.
If your business information changes, do not register for a new account. Instead, sign in to LaTAP to:
- Update your business or mailing address.
- Change responsible parties.
- Update your payroll provider.
- Add or remove authorized users.
- Close an account when it is no longer needed.
- Reopen an inactive account, if eligible.
I'm not sure which tax accounts my business needs. What should I do?
The Louisiana tax accounts your business must register for depend on what your business does, what you sell, whether you have employees, and where you operate—not simply your business structure.
Use the information below as a general guide.
Common Business Activities
If your business... | You may need to register for... |
Sells taxable goods, leases, or services | Sales Tax |
Has employees subject to Louisiana withholding | Withholding Tax |
Operates as a corporation | Corporation Income Tax |
Operates as a partnership | Partnership Tax |
Operates as an estate or trust | Fiduciary Income Tax |
Purchases taxable items for business use without paying Louisiana sales tax | Consumer Use Tax |
Manufactures, distributes, or sells regulated products | Excise Tax (if applicable) |
Sells or distributes alcoholic beverages | Alcohol Tax |
Manufactures, distributes, or sells tobacco or vapor products | Tobacco Tax |
Operates in a parish or municipality that administers its own local taxes | You may also need to register with the applicable local sales and use tax authority. |
Rents hotels, motels, vacation homes, or other short-term accommodations | Additional state and local taxes may apply. |
Important: Depending on your business activities, you may also need licenses, permits, or registrations administered by other federal, state, or local agencies.
