Louisiana payroll tax and registration guide

Updated September 18, 2023

This article will cover:

• What information OnPay needs from you
• What state and local taxes and filings OnPay handles for Louisiana employers
• Where you can find the tax account numbers needed
• Paying employees in other states?

Why is this important?

The following information requests and registration instructions are required before you can use a payroll provider to run payroll. This is in compliance with state payroll tax regulations. Without this information, OnPay is unable to file or deposit any tax payments for your company, and will not be responsible for any resulting penalties or interest. Note: If this isn't the only state where you have employees, there will be a separate guide like this one for each state where you hire and pay workers. 

Let Middesk handle your state tax registrations (and more)

If you'd like help, our partner Middesk makes hiring employees and staying compliant with every state agency simple and easy.

• Register with every state agency to get the tax IDs you need within minutes
• Stay compliant as you grow by managing agency mail and notices in your dashboard
• Manage your government accounts in one place on Middesk's intuitive platform
• Foreign Qualify with the Secretary of State to create payroll tax accounts 

Learn more about Middesk→

What information OnPay needs from you

What state and local taxes and filings OnPay handles for Louisiana employers

Where you can find the tax account numbers needed

If you are an existing employer who has previously run payroll in Louisiana, you likely already have the IDs and online accounts needed for OnPay to process your tax filings. 

If you are a new employer in Louisiana, you will need to register your business with the Louisiana Department of Revenue and Louisiana Workforce Commission. This must be completed for OnPay to be able to file and pay your Louisiana taxes.

Withholding Tax Account Number, Zip Code, Last Payment Amount

Existing Louisiana Employer: 

Existing employers can find their Withholding Tax Account Number on Form A-1, the return of income withheld. OnPay will also need the Zip Code as registered for Withholding tax, and the last payment amount made for Withholding tax, in order to register you with our Third Party Administrator LA TAP account.

New Louisiana Employer: Register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue 

• Click here and follow the instructions for registering your business
• You will need to register with this department if you have employees who both live and work in Louisiana. If your business is located outside of Louisiana, but your employees work or live in Louisiana you will need to register with this agency.
• After you register, you will find access to the information needed including LA Withholding Tax ID (Example: 1234567890), LA Deposit Frequency, zip code as registered for Withholding Tax, and last payment amount made for Withholding Tax
• Once you have the above information, please email it to hello@onpay.com.

Unemployment Account Number and Tax Rate

Existing Louisiana Employer: 

• The Unemployment Account Number can be found on the Liability Letter sent to you by the Louisiana Workforce Commission or on your Quarterly Report of Wages Paid (Form LDOL-ES4)
• Your Unemployment Tax Rate can also be found on the bottom right corner of the Tax Rate Notice. The unemployment insurance taxable wage base is $7,700.

New Louisiana Employer: Register with the Louisiana Workforce Commission

• Click here to register your business.
• You will need to click the box at the bottom of the page after reading the checklist and then click Begin Application.
• You should receive your Employer Account Number, UI Contribution rate, and Occupational Code instantly after registering online.
• You will need to register with this department if you have employees that work in Louisiana. If your business is located out of the state, but some of your employee's primary work location is in Louisiana, you will need to register with this agency.
• New employers generally have a rate between 0.09% and 6.20%, depending on the industry. The unemployment insurance taxable wage base is $7,700.

Paying employees in other states?

If you operate in multiple states or just have employees working from home across a state line, it's important to file the correct state forms for those workers. See what forms we file in the states where you pay employees.