The Louisiana Department of Revenue will begin accepting and processing 2020 state individual income tax returns on Feb. 12. The date coincides with the date the IRS begins accepting 2020 federal income tax returns.
On Feb. 12, Louisiana taxpayers can begin filing their state income tax returns electronically through Louisiana File Online, the state’s free web portal for individual tax filers. Louisiana File Online allows taxpayers to:
File returns and pay taxes electronically;
Check the status of individual income tax refunds;
Amend current and prior-year tax returns; and
Request a filing extension.
Also on Feb. 12, LDR will begin accepting returns prepared for electronic submission using commercially available tax preparation software. Taxpayers can download 2020 paper tax forms from the LDR website at revenue.louisiana.gov/Forms. LDR will not begin processing paper tax forms until Feb. 12.
2020 Louisiana Individual Income Tax returns and payments are due May 17.
Louisiana taxpayers should be aware of the state tax implications of federal COVID-19 relief measures implemented in 2020.
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $600 weekly supplemental unemployment benefits for individuals out of work for reasons related to the pandemic. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, (CARES II) provides up to $300 in weekly supplemental unemployment benefits. These benefits are subject to Louisiana state income tax.
The CARES Act provided Economic Impact Payments of $1,200 for qualifying individuals and $2,400 for qualifying married couples, with an additional $500 per dependent child. The payments are refundable tax credits and are not considered taxable income for federal or state tax purposes. They are not subject to Louisiana state income tax.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) established by the CARES Act, provides small businesses with funding for payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent and utilities. The PPP loans are forgivable under certain conditions and the loan forgiveness is not taxable income for federal tax purposes. The PPP loan forgiveness is not subject to Louisiana state income tax.
Act 12 of the 2020 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature provided for a one-time $250 rebate for eligible workers earning $50,000 per year or less, who spent at least 200 hours responding to or mitigating the COVID-19 crisis from March 22, 2020, through May 14, 2020. The rebates, funded by the CARES Act, are subject to Louisiana state income tax.
LDR has implemented enhanced security measures to protect Louisiana taxpayers from identity theft and other types of tax fraud. If returns do not trigger any fraud indicators, taxpayers due refunds can expect them within 45 days of the filing date if they file electronically and within 14 weeks if they file paper returns.
Taxpayers can minimize delays in receiving their refunds by updating their contact information with LDR. If you have moved or changed your name since your last tax filing, update your contact information at revenue.louisiana.gov/AddressChange.