St. Tammany Parish, LA Local Taxes & Fees: Business Tax Classification (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing article
- Ch. 22, Art. II, Occupational License Tax
- Classification rule
- Sec. 22-32, major-portion-of-receipts schedule
- Licenses per location
- One, except hotels/motels need a second
- Delinquency interest
- 18% per annum plus 5%/30 days penalty
- False statement penalty
- Fine up to $200 or 6 months, or both
Summary
St. Tammany Parish classifies a business by whichever tax basis schedule produces the major portion of its gross receipts, fees or commissions, then applies that schedule's rate to ALL of the location's receipts. The rule sits in the parish's Occupational License Tax article, Chapter 22.
In order to calculate the license fee for a business location at which business activities are carried on that fall under more than one tax basis schedule, gross receipts, fees or commissions for each group of activities falling under each schedule must be compared. The rate for the schedule which constitutes the major portion of the gross receipts, fees or commissions will be used. However, the total gross receipts, fees or commissions for all business activities carried on at the business location, minus any applicable deductions, are applied to the schedule to compute the fee.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 22-32, a business that operates activities spanning more than one license-tax schedule (for example, retail sales under Sec. 22-41 and wholesale or contracting activity under Sec. 22-42) must compare gross receipts, fees or commissions earned under each schedule. The parish tax collector then applies the rate for whichever schedule accounts for the largest share of the business's receipts, but the total gross receipts, fees or commissions for every activity at that location, minus allowable deductions, are run through that single schedule to compute the license fee.
This is a one-license-per-location system: Sec. 22-31 requires only one license per place of business, keyed to the classification that makes up the major portion of taxable annual gross sales, with the notable exception that hotels, motels, roominghouses and boardinghouses must carry a separate license in addition to any other class of business operated alongside them. New businesses must pay a tentative license tax before commencing operations under Sec. 22-29, then true up the balance within 40 days using the gross-receipts computation method in Sec.
22-33. Annual licenses are due January 1, and Sec. 22-28 sets 18 percent annual interest plus a 5 percent per-30-day penalty (capped at 25 percent of the tax due) on any license unpaid after the last day of February. A change of business ownership under Sec. 22-30 requires a brand-new license because the license itself is not transferable or assignable, and the collector must be notified within ten days of the ownership or lessee change.
Violations & Fines
Failing to pay the license tax under this article makes the tax, interest, penalties and costs immediately delinquent without demand (Sec. 22-36), and the collector can seek a court rule ordering payment in full. Sec. 22-35(d) makes an intentionally false statement on a license application a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $200.00 or up to six months imprisonment, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does St. Tammany Parish decide which tax schedule applies to a mixed-use business?
Does a business need more than one occupational license at one location?
What happens if a license payment is late?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana local taxes & fees overview
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