Louisiana sales tax filing update July 2020: Marketplace facilitator laws

Louisiana passed a law requiring marketplaces to collect and remit sales tax on sales facilitated through the marketplace effective July 1, 2020.

• Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Walmart began collecting on July 1, 2020.

📣 Your Louisiana Reports have been updated to reflect these changes for sales on and after July 1, 2020.

Please review general information regarding marketplace facilitators and how your TaxJar sales tax reports support these changes here in our FAQ.

In this article, we summarize Louisiana's state guidance on the following questions:

I've never registered for a Louisiana license. Do I need to register for a sales tax license in this state now?

The new marketplace facilitator law does not affect the current requirements to register for a sales tax license in Louisiana.

  • The Louisiana DOR has more details here regarding the requirements for registration. 

I have already registered for a license in Louisiana and all of my sales are marketplace-only sales. Should I cancel my existing registration?

If you are a marketplace seller who has already registered due to physical presence (such as inventory stored in your Marketplace's warehouse) or you have voluntarily registered, you should remain registered, according to the DOR.

Do I need to collect taxes on my Louisiana sales through other platforms?

Yes. If you have nexus in the state (physical or economic) and you make sales to customers in Louisiana on platforms outside of the marketplace that is automatically collecting and remitting, you will also need to collect tax on your end on the Louisiana orders that are processed on the other platforms.

Do I still need to file returns in Louisiana?

Yes. Once you register for a license, you will be required to file a return based on the frequency the state has assigned you. You may be able to request a filing frequency change but would need to contact the state DOR directly. 

  • If you've previously registered, the state expects you to remain registered and continue to file returns. 
  • If your only sales are Marketplace sales, the state may still expect you to file a zero return.  

I still need to file returns in Louisiana. How do I do this without paying double tax on the sales that were collected and remitted by my marketplace?

Your Louisiana TaxJar Report has been updated according to the Louisiana Department of Revenue's guidance.
  • Marketplace sales are included in the gross sales and the state advises marketplace sales to be reported on Schedule A-1 using exemption code 1122. 

    If you hover over the "Deductions/Exemptions" in your Louisiana Report, you will find this amount labeled "Other Exempt (Marketplace)" : 

If you're enrolled in AutoFile for Louisiana, our system will handle the Marketplace sales deduction process automatically.

  • Note, we do not yet support AutoFile for parish sales tax returns as we explain here.