Louisiana Retirement Communities

With its richly unique culture, Louisiana retirement communities are attracting more and more seniors. It's not only a beautiful place to visit but many seniors are finding that it’s also a great place to retire.



Here you’ll find not just a mild climate but a relatively low cost-of-living, low taxes, state of the art medical facilities, friendly people, a truly unique culture as well as a whole host of recreational opportunities.

The northern part of Louisiana is hilly with lush evergreen forests and may experience a light freeze a few times a year but for the most part, the winters are mild with an average January temperature of 53° F. Southern Louisiana is mostly prairies and bayous and the summers are hot with an average July temperature of 82° F. There is no “rainy season”, but there are springtime showers and the occasional afternoon thunderstorm throughout the summer.

As far as taxes, Louisiana does have a state income tax but was still ranked 5th in 2005 by Bloomberg Personal Finance magazine for tax friendliness for retirees. Social Security, military, civil service, state/local government pensions are exempt from state income tax. Private pensions for people 65 and older are tax exemption up to $6,000. If married and filing jointly, and each person has a private pension income, then up to $12,000 can be exempt. More information on taxes can be found at the Louisiana Department of Revenue website.

The median home price in Louisiana is around $96,000 which is well below the $151,366 national median home price making Louisiana a very affordable place to buy a home.

Most people think of Mardi Gras when they think of things to do in Louisiana but that’s only one of the nearly 700 annual festivals throughout the state. There’s the Bluegrass on the Bayou Festival in Baton Rouge that takes place every March as well as the "5000 EGG" Giant Omelette Celebration in Abbeville, Louisiana in November. With nearly 700 festivals, you can pretty well guarantee that there is something going on somewhere in the state everyday.

US News and World Report has recognized Natchitoches, in west central Louisiana, as one of the 10 most affordable cities in the country to retire. There are also 10 other Louisiana retirement communities that have been designated by the state as official retirement communities:

• Bossier City

• Covington

• Crowley

• Lake Charles

• Thibodaux

• Louisiana's I-12 Retirement District includes the parishes (counties) of St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington

• Natchitoches Parish

• New Iberia

• St. Landry Parish

• Union Parish

• Vernon Parish

Louisiana retirement communities have a lot to offer retirees but just like with any retirement community, do your homework and be sure to visit before you decide to retire in Louisiana.

Things to think about if you are considering one of the Louisiana Retirement Communities:

Median Home Price: $95,910

Personal Income Tax: Yes
For single taxpayers:
-- 2 percent on the first $12,500 of taxable income
-- 4 percent on taxable income between $12,501 and $25,000
-- 6 percent on taxable income of $25,001 and above.

For married persons filing joint returns, the rates remain the same but the income brackets are doubled.

Sales Tax: Yes
The sales tax rate in Louisiana is 4 percent: a 3.97 percent Louisiana sales tax and a .03 percent Louisiana Tourism Promotion District sales tax.

Political subdivisions also levy their own sales tax in addition to the state fees.

There is also a Use Tax of 8 percent applied toward goods purchased out of state, which includes 4 percent to be distributed by the Department of Revenue to local governments. The use tax is in lieu of the actual local rate in effect in your area, and is payable regardless of whether the actual combined state and local rate in your area is equal to, higher than, or lower than 8 percent.

Property Tax: Yes
Property taxes are assessed and collected at the local level -- 64 parishes and 7 municipal districts -- and not by the Louisiana Department of Revenue. The Louisiana Tax Commission has a regulatory role regarding property assessments.

Taxpayers having property in the state of Louisiana are required to file a property tax return with the assessor of any parish and any municipality levying a tax on or before April 1 or within 45 days of receipt of the return form, whichever is later, furnishing values as of Jan. 1.

Property subject to ad valorem taxation is listed on the assessment rolls at its assessed valuation, which, less some exceptions, is a percentage of its fair market value. The percentage of fair market value is uniform throughout the state upon the same class of property.

The following classifications of property are subject to ad valorem taxation at the designated percentage of fair market value applicable:
Land, 10 percent.
Improvements for residential purposes, 10 percent.
Electric cooperative properties, excluding land, 15 percent.
Public service properties, excluding land, 25 percent.
Other property, 15 percent.

Louisiana offers a homestead exemption on the first $7,500 of the value of a person's primary residence. The exemption, however, does not usually apply to municipal taxes.

Inheritance and Estate Tax: Yes
Each heir receives an exemption that is subtracted from their inheritance to determine the amount taxable. The amount taxable is then multiplied by the applicable tax rates. The exemption and tax rates to which each heir is entitled is based upon their relationship to the decedent.

All estates that are subject to federal estate taxation under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code must file a Louisiana Estate Transfer Tax Return.

For More Information: Louisiana Department of Revenue website

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