What Goes on a Louisiana Pay Stub
Louisiana stubs lead with gross pay and hours, then federal income tax withholding, Social Security at 6.2 percent up to the $184,500 wage base, and Medicare at 1.45 percent. The federal block is the same in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.
The Louisiana line is a flat 3 percent of Louisiana taxable income for 2026, after the state moved away from its old graduated system. Louisiana parishes do not add income taxes. The Louisiana Paycheck Calculator shows the flat rate across salary levels.
Louisiana Withholding Rules: Form L-4
Louisiana employees complete Form L-4, the Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate, when hired. It captures exemptions and any additional withholding before the flat rate applies.
Louisiana's flat rate is one of the lowest in the South, and the L-4 is correspondingly simple. Update it after major life changes so the flat withholding tracks your actual liability.
How Often Louisiana Employers Have to Pay You
Louisiana requires wages to be paid at least twice a month, on regular paydays designated in advance. Biweekly and semimonthly dominate, from the service industry in New Orleans to petrochemical plants along the river.
The schedule must be regular and communicated. Paydays cannot shift without proper notice to employees.
Louisiana Final Paycheck Timing
Louisiana requires final wages by the next regular payday or within 15 days after termination, whichever comes first. That 15-day cap gives employers a firm outer limit.
The rule applies to both quits and terminations. Accrued vacation is owed only if the employer's policy promises payout, so confirm the handbook before your last day.
Does Louisiana Require Itemized Pay Stubs?
Yes. Louisiana law requires employers to furnish an itemized statement showing deductions taken from wages. The statement must break out what was withheld and why.
Most Louisiana employers deliver stubs electronically. If yours does not itemize deductions, request a compliant statement from payroll in writing.
Worked Example: a $52,000 Salary in New Orleans
Take a single filer in New Orleans earning $52,000 a year, paid biweekly with no pre-tax benefits. The flat 3 percent Louisiana line keeps the state bite small.
| Item | Per paycheck |
| Gross pay (biweekly) | $2,000.00 |
| Federal income tax | ~$156.29 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $124.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $29.00 |
| Louisiana state tax | ~$45.58 |
| Net pay | ~$1,645.13 |
Those "~" marks matter: your real stub shifts with pre-tax benefits, filing status, and any extra withholding you requested. Use the generator above with your own numbers for a stub that matches your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Louisiana's income tax withholding rate in 2026?
A flat 3 percent of Louisiana taxable income. Louisiana moved to a flat rate system starting in 2025.
What is the Louisiana withholding form?
Form L-4, the Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate. You file it with your employer when hired.
Does Louisiana require itemized pay stubs?
Yes. Employers must furnish an itemized statement showing deductions taken from wages.
When is my final paycheck due in Louisiana?
By the next regular payday or within 15 days after termination, whichever comes first.
Does Louisiana have a local income tax?
No. Louisiana parishes and municipalities do not levy income taxes on wages, so your stub shows a single state line.
Related Tools
Use the main Pay Stub Generator for the national version, or the Louisiana Paycheck Calculator to estimate take-home pay. Nearby states have their own pages: the Mississippi Pay Stub Generator, the Arkansas Pay Stub Generator, and the Alabama Pay Stub Generator.
Sources: Louisiana Department of Revenue, Louisiana Workforce Commission. Figures reviewed for 2026. This generator provides an estimate for planning purposes and is not tax or legal advice.