It’s that time of year again. Property tax bills are landing in mailboxes across the Northshore and the Southshore, and the due date depends on which parish you live in. If you’re a first-time homeowner, or you just bought this year, here’s what to expect and how to avoid a costly late payment.
Property tax due dates at a glance
| Parish | Who collects | Bills go out | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Tammany (Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Lacombe) | St. Tammany Parish Sheriff, Tax Collector | Late fall | December 31 |
| Jefferson (Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, Jefferson, Westbank) | Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office | Late fall to December | December 31 |
| St. Bernard (Chalmette, Arabi, Meraux, Violet) | St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Civil Tax Office | Near the end of the year | December 31 |
| Orleans (New Orleans) | City of New Orleans, Bureau of Treasury | Late December, on or before January 1 | January 31 |
St. Tammany Parish
If you live in Mandeville, Covington, Slidell or anywhere else in St. Tammany, your bill comes from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, which serves as the parish tax collector. Bills go out in late fall and are due by December 31. You can pay online, by mail to the Tax Collector at P.O. Box 1450, Covington, LA 70434, or in person at the Justice Center in Covington (701 N. Columbia St.) or the Sheriff’s Administrative Building in Slidell (300 Brownswitch Rd.).
Jefferson Parish
In Metairie, Kenner and the rest of Jefferson Parish, property taxes are collected by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Bills go out toward the end of the year and are due by December 31. You can pay online, by mail with your payment stub, or in person at a Sheriff’s Office location.
St. Bernard Parish
In Chalmette, Arabi, Meraux and Violet, property taxes are collected by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Civil Tax Office. Notices go out near the end of the year and are due by December 31. You can pay online through the “Pay Property Taxes” link at sbso.org, or in person at the Civil Tax Office on the second floor of the Sheriff’s Annex, 2 Courthouse Square in Chalmette. There’s also an after-hours drop box at the front entrance. Heads up: the office usually closes on some holidays around the end of December, so don’t wait until the last day.
Orleans Parish
New Orleans runs on a different calendar. The City’s Bureau of Treasury typically mails bills in late December, and payment is due by January 31. Paying online by e-check is free, while credit and debit cards carry a processing fee of about 2.5%. Late bills are charged interest of 1% per month on the unpaid balance, so don’t let it slide.
Just bought a home this year? Read this
- Your bill may still show the previous owner’s name. Assessment rolls are set earlier in the year, so the bill can arrive addressed to the seller. If you own the home now, the bill is still yours to pay.
- You may have gotten a credit at closing. In Louisiana, the current year’s property taxes are billed at the end of the year. That’s why your closing statement usually shows the seller paying their share of this year’s taxes as a credit to you, so you can pay the full bill when it arrives.
- Check your escrow. If your mortgage includes an escrow account, your lender should pay the bill for you. It’s still smart to look up your parcel online in January and confirm it shows as paid.
- Didn’t get a bill? Not receiving one doesn’t excuse a late payment. Look up your property on your parish tax collector’s website or give them a call.
Don’t miss your homestead exemption
If the home is your primary residence, Louisiana’s homestead exemption takes $75,000 of market value off your taxable value (that’s $7,500 of assessed value). It isn’t automatic. You apply through your parish assessor’s office, so if you bought this year and haven’t applied yet, put it at the top of your list. Homeowners 65 and older may also qualify for a special assessment level that freezes their assessment. I covered the recent changes in my post on Louisiana’s senior property tax amendments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When are property taxes due in St. Tammany Parish? December 31. Bills are mailed in late fall by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
When are property taxes due in Jefferson Parish? December 31. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office collects them.
When are property taxes due in St. Bernard Parish? December 31. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office collects them.
When are property taxes due in New Orleans? January 31. The City of New Orleans mails bills in late December.
What happens if I pay late? Under Louisiana law, unpaid property taxes become delinquent the day after they’re due and earn interest of 1% per month, plus costs. Taxes that stay unpaid can eventually lead to a tax sale, so contact your tax collector right away if you’re behind.
Thinking about buying or selling?
Property taxes are one piece of the cost of owning a home, and they vary from parish to parish. If you’re weighing a move between the Northshore and the Southshore, I’m happy to walk you through the numbers. Find out what your home is worth, download my free homebuyer guide, or call me at (504) 382-3724.
This post is general information, not tax or legal advice. Always confirm amounts and deadlines with your parish tax collector.
Alicia Lagarde Craig, ALC Realty