| The Courier
It’s property tax time again for Terrebonne and Lafourche.
Terrebonne and Lafourche parish property owners received annual tax notices through each parish’s sheriff’s office. Property taxes are due by Dec. 31. Late fees will begin at a rate of 1 percent per month after Jan. 1.
Taxes can be paid online, by mail or in person.
Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, officials are urging residents to make their payments online or by mail.
“Lobby space is extremely limited, and because of this, practicing safe social distancing while paying taxes in person may be difficult,” the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said. “Also, please be aware that beginning this year, local bank branches are no longer accepting payments. Traditionally, several local bank branches accepted in-person payments through Dec. 31, but that service is no longer available.”
Property tax collections are expected to top more than $210 million between the two parishes this year. The tax dollars help pay for roads, drainage, levees, law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals, ambulance services, schools and recreation, officials said.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office sent out 60,675 tax notices this month, according to the tax assessor’s office. A total of $92.2 million in property taxes are estimated to be collected. There are 27,549 properties in Terrebonne which are homestead exempt for which no taxes are owed.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office sent out 42,945 tax notices earlier this month to property owners. An additional 11,046 properties are homestead exempt. Officials in Lafourche project $117.8 million in property taxes will be collected.
The parish sheriff’s offices are responsible for sending out property tax notices and collecting the taxes. The parish assessor’s offices oversee the process and determine the assessed value of properties based on state guidelines.
Property taxes are divided between several entities in each parish, including parish government, municipalities, recreation districts, schools and drainage and fire districts.
Certain districts in each parish have the right to charge a property tax, or millage rate, as approved by the voters on the assessed value of the property.
The assessed value is a percentage of the fair market value, 10 percent for residential properties.
Once the assessor’s office determines the assessed value of a property and applies any homestead exemptions, it finds the taxable value of a property and multiplies that by the millage rate.
For example, a home valued at $100,000 would be assessed at $10,000 and qualify for a $7,500 homestead exemption, placing the taxable value at $2,500.
A mill is one-tenth of a cent. If the parish-wide millage rate is 75 mills, or 0.075 cents, the property owner would owe $187.50 in parish taxes.
In Louisiana, property owners are eligible for one homestead exemption of up to $7,500.
For information about property tax payments, call the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 876-2500 or Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at 449-4431.
— Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.
Here’s how to pay your property taxes
Terrebonne Parish:
In Terrebonne Parish, payments can be made online at snstaxpayments.com/terrebonne, or in-person with cash, credit card, debit card, check or money order at the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Administrative Office at 7856 Main St. in Houma.
Payments can be mailed to P.O. Drawer 1670, Houma, LA 70361.
Contact the Terrebonne Parish Assessor’s Office at 876-6620 for information about assessments.
For information about payments, contact the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office at 876-2500.
Lafourche Parish:
In Lafourche Parish, payments can be made online at lpso.net/PayMyTaxes or in person with cash, credit card, debit card, check or money order at the LPSO Administrative Office at 200 Canal Blvd., Thibodaux or at the South Lafourche sub-station at 102 West 91st St., Cut Off.
Payments can also be mailed to Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 679538, Dallas, TX 75267-9538.
Customers of the following banks can also pay their taxes at any Lafourche branch through Dec. 31: First American, South Lafourche, State Bank & Trust, United Community and Whitney.
Partial payments of at least 25% of the amount due can be mailed to P.O. Box 5608, Thibodaux, LA 70302, or at the LPSO offices.
Thibodaux residents can send payments to P. O. Box 5418, Thibodaux, LA 70302 or pay in person at City Hall, 310 W. 2nd St.
Contact the Lafourche Parish Assessor’s Office at 447-7242 for information about assessments.
For information about payments, contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at 449-4431.
