Sales Tax - The Basic Facts - YouTube

Welcome to the Louisiana Department of Revenue's New Taxpayer Training.

This Program is designed for new sales tax accounts.

All information in this training is subject to change set forth by changes from the Louisiana

Legislature, or Louisiana Department of Revenue policy and system upgrades.

There are 3 primary objectives in this program.

First Sales Tax -Filing Frequency

-Filing Deadlines -Payment Requirements and Methods

-Most Common Mistakes

Secon LaTap -Where is it?

-What is it?

-Difference for Parish E-file

and Third Parish E-file: -Where is it?

-What is it?

-Common questions for Parish E-file

In the event you do not have a State Sales Tax Account Number, you will need to register

for a sales tax account.

Go to the Louisiana Department of Revenue Webpage at revenue.louisiana.gov.

Look for the LaTAP link below as noted by the red arrow, and access the link.

To register for a sales tax account, click the "Register A Business" link below as noted

by the red arrow, and follow the instruction on the next page.

Upon completing the registration process, I would like to provide you with information

on the return filing frequencies.

New buisness are required to file returns on a monthly basis using your 10 digit state

ID found on Sales Tax Registratation Certificate.

If the average monthly tax amounts do not exceed $500 for period of 6 months, a taxpayer

may submit a written request to file quarterly.

If quarterly returns exceed an average of $500 per month, the Department will require

a quarterly filer to file returns monthly.

A taxpayer can have their filing frequency changed; however, the change must be requested

in writing and approved by the Department.

Filing frequencies are reviewed by the Department once a year and notices are sent to taxpayers.

Changes are effective at the beginning of the calendar year.

Request to file on on more frequent basis can be made to [email protected], you

may be required to file electronically.

Let's discuss filing deadlines.

Returns or payments filed electronically must be transmitted by midnight Central Time of

the filing deadline day.

The date transmitted is the determining factor.

For filing deadline information concerning holiday and weekend filing dates, review "Electronic

Filing Guildines" at www.revenue.louisiana.gov.

Returns or payments delivered by the United States Postal Service are deemed filed on

the date postmarked by the United States Postal Service.

Returns or payments delivered by the taxpayer or courirer are deemed filed on the date delivered

to the Department.

Next, let's discuss payment requirements.

Tax payments of $5000 or more must be remitted electronically or penalty will be assessed.

Tax payments or less than 5000 may also be required to be remitted electronically if

taxpayer previously requested electronic funds transfer mandate.

A payment remitted to the Department that is later dishonored/NSF is not deemed paid

until the date the repalcement funds are posted to the State of Louisiana's bank account or

a guaranteed money is delivered to the Department.

Additional interest, penalites, and/or fees may be due until payment is made.

We are all not perfect, so let's discuss some common mistakes made when filing your return.

Deductions taken on the front of sales tax returns without documentation on the return

schedules.

Deductions will be disallowed and taxpayer billed for the additional tax due.

A deduction can not be taken for utilites or other business expenses on a sales tax

return by business owners.

The wrong form is used for a particular period.

The scan line at the bottom of the return is for a specific period and is for that period

only.

Kindly refer to LDR's website for the correct return.

Bad debt dedcution can't be taken on the sales tax return.

A refund claim for bad debt can be made once a year and shall be approved or denied by

the Secretary or his/her designee.

Vendor's compensation can't be taken on delinquent sales tax returns.

Do not use 0 with hiphens on either side inplace of a 0.

Do not us a 0 with a slash in place of a zero.

It is better to leave a box blank than to enter a zero or any other symbol that represents

zero.

There are several filing methods for your sales tax return.

LaTAP, a free electronic filing program.

Parish E-File, also a free electronic filing program.

Sales tax on line, an electronic program that charges a fee and is not supported by LDR.

Sales tax manager, an electronic program provided by the IRS and is not supported by LDR.

LDR' paper return Form # R-1029.

Kindly refer to website for the correct version of the sales tax form.

Please do not use any old forms for other tax periods and/or business entities.

Next we will discuss LaTap.

Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point.

Latap LaTap is a free serive offered by Louisiana

Department of Revenue to allow taxpayers to submit returns and payments online.

Currently, there are over 400,000 accounts using the LaTap Program.

This slide details the various tax returns that can be found utilizing the LaTap program.

As shown on the left portion of this slide in red are the 14 taxes where you can file

and pay they are:

General sales tax return Pre-Paid Cell phone return

The New Orleans Hotel Motel tax return, and this return is utilized by hotels and motels

in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.

The Statewide Hotel Motel tax return.

Which is utilized in the other parishes of the state.

The New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Return

The Automobile Rental tax return Withholding tax return.

Fiduciary Income tax return.

State and Local Beer tax return The Tobacco tax return

The Tobacco Tax Stamps return The Oilfield Oil tax return

The Oilfield Gas tax return Internation Fuel Tax Agreement tax return,

or IFTA, for short.

Also listed on the left portion of this slide you may receive certifications for Severance

Oil Severance Gas Taxes.

Now listed on the right portion of the return in green are the 15 taxes that may be paid

utilizing the LaTAP Program: Severance Gas tax

Severance Minerals tax Severance Timber tax

Corporation Income and Franchise tax Excise-Alcohol tax

Excise-Wine tax Excise-Inspection/ Supervision Fee

Excise- Hazardous Waste Tax Excise Transportation and Communication tax

Excise � Terminal Operator Tax FT- Motor Fuel Transporter Tax

FT �Supplier FT- Importer Fuel Tax

FT �Distributor/Export/ Blender Fuel Tax FT �Aviation Fuel Dealer

There are seveal actions within the LaTAP program .

You may file and amend returns.

You may submit payments.

May scheudle future payments up to 90 days.

and you can update the mailing address.

Addition actions include: Update location address on most accounts,

update Doing Businsness As or trade name, of an account,

view account balance, Print letters such as resale certificate,

tax clearences, or other corrispondences issued by the Department to the tax payer.

This slide is used as a guide to assist you in locating the LaTAP program.

Access the Department's website at www.revenue.louisiana.gov The

first link under the Businesses Account information is the link to Latap as indicated by the red

arrow.

Next, we will discuse the Parish E-file online application.

What is Parish E-file?

Parish E-file is an online tool that faciliatates secure electronic filing of multiple parish

sales and use tax returns and remittance to local taxing authorities throughout Louisiana

from one centralized site.

No charge by the state or any local taxin authority to use this program.

This program is useful for buisness that operate in multiple locations throughout the state.

The following returns can be filed through the Parish E-file application.

In addition to the Parish Sales Tax Return; you can also file the State General Sales

Tax Return.

The statewide Hotel Motel Tax Return.

The Orleans Jefferson Parish Hotel Motel Tax Return.

The Prepaid Wireless Cell Phone Service Tax Return,

New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authoritiy Return.

Some parishes have their own hotel motel returns that may be filed utilizing this program.

The chart on this slide highlights the common areas and differences between the LaTap and

Parish E-file programs.

To access the Parish E-file program visit the Deparments websight www.revenue.lousisiana.gov

And the link will be right below the link for the LaTap program under the Business heading

as indicated by the red arrow.

This slide shows the homepage of the Parish E-file application.

At this point you can register, if not already registered, and if registerd you can enter

your user name and password to long into the program.

This slide contains some of the most commonly asked questions about the Parish E-file Program.

Question: I applied for an authority account numnber, but have not recieved it, who do

I contact?

Answer: Please contact the parish authority directly.

Question I have recieved a notice from the parish, who do I contact?

Answer: Please contact the parish authority directly.

Question: My account says it is blocked, who do I contact?

Answer: Please contact the parish authority directly.

Question; My payment was rejecteed, who do I contact?

Answer: For parish returns; please contact the parish directly.

Question: Can a return be filed without making the payment?

Answer: No, returns and payments must be submitted at the same time.

Question: Should I recieved a confirmation number for the return and the payment seperarately?

Answer: No, the confirmation number is for the return and payment.

For additional Parish E-file Information on frequently asked questions please visit:

Parishe-file.revenue.louisiana.gov/faq.aspx To contact the Louisiana Department of Revenue

for additional assistance please call 855-307-3893 select 3 then option 2,

or fax to area code 225-231-6201, or Email to [email protected]

This email link is at the bottom of the Parish E-file homepage as signified by the red arrow

below.