Louisiana payroll · LDR R-1306 (1/26)

Louisiana paycheck calculator.

Gross pay in, take-home pay out. Louisiana income tax follows the Department of Revenue’s 2026 withholding formula for the flat income tax. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.

Your pay

Gross pay this period ($)

Pay frequency

Form L-4 standard deduction claimed

Pre-tax: lowers income tax and FICA ($ per period)For example Section 125 health premiums.

Pre-tax: lowers income tax only ($ per period)For example a traditional 401(k) deferral, which is still subject to Social Security and Medicare tax.

Local income or occupational tax (% of taxable wages, optional)A rate you supply. No local tax tables are built in.

Federal Form W-4 filing status

Federal W-4 Step 2 box is checked (two jobs)

Federal W-4 Step 3: credits, annual ($)

Federal W-4 Step 4(a): other income, annual ($)

Federal W-4 Step 4(b): deductions, annual ($)

Federal W-4 Step 4(c): extra withholding per period ($)

Wages already paid this year, before this check ($)Only matters near the $184,500 Social Security wage base or the $200,000 Additional Medicare threshold.

Estimated Louisiana paycheck (2026)

Worked example

Biweekly gross $2,500, L-4 box 1, $100 section 125 premium and $150 traditional 401(k). Income-tax wages are $2,250. Federal income tax $186.15, Social Security $148.80 and Medicare $34.80 (the same federal figures as the U.S. Paycheck Calculator example).

Louisiana: $12,875 ÷ 26 = $495.19 deduction per pay period. ($2,250 − $495.19) × 3.09% = $54.22.
Take-home: $2,500 − $250 pre-tax − $186.15 − $148.80 − $34.80 − $54.22 = $1,826.03.

How it is calculated

Federal withholding is IRS Publication 15-T (2026) Worksheet 1A for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later, and Social Security (6.2% to $184,500), Medicare (1.45%) and Additional Medicare Tax (0.9% over $200,000) follow IRS Publication 15. The Department of Revenue’s 2026 computer formula is W = (S − SD/N) × 0.0309, where S is pay for the period, N the number of pay periods and SD the standard deduction claimed on Form L-4 ($12,875 for single or married separate, $25,750 for married joint, qualifying surviving spouse or head of household, or none). A negative value is treated as zero. The withholding tables use 3.09% rather than the 3% income tax rate; the Department explains this as a cushion.

Assumption: the pre-tax amounts you enter reduce Louisiana taxable wages the same way they reduce federal income-tax wages; your employer’s payroll setup controls the exact treatment. Not covered: W-4s from 2019 or earlier, the printed wage bracket tables, supplemental pay and local taxes, and wage bracket method rounding. This is a planning estimate, not an official calculation or tax advice.

Sources and as-of dates

Louisiana Withholding Tables and Formulas R-1306 (1/26): the 3.09% computer formula, 2026 standard deductions of $12,875 and $25,750 and the two worked examples ($13.98 and $111.54).
Louisiana Department of Revenue FAQ: why the withholding tables use 3.09%: the cushion above the flat 3% rate.
IRS Publication 15-T (2026): dated Dec 3, 2025: Worksheet 1A and the annual Percentage Method tables used for federal withholding.
IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide: dated Dec 15, 2025: 6.2% Social Security up to a $184,500 wage base, 1.45% Medicare, 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax over $200,000.
Figures retrieved October 16, 2026. States and the IRS republish these formulas, usually each January; this tool covers 2026 only. It does not look anything up from a government system.

FAQ

Why does my real paycheck differ from this estimate?

Employers may use printed Louisiana tables instead of the formula, round differently, apply your exact Form W-4 entries and withhold local, disability, benefit and retirement amounts this tool does not model. Treat the result as an estimate, not tax advice.

Why 3.09% when the income tax rate is 3%?

The Department of Revenue says the withholding tables use 3.09% instead of 3% to provide a cushion.

What are the L-4 choices?

Claim 1 for single or married filing separately, 2 for married filing jointly, qualifying surviving spouse or head of household; those claiming 2 must use the larger-deduction formula.

Does Louisiana have a local income tax?

The R-1306 formula in this tool has no local component. Use the local tax field if your employer withholds another local amount.

Does a 401(k) deferral lower Social Security and Medicare tax?

No. Per IRS Publication 15, elective 401(k) deferrals are exempt from income tax withholding but remain subject to Social Security and Medicare tax. Section 125 cafeteria-plan benefits such as health premiums generally are not.