Property Tax in Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Property Tax in Caddo Parish

A calculator and field guide for Shreveport-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Caddo Parish — including Louisiana's 10% residential assessment ratio, the generous $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20 — exempt from state, parish, and special ad valorem; not from municipal), the Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze for 65+ with AGI ≤ $102,700 (2026, indexed), and the FULL Disabled Veterans Exemption (100% service-connected). Louisiana uses parishes, not counties — a Napoleonic Code legacy from French colonial Louisiana.

Caddo Parish, home to Shreveport and 235k Louisianians, operates under Louisiana\'s parish-based property tax system. Louisiana uses parishes (not counties — the only US state to do so, a Napoleonic Code legacy from French colonial Louisiana). Residential property is assessed at 10% of fair market value. Tax = (AV − homestead) × millage / 1,000. Combined millage includes parish, municipal, school district, and special district levies. The $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20) is among the most-generous in the United States — exempt from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes (NOT from municipal). Effective rates run ~0.55% statewide median — among the lowest in the US.

How the bill is built

Louisiana property tax follows a 4-step calculation. Step 1: Fair Market Value. The Caddo Parish Louisiana Tax Assessor determines FMV annually. Step 2: Apply 10% AR. AV = FMV × 10%. So a $200K home has AV = $20K. Step 3: Apply $75,000 Homestead Exemption. First $75,000 of FMV (= $7,500 of AV) exempt from parish/state/special ad valorem. Step 4: Apply tax rate. Tax = (AV − $7,500 homestead) × millage / 1,000. Caddo Parish\'s combined millage is ~145 mills (= ~1.45% gross before the homestead, ~0.65% effective post-homestead).

Louisiana\'s $75,000 Homestead Exemption is among the most-generous in the United States — for the median Louisiana home, the homestead often eliminates the entire parish portion of the tax bill. Apply with the parish assessor — automatic renewal as long as owner-occupied. The exemption applies to state, parish, and special ad valorem — but NOT to municipal ad valorem. So homeowners in incorporated cities (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport) still owe city property tax on the first $75K, while homeowners in unincorporated parish areas often owe $0 in property tax for sub-$75K homes.

The Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze is Louisiana\'s primary senior protection. Owners 65+ with adjusted gross income at or below $102,700 (2026 limit, indexed by CPI from $100K base set by Amendment 6 of 2020) can freeze their AV at the level when first qualified — preventing value-driven tax increases. Note: SAL does NOT cap millage rate increases (so tax bills can still rise if local taxing entities raise rates). Available also for permanently disabled (any age) and surviving spouses of military killed in action / MIA / POW. Apply with parish assessor. Once granted, the freeze continues automatically as long as ownership and occupancy continue and the value does not increase more than 25% due to construction.

Louisiana provides a FULL property tax exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023) — stacks on top of the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Partial-rating vets receive additional FMV exemptions: 50-69% rating = additional $25K FMV; 70-99% rating = additional $45K FMV. Surviving spouses may retain. Apply with parish assessor with current Form A25 from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Caddo Parish rate breakdown (consolidated millage per $1,000 of AV (10% AR × FMV), Shreveport district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Combined parish + municipal + school + special districts (~145 mills × 10% AR = ~0.65% effective post Homestead)	145.0000
Combined total	145.0000

Data record updated April 26, 2026. This is an editorial update date, not a tax year or a guarantee that every figure has been independently verified.

Sources and scope: Check rates and parcel details with Caddo Parish Louisiana Tax Assessor. Figures may refer to different source years; a county-seat rate does not apply to every address. How we use data and estimates.

Note: Caddo Parish is **the northwestern Louisiana parish** — home to **Shreveport** (~180K, the seat) and the cultural-economic anchor of the Ark-La-Tex region (where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas meet). The parish sits on the Red River and shares its western border with Texas. Shreveport was historically a major cotton-trading center and is now known for its riverboat casinos (along with neighboring Bossier City), Barksdale Air Force Base (in adjacent Bossier Parish, but draws substantial Caddo workers), and the celebrated Louisiana State Fair. The county is also home to Centenary College (~1,000 students, the oldest private liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River, founded 1825) and LSU Shreveport (~10,000 students). Major employment includes healthcare (Willis-Knighton Health System, LSU Health Shreveport), gaming (multiple riverboat casinos), and Louisiana state government.

Note: Caddo Parish effective property tax rates run approximately **0.65%** — moderate by Louisiana standards. Combined parish + municipal + school district + special district millage is ~145 mills (× 10% AR = ~1.45% gross, reduced by Louisiana's $75,000 Homestead Exemption to ~0.65% effective). Median home values around $165K (low) combined with the moderate effective rate produce median annual bills around $1,073 — among the most-affordable mid-size US markets.

Note: For relocation buyers: Caddo Parish offers **the affordable Ark-La-Tex region** option — substantially lower housing costs than Texas or Louisiana coast options, the celebrated Shreveport gaming/entertainment scene, regional healthcare employment, and reasonable Dallas commute (~3 hours via I-20). The trade-off: aging downtown Shreveport infrastructure, substantial population loss since 2000 (Shreveport peaked at ~205K in 2000), limited high-skill commercial sector outside healthcare and gaming.

Deductions and exemptions for 2026

Louisiana homeowner property tax relief is concentrated in three mechanisms: (1) the $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20 — among the most-generous in the United States), (2) the Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze for owners 65+ with AGI ≤ $102,700 (2026, indexed), and (3) the FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption for 100% service-connected disabled vets (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023).

$75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20)

Louisiana\'s $75,000 Homestead Exemption is among the most-generous in the United States — exempts the first $75,000 of fair market value (= $7,500 of AV at 10% AR) from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes. NOT exempt from municipal ad valorem. For the median Louisiana home (FMV ~$200K), the homestead often eliminates the entire parish portion of the tax bill. Only one homestead exemption per landowner. Apply with parish assessor — automatic renewal as long as owner-occupied.

Special Assessment Level (SAL) — Senior/Disabled Freeze

The SAL is a true AV freeze (not a millage rate cap) for qualifying owners. Eligibility: 65+ with AGI ≤ $102,700 (2026 limit, indexed by CPI from $100K base set by Amendment 6 of 2020); OR permanently disabled (any age); OR surviving spouse of military killed in action / MIA / POW (with income test). Once granted, AV freezes at the level when first qualified. Continues automatically as long as ownership and occupancy continue and value does not increase more than 25% due to construction. Apply with parish assessor.

FULL Disabled Veteran Exemption (100% service-connected)

Louisiana provides a FULL property tax exemption for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023) — stacks on top of the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Partial-rating vets receive additional FMV exemptions: 50-69% rating = additional $25K FMV; 70-99% rating = additional $45K FMV. Surviving spouses may retain. Apply with parish assessor with current Form A25 from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Appealing your assessment

Louisiana property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: Parish Assessor. File written appeal during the open inspection period (typically 15 days in August/September each year — varies by parish). Level 2: Parish Board of Review. If unresolved, appeal to the Parish Board of Review within 3 business days of the open inspection period closing. The Board holds quasi-judicial hearings. Level 3: Louisiana Tax Commission. Board decisions can be appealed to the Louisiana Tax Commission within 10 business days. From there to District Court. Most Louisiana appeals are resolved at Level 1 or Level 2.

Cities and towns in Caddo Parish

This guide lists 4 selected communities in or associated with Caddo Parish. It is not a complete municipal directory. Local taxing districts can differ between communities and individual addresses.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Caddo Parish is subject to Caddo Parish's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Shreveport County seat	city	180,000
Vivian	town	3,500
Greenwood	town	3,200
Mooringsport	town	700

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page use a representative district around Shreveport. Other cities in Caddo Parish may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Caddo Parish Louisiana Tax Assessor before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Louisiana property taxes due?

Louisiana property tax bills are typically mailed in November and are due by December 31. Late payments after December 31 accrue interest (1% per month) and the property may be subject to tax sale if delinquent for an extended period (varies by parish). Most Louisiana homeowners pay through escrow via mortgage servicer.

Why does Louisiana use parishes instead of counties?

Louisiana uses parishes — the only US state to do so. The term is a Napoleonic Code legacy from French and Spanish colonial Louisiana, when the Catholic Church\'s ecclesiastical parishes served as administrative subdivisions. When Louisiana was admitted to the United States in 1812, it kept the parish structure. There are 64 parishes in Louisiana. Functionally, parishes are equivalent to counties in other US states — they have parish governments (often called Police Juries, though some parishes use Parish Council government), elected parish assessors (rather than county assessors), and parish-level taxing authority.

How does the $75,000 Homestead Exemption work?

Louisiana\'s $75,000 Homestead Exemption (LA Const. Art. VII §20) is among the most-generous in the United States. It exempts the first $75,000 of fair market value (= $7,500 of AV at 10% AR) from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes. Note: NOT exempt from municipal ad valorem. So homeowners in incorporated cities (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport) still owe city property tax on the first $75K, while homeowners in unincorporated parish areas often owe $0 in property tax for sub-$75K homes. Apply with parish assessor — automatic renewal as long as owner-occupied.

What is the Special Assessment Level (SAL) freeze?

The Special Assessment Level (SAL) is Louisiana\'s primary senior protection — a true AV freeze (not a millage rate cap) for owners 65+ with adjusted gross income at or below $102,700 (2026 limit, indexed by CPI from $100K base set by Amendment 6 of 2020). Once granted, the AV freezes at the level when first qualified — preventing value-driven tax increases. Available also for permanently disabled (any age) and surviving spouses of military killed in action / MIA / POW. The SAL stacks with the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Apply with parish assessor. Continues automatically as long as ownership and occupancy continue and value does not increase more than 25% due to construction.

How does the Disabled Veteran exemption work in Louisiana?

Louisiana provides a FULL property tax exemption for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled (LA Const. Art. VII §21, effective 2023) — stacks on top of the regular $75,000 Homestead Exemption. Partial-rating vets receive additional FMV exemptions: 50-69% rating = additional $25K FMV exemption; 70-99% rating = additional $45K FMV exemption; 100% = FULL exemption. Surviving spouses may retain. Apply with parish assessor with current Form A25 from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

How do I appeal my Louisiana assessment?

Louisiana property tax appeals follow a 3-tier process. Level 1: Parish Assessor. File written appeal during the open inspection period (typically 15 days in August/September each year — varies by parish). Level 2: Parish Board of Review. Within 3 business days of the open inspection period closing. Level 3: Louisiana Tax Commission. Within 10 business days. From there to District Court. Most appeals are resolved at Level 1 or Level 2.

About Caddo Parish

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Shreveport is famously the home of the **Louisiana Hayride** — the legendary live country music radio program broadcast Saturday nights from the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium **from 1948 to 1960** (with sporadic revivals through 2011). The Hayride was **the original launch pad for many of the most-influential country and rockabilly artists in American music**: Hank Williams (1948), Elvis Presley (1954-1956 — Presley's very first appearance was at the Hayride, before he had any recording success at Sun Records), Johnny Cash (1955), Patsy Cline (1956), and George Jones (1955). The Hayride was direct competitor and stepping-stone to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville — many Hayride alumni eventually moved to Nashville after gaining national fame. The Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium (built 1929, where the Hayride was broadcast) is now a National Historic Landmark.

Hometown hero

Hank Williams (Hayride era)

The American country music legend Hank Williams (1923-1953) — though born in Mount Olive, AL — had his **major career launchpad at the Louisiana Hayride** (Shreveport), where he was a regular performer from 1948 until his Grand Ole Opry move in 1949. Williams' Hayride performances introduced his style to a national radio audience. Other major Caddo Parish figures include **Terry Bradshaw** (born 1948 in Shreveport — the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback, MVP of two Super Bowls; attended Louisiana Tech in nearby Ruston), **Jared Leto** (born 1971 in Bossier City but raised partly in Shreveport — Academy Award-winning actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman), and **Kix Brooks** of Brooks & Dunn (born 1955 in Shreveport — the Country Music Hall of Fame country duo). Caddo Parish is also home to **The Walking Dead** and **True Detective** (Season 2) filming locations — Shreveport became a major film/TV production hub in the 2010s.

Biggest annual event

Louisiana State Fair + Mudbug Madness

The Louisiana State Fair (annual, 11 days in late October-early November at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport, since 1907) is **the largest annual fair in Louisiana** — drawing 350,000+ attendees with traditional state fair programming, livestock competitions, the celebrated Louisiana State Fair concert series, and substantial Cajun-Creole food. Mudbug Madness (annual, Memorial Day weekend in downtown Shreveport, since 1984) is **a major Cajun-Creole crawfish festival** — drawing 100,000+ attendees with crawfish boils, zydeco music, and traditional Louisiana cultural programming.

Property Tax in Caddo Parish