HLS 23RS-748 ORIGINAL 2023 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 241 BY REPRESENTATIVE BEAULLIEU TAX/INCOME TAX: Provides for a flat rate for purposes of calculating the income tax for individuals, estates, and trusts 1 AN ACT 2To amend and reenact R.S. 47:32(A), 295(A) and (B), and 300.1 and to repeal R.S. 3 47:32(B), relative to income tax; to provide for a flat income tax rate for individuals, 4 estates, and trusts; to provide for the calculation of individual income tax liability; 5 to provide for the rates and brackets for estates and trusts; to provide for 6 applicability; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters. 7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 8 Section 1. R.S. 47:32(A), 295(A) and (B), and 300.1 are hereby amended and 9reenacted to read as follows: 10 §32. Rates of tax 11 A. On individuals. The tax to be assessed, levied, collected, and paid upon 12 the taxable income of an individual shall be computed at the following rates: 13 (1) One and eighty-five one hundredths percent on that portion of the first 14 twelve thousand five hundred dollars of net income which is in excess of the credits 15 against net income provided for in R.S. 47:79. 16 (2) Three and one-half percent on the next thirty-seven thousand five 17 hundred dollars of net income. 18 (3) Four and twenty-five one rate of three and forty-nine hundredths percent 19 on any amount of net income in excess of fifty thousand dollars of net income. 20 * * * Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 23RS-748 ORIGINAL HB NO. 241 1 §295. Tax imposed on individuals; administration 2 A. There is imposed an income tax for each taxable year upon the Louisiana 3 income of every individual, whether resident or nonresident. The amount of the tax 4 shall be determined from tax tables imposing the maximum tax allowed under the 5 rates of tax and brackets set forth in accordance with R.S. 47:32 promulgated by the 6 secretary under authority of this Section in accordance with the Administrative 7 Procedure Act. However, the tax imposed by this Part shall never exceed the rates 8 of tax and brackets set forth in R.S. 47:32. 9 B. The secretary shall establish tax tables that calculate the tax owed by 10 taxpayers based upon where their taxable income falls within a range that shall not 11 exceed two hundred fifty dollars. The secretary shall provide in the tax tables that 12 the combined personal exemption, standard deduction, and other exemption 13 deductions in R.S. 47:294 shall be deducted from the lowest bracket. If the combined 14 exemptions and deductions exceed the lowest bracket, the excess shall be deducted 15 from the next lowest bracket. If the combined exemptions and deductions exceed the 16 two lowest brackets, the excess shall be deducted from the next lowest bracket. 17 * * * 18 §300.1. Tax imposed 19 There is imposed an income tax for each taxable year upon the Louisiana 20 taxable income of every estate or trust, whether resident or nonresident. The tax to 21 be assessed, levied, collected, and paid upon the Louisiana taxable income of an 22 estate or trust shall be computed at the following rates: 23 (1) One and eighty-five hundredths percent on the first ten thousand dollars 24 of Louisiana taxable income. 25 (2) Three and one-half percent on the next forty thousand dollars of 26 Louisiana taxable income. 27 (3) Four and twenty-five one rate of three and forty-nine hundredths percent 28 on Louisiana taxable income in excess of fifty thousand dollars. 29 Section 2. R.S. 47:32(B) is hereby repealed in its entirety. Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 23RS-748 ORIGINAL HB NO. 241 1 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2024, and shall apply to 2taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024. DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 241 Original 2023 Regular Session Beaullieu Abstract: Changes the rates and brackets for purposes of calculating income tax for individuals, estates, and trusts from a graduated rate system to a single flat rate of 3.49%. Present law provides for a tax to be assessed, levied, collected, and paid upon the taxable income of an individual at the following rates: (1)1.85% on the first $12,500 of net income. (2)3.5% on the next $37,500 of net income. (3)4.25% on net income in excess of $50,000. Proposed law removes the graduated schedule of rates and provides instead a flat 3.49% individual income tax rate. Present law provides that in cases where taxpayers file a joint return of husband and wife, the combined tax shall be twice the combined tax of single filers. Proposed law repeals present law. Present law requires the secretary of the Dept. of Revenue (DOR) to establish tax tables that calculate the tax owed by taxpayers based upon where their taxable income falls within a range that does not exceed $250. Proposed law removes requirement that the range not exceed $250. Otherwise retains present law. Present law requires the secretary to provide in the tax tables, the combined personal exemption, standard deduction, and other exemptions and deductions in present law which are deducted from the 1.85% bracket. Provides that if the combined exemptions and deductions exceed the 1.85% bracket, the excess is deducted from the 3.5% bracket, and then the 4.25% bracket. Proposed law repeals present law. Present law provides for the computation of La. taxable income for a resident estate or trust, including provisions for the federal income tax deduction, limitations of deductions for net income, provisions for the federal deduction for alternative minimum tax, and the authority of the secretary of the DOR to consider reductions to the federal income tax deduction and the determination of the deductible portion of an alternative minimum tax. Present law provides for a tax to be assessed, levied, collected, and paid on the La. taxable income of an estate or trust at the following rates: (1)1.85% on the first $10,000 of La. taxable income. Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 23RS-748 ORIGINAL HB NO. 241 (2)3.5% on the next $40,000 of La. taxable income. (3)4.25% on La. taxable income in excess of $50,000. Proposed law removes the graduated schedule of rates and provides instead a flat 3.49% rate on taxable income of an estate or trust. Applicable to taxable periods beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2024. Effective January 1, 2024. (Amends R.S. 47:32(A), 295(A) and (B), and 300.1; Repeals R.S. 47:32(B)) Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.