NEW APPLICATIONS!

New applications are available in 2025.

These must be used for Part 2s submitted after January 1, 2025.

Credit Reservation Forms will no longer be accepted!

Use the updated Amendment form to update an existing Credit Reservation.

CLICK TO SEE THE STATEWIDE IMPACTS!

We recently developed a dashboard to highlight the impacts the program has had on development projects across the State. This is updated to include projects from 2002 through October of 2024.

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New Applications Available January 1, 2025!

Updated applications must be used for Part 2s received after January 1, 2025. Separate Credit Reservation Forms will NOT BE REQUIRED!

The State Commercial Tax Credit Program was created in 2002 by the Louisiana Legislature to encourage the redevelopment of income-producing historic buildings in Louisiana's Downtown Development Districts. In 2007, the enabling program legislation was amended to allow historic buildings located in certified Cultural Districts to be program-eligible. In 2023 the program was further expanded to include National Register-listed buildings. Updated program guidelines can be found here.

The State Commercial Tax Credit Program is jointly administered by the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation and the Louisiana Department of Revenue. The Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation acts as an applicant's first point of contact and reviews applications for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation; the Louisiana Department of Revenue reviews project costs. The credit is available for those income-producing buildings that are contributing elements to Downtown Development Districts or certified Cultural Districts.

Rehabilitation projects must exceed $10,000 in qualified rehabilitation expenses and must be completed according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Once earned, credits are fully transferable and may be carried forward for up to five years.

For State Commercial Part 2 applications received by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on or after January 1, 2025, the maximum aggregate total of tax credits reserved shall not exceed $85 million annually.

For State Commercial Part 2 applications received by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on or after January 1, 2021, the maximum aggregate total of tax credits reserved shall not exceed $125 million annually.

STATE COMMERCIAL TAX CREDIT UPDATE

During the FY2023 Regular Legislative Session, the Louisiana State Commercial Tax Credit program received further amendments that expanded the benefits of the program. Act 426 (effective August 1, 2023) provides the following:

The program will sunset on December 31, 2028.
The qualifying areas now include buildings that are individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places and those that contribute to a National Register Historic District.
The credit is increased to 25% for expenses occurred after January 1, 2023.
The credit is further increased to 35% for expenses occurred after January 1, 2023, if the property is within an area defined as Rural. The legislation uses the most recent decennial census data to define Rural as:

*A Parish with a population of less than 100,000

*A municipality with a population of less than 35,000

*An unincorporated area of a parish with a population of 100,000 or more.

A property may fall outside the census boundaries for a rural municipality or unincorporated area, but still qualify as rural if the address indicates its inclusion in a qualifying municipality or unincorporated area.

Electronic Submissions of Applications

The Division of Historic Preservation is now accepting digital State and Federal tax credit applications via Google form submission. To submit applications electronically via this form, applicants must create a free Google account with a Gmail address. Applicants who cannot do so may submit digital applications via a mailed USB drive. State tax credit applications are no longer accepted by mail. They must be submitted digitally.

The link to submit a State Commercial Tax Credit application via online portal is posted below. All State application files are to comply with NPS digital submission standards found here, and State file-naming conventions found here. Make sure to review these standards prior to submission. DIGITAL APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE RETURNED FOR CORRECTION.
Please Review The Application Checklist Prior To Submitting.

State Commercial Tax Credit Application Forms and Fee Payment Information

New State Commercial Tax Credit applications were made available January 1, 2025, to reflect the most recent amendments to the State Historic Tax Credit program legislation, as well as to assist in our transition to accepting digital applications. Older versions of the State application forms will no longer be accepted.

These downloadable, fillable PDF forms work best with Adobe Acrobat Reader 10 and above. DO NOT open the forms in a browser tab or window. DOWNLOAD the forms and SAVE them to your computer. To download and save, right-click on the link and chose "Save Link As..." Open the forms in the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

1. Part 1 - Certification of Contributing Status

2. Part 2 - Proposed Work Description

3. Part 3 - Request for Project Certification

4. Part 2 Continuation

5. Fee Payment Information

6. Continuation Sheet

7. Amendment Sheet

8. Department of Revenue - SCROLL DOWN FOR GUIDANCE ON CLAIMING THE CREDIT

Upload Tax Credit Application

Tax Credit Reservation Guidance, Form Instructions, and Reservation Form

For State Commercial Part 2 applications received by the Department on or after January 1, 2021, the maximum aggregate total of tax credit reserved in limited to $125 million annually. You are required to submit a Tax Credit Reservation Form in order to reserve your historic tax credit. The Louisiana Department of Revenue may adopt rules or issue guidance prohibiting the issuance of credit in excess of a reservation amount. For the current available amount of available reservations, please click here.

Louisiana Department of Revenue

The Louisiana Department of Revenue provides information on the financial implications of using the 20% State Commercial Tax Credit Program. LDR has issued a wealth of guidance on buildings that are considered qualified for the program and also on how to properly prepare audit information.

Private Letter Rulings

A private letter ruling is a written statement issued by the Louisiana Department of Revenue to a taxpayer applying principles of law to the taxpayer's specific set of facts. This type of policy statement is issued only if there is no other guidance that addresses the correct application of the legal principles to the taxpayer's particular situation. LDR has issued a number of private letter rulings on previous historic tax credit issues.

PLR 08-023 Credit for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures in Downtown Development Districts

PLR 08-017 Historic Rehabilitation Credit

PLR 07-017 Credit for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures in Downtown Development Districts

PLR 06-001 Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Earned by a Downtown Development District

Revenue Information Bulletins

RIB 14-007-A Louisiana Rehabilitation of Historic Structures Tax Credit for Projects Less Than $500,000 of Eligible Costs and Expenses

RIB 14-007 Louisiana Rehabilitation of Historic Structures Tax Credit

RIB 14-005 Louisiana Tax Credit Registry

RIB 13-022 Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Changes

RIB 13-021 Louisiana Tax Credit Registry Transfer Notices and Fees