§1703. Exemptions

A. Generally. (1) Effective January 1, 1978, and thereafter, there shall be exempt from state, parish, and special ad valorem taxes all property which is declared to be exempt from taxation by Sections 20 and 21 of Article VII of the Constitution and pursuant to the authority contained in Section 17 of Article VI of the Constitution, and no other. However, the exemption for a bona fide homestead, as defined in Subparagraph (1) of Paragraph A of Section 20 of Article VII of the Constitution, for the years 1978 through 1981 only, and in the parish of Orleans through 1982 only, shall be five thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Effective on the first day in January in each parish, in the year in which the appraisal and valuation provisions of Paragraph (F) of Section 18 of Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana are implemented and thereafter, the exemption, for a bona fide homestead exemption as defined in Section 20 of Article VII of the Constitution, shall be seven thousand, five hundred dollars of the assessed valuation.

(2) Any taxpayer entitled to the homestead exemption set forth in Article VII, Section 20 of the Constitution of Louisiana must own and occupy the homestead on or before December thirty-first of the calendar year in which the exemption is claimed regardless of its homestead exemption status as of January first of the calendar year in which the homestead exemption is claimed.

B. Orleans Parish. In the parish of Orleans, the status of real and personal property on the first day of August of each year, except as provided in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section, shall determine its liability for exemption from taxation for the following calendar year.

C. Penalties for false statements. Any person who, either in his individual or representative capacity, knowingly makes any false statement or knowingly furnishes any false information in any affidavit or other document that he may present for the purpose of procuring or attempting to procure this tax exemption or benefit under the provisions of this Section, or who knowingly, for the purpose of securing such tax exemption, presents any affidavit or other document containing any false statement, or any person aiding, assisting or abetting any such person in unlawfully and knowingly securing or attempting to secure any such tax exemption, with knowledge of such false or illegal application or such false statement, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as hereinafter provided.

Any assessor, deputy assessor, or other official, clerk or employee of the state or any of its political subdivisions, who knowingly reports, lists, or claims any property on which exemption from taxes under Sections 20 and 21 of Article VII of the constitution has been applied for, to be subject to a higher millage for taxation purposes than is the true millage applicable thereto, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as hereinafter provided.

Upon conviction for a violation of any of the provisions of this Subsection the offender shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment of not less than one month, nor more than six months, or both.

D. Undivided ownership. The exemption for a bona fide homestead, as provided for in Subsection A of this Section, when occupied by an heir in the direct line in undivided ownership shall be granted to the full extent provided no other homestead exemption is claimed by that person.

E. For property damaged during a disaster or emergency, the following shall apply:

(1)(a) Any homestead receiving the homestead exemption that is damaged or destroyed during a disaster or emergency declared by the governor whose owner is unable to occupy the homestead on or before December thirty-first of a calendar year due to such damage or destruction shall be entitled to claim the exemption by filing with the assessor of the parish in which the homestead was located, an annual affidavit of intent to return and reoccupy the homestead within a period of five years from December thirty-first of the tax year in which the disaster occurred. In no event shall more than one homestead exemption extend or apply to any person in this state.

(b) For homesteads qualifying for the homestead exemption under the provisions of this Paragraph, after expiration of the five-year period, the owner of a homestead shall be entitled to claim and keep the exemption for a period not to exceed two additional years by filing an annual affidavit of intent to return and reoccupy the homestead with the assessor within the parish where the homestead is situated. A homeowner shall be eligible for this extension only if the homeowner's damage claim to repair or rebuild the damaged or destroyed homestead is filed and pending in a formal appeal process with any federal, state, or local government agency or program offering grants or assistance for repairing or rebuilding damaged or destroyed homes as a result of the disaster, or if a homeowner has a damage claim filed and pending against the insurer of the property. The assessor shall require the homeowner to provide official documentation from the government agency or program evidencing the homeowner's participation in the formal appeal process or official documentation evidencing the homeowner has a damage claim filed and pending against the insurer of the property.

(c) After expiration of the extension authorized in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, an assessor shall have the authority to grant up to three additional one-year extensions of the homestead exemption on a case-by-case basis. A homeowner shall only be eligible for an additional extension if the owner has made a good faith attempt to secure a contractor or builder to complete the needed repairs or reconstruction of the home but is unable to complete the project due to uncontrollable contractor or builder delays. In order to qualify for this extension, the homeowner shall provide to the assessor documentation evidencing good faith in attempting to secure a contractor or builder to complete the project.

(2)(a) Any owner entitled to the special assessment level set forth in Article VII, Section 18(G) of the Constitution of Louisiana who is unable to occupy the homestead on or before December thirty-first of a future calendar year due to damage or destruction of the homestead caused by a disaster or emergency declared by the governor shall be entitled to keep the special assessment level of the homestead prior to its damage or destruction on the repaired or rebuilt homestead provided the repaired or rebuilt homestead is occupied by the owner within five years from December thirty-first of the year following the disaster. The assessed value of the land and buildings on which the homestead was located prior to its damage shall not be increased above its assessed value immediately prior to the damage or destruction described in this Paragraph. If the property owner receives a homestead exemption on another homestead during the same five-year period, the damaged or destroyed property shall not be entitled to keep the special assessment level, and the land and buildings shall be assessed in that year at the percentage of fair market value set forth in the constitution. In addition, the owner must also maintain the homestead exemption set forth in Article VII, Section 20(A)(10) of the Constitution of Louisiana to qualify for the special assessment level set forth in Article VII, Section 18(G)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana.

(b) Any owner entitled to the special assessment level as provided for in this Paragraph who is unable to reoccupy his homestead within five years from December thirty-first of the year following the disaster shall be eligible for an extension of the special assessment level on the homestead for a period not to exceed two years. A homeowner shall be eligible for this extension only if the homeowner's damage claim is filed and pending in a formal appeal process with any federal, state, or local government agency or program offering grants or assistance for repairing or rebuilding damaged or destroyed homes as a result of the disaster, or if a homeowner has a damage claim filed and pending against the insurer of the property. The homeowner shall apply for this extension of the special assessment level with the assessor of the parish in which the homestead is located. The assessor shall require the homeowner to provide official documentation from the government agency or program evidencing the homeowner's participation in the formal appeal process or official documentation evidencing the homeowner has a damage claim filed and pending against the insurer of the property.

(c) After expiration of the extension authorized in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, an assessor shall have the authority to grant up to three additional one-year extensions of the special assessment level on a case-by-case basis. A homeowner shall only be eligible for an additional extension if the owner has made a good faith attempt to secure a contractor or builder to complete the needed repairs or reconstruction of the home but is unable to complete the project due to uncontrollable contractor or builder delays. In order to qualify for this extension, the homeowner shall provide to the assessor documentation evidencing good faith in attempting to secure a contractor or builder to complete the project.

Acts 1962, No. 316, §1. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 387, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1978, No. 666, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1979; Acts 1981, No. 432, §1; H.C.R. No. 88, 1993 R.S., eff. May 30, 1993; H.C.R. No. 1, 1994 R.S., eff. May 11, 1994; Acts 2004, No. 313, §1, eff. June 18, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 382, §1, eff. June 30, 2005; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 30, §1, eff. Oct. 31, 2006; Acts 2006, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 24, §1, eff. Feb. 23, 2006; Acts 2010, No. 865, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.