Overview: When starting a business with employees in Louisiana, you must register for State Income Withholding Tax through the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) and State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax through the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC). Louisiana offers a combined registration process through geauxBIZ for new businesses, or separate registrations for businesses already registered with the Secretary of State.
Important! This guide does not constitute legal or tax advice. You can consult a CPA or attorney for official guidance.
Taxes You Must Register For:
Option A: Combined Registration via geauxBIZ (new businesses)
If your business has not yet registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State, you can register for withholding and unemployment together through geauxBIZ.
1. Register via geauxBIZ
Go to the Louisiana Department of Revenue and, under Businesses, click Register a New Business.
Select the geauxBIZ link, then click Sign In or Create Account → Create Account.
Enter your email and create a password.
Once registered, go to My Dashboard → My Businesses → Add Business to link your new account numbers to your geauxBIZ account.
After completing geauxBIZ, set up your LaTap (withholding) and LAWATS (unemployment) account access using the steps in Option B below.
If you have already registered with the Secretary of State, skip to Option B and register with LDR and LWC separately.
Option B: Louisiana Withholding Tax
Tax Agency: Louisiana Department of Revenue
Registration Steps
Go to the LDR Business Registration Page
Under Businesses, click Register a New Business
Select Additional Revenue Account → then click Register My Business
Follow the prompts for Register My New Business
Upon submission:
You’ll receive a confirmation email with your Louisiana Revenue Account Number
If no email is provided, it will be mailed in 4–6 weeks
Set up LaTap Account Access
Go to LaTap
Click Sign Up → Select Business
Enter your withholding account number and business information
Need help? Contact LDR at 855-307-3893 (option 3)
Louisiana Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax
Tax Agency: Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC)
Registration Steps
Visit the LWC Registration Page
Read the checklist at the bottom of the page
Check the box and click Begin Application
Set up LAWATS Account Access
Go to LAWATS
Click Show Instructions → Create an Employer Login Account
Provide your UI account number and business info
Need help? Call 866-783-5567
Final Checklist
After completing registration:
Update your Buddy Punch Payroll account with your:
Louisiana Withholding Account Number
Louisiana Unemployment Insurance Account Number
These IDs are required for all tax-related filings in the state.