Payment processing in Louisiana.
VitaPay serves merchants in Louisiana, as it does in every US state. Below are the Louisiana rules and official offices worth knowing before you take your first card payment there: the surcharging rule, the sales-tax agency and where the business is registered.
Adding a credit card surcharge in Louisiana.
Surcharges allowed with state conditionsAct 751 of 2026 (SB 254), in effect since August 1, 2026, bars retail businesses from surcharging customers who pay by debit card. It does not cover credit cards, and no Louisiana statute limiting credit card surcharges was found. The Attorney General enforces the debit rule, with civil penalties up to $500, and customers may sue after giving 30 days' written notice.
Citation: La. R.S. 51:3081-3082 (Act 751 of 2026, SB 254) applies to debit cards only
General information, not legal advice. Surcharging laws change, and card network rules apply in addition to Louisiana law. Confirm the current rule with the state or your own adviser before adding a surcharge; the sources below show when this was last read.
Sales tax and registration in Louisiana.
Sales tax at the point of sale
Sales tax is configured on the terminal before you go live. In Louisiana, the agency to register with is:
Louisiana Department of RevenueParish sales taxes are administered separately at the local level.
Registering the business
A merchant account is opened in the name of a registered business. In Louisiana, business entities are registered with:
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial DivisionSources and date checked.
- Louisiana Legislature: enrolled SB 254 (Act 751 of 2026) Checked September 21, 2026
- Troutman Pepper Consumer Financial Services Law Monitor: Louisiana debit surcharge ban (June 2026) Checked September 21, 2026
- Arnall Golden Gregory client alert (2026) Checked September 21, 2026
- Louisiana Legislature: HB 487 (2024) status, not enacted Checked September 21, 2026
- Louisiana Department of Revenue Checked September 21, 2026
- Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division Checked September 21, 2026
Priced the same way in every state.
Interchange and card-network assessments passed through at cost, plus a stated processor margin, quoted in writing for your business. No long-term contract and no early termination penalty.
