Who is responsible for the collection of taxes?
The Sheriff is not only the chief law enforcement officer of Ascension Parish, but also has the responsibility as Ex-Officio Tax Collector. The Sheriff collects the parish taxes according to the tax assessment roll prepared by the tax assessor. Any property with an outstanding balance of the base tax, interest or other penalties or costs, is subject to being sold at the annual Tax Sale.

 

Who collects city taxes?
If you live in the Gonzales, Donaldsonville, or Sorrento city limits, your city taxes are collected by those municipalities. The Sheriff collects only parish taxes.

The phone numbers for city tax office:
Gonzales City - (225) 647-2841
Donaldsonville City - (225) 473-4247
Sorrento City - (225) 675-5337

How do I change my address?
The tax roll is prepared by the tax assessor’s office, therefore, any change of address information should be made at the Ascension Parish Tax Assessor’s Office.
Phone: (225) 473-9239.

 

How are taxes calculated?
The tax amount collected is based on an assessment that is done by the Tax Assessor. The assessment is used in calculations which include the amount of the millage a particular property is subject to paying.

 

What is Homestead Exemption?
In the state of Louisiana, homeowners are eligible for homestead exemption of the first $75,000 of the assessed value of the home considered their permanent residence. A person can have homestead on only one home. To file for Homestead Exemption, contact the Tax Assessor’s Office at (225) 473-9239.

 

How are taxes computed?
Ten percent of the assessed value of your residential property is multiplied by the current year’s millage rate to arrive at the total tax shown on the tax notice.

 

Here is an example of how to calculate parish taxes:

Assessed value $75,000 or less = no parish taxes due (covered under homestead exemption) Assessed value $125,000 $125,000 less $75,000 homestead exemption = $50,000 (over). 10% of assessed value (over) $50,000 = $5,000. Approximate multiplying factor (excluding special taxes) = .10560 .10560 times $5,000 = Approximate Parish taxes due = $528.00

When is the deadline to pay my taxes?
Current year taxes become delinquent at the close of business on December 31st of that year. After this date, the taxes become delinquent and are assessed at a rate of one percent interest per month or any part of a month.

What happens if I do not pay my taxes?
Any delinquent account is subject to be sold at the annual Tax Sale which is usually the last Wednesday in May. Your property will be advertised in the official “Parish Journal” twice before the tax sale. The first which is usually published around mid April, the second in mid May, one week prior to the tax sale. Nearly 300 real estate property accounts are sold each year for delinquent taxes.

 

How to find out if my taxes are outstanding?
Fortunately, most tax accounts are paid in a timely fashion. However, many times an account is unpaid because of an honest mistake or lack of knowledge as to “how the system works.” Here is an example: If you have purchased property with or without a house on January 2, 2009 or any part of 2009, you will not receive a tax notice because the Assessor's tax roll is closed December 31, 2008 for the 2009 tax year. The notice will still be in the sellers name, but it is the new owners responsibility to make sure taxes are paid. Taxes become delinquent after December 31 of that year. To prevent being delinquent, you should call the tax collectors office in early December, advising them of your property purchase and the name of the seller. A deputy tax clerk will be happy to assist in identifying your property and give you the amount due and also mail you a copy of the tax notice upon request.

 

If taxes are not paid by December 31, they become delinquent and are assessed at a rate of one percent interest per month or any part of a month. At the end of February, certified tax notices are sent to all unpaid accounts which will also include interest and the certified mail charge.

 

Around mid April, the first advertisement of all tax debtors is printed in the “Parish Journal.” This listing shows all accounts which have not been paid and all accounts that the certified mail was returned as undeliverable.

 

Around mid May, the second advertisement is printed in the “Parish Journal” listing all delinquent accounts.

 

 

Tax Sale Information
The Tax Sale is held near the front door of the Courthouse in Donaldsonville usually on the last Wednesday in May. All delinquent property is advertised in the official “Parish Journal”. The first advertisement is published at least 30 days before the date of the sale, and the second published within 7 days of the sale.

 

Interested Tax Buyers must register with the Sheriff’s Office personnel prior to the sale which begins at 10:00 A.M. (Absolutely NO purchases or bidding via mail).

 

All unpaid property taxes are read aloud. After reading of the property, buyers bid for a portion of ownership on the property. By law, the Sheriff accepts bids on an interest in the property starting off at 100% interest and graduating downward until the lowest bid of 1% is received. The Buyer that gets the bid will cover the taxes, interest and costs that are due. The Buyer must pay by cash or check when the tax sale is completed. Within a few working days, a tax sale deed is prepared and filed with the Clerk of court and a copy is mailed to the Buyer. Any unsold property will be adjudicated to the Parish of Ascension. The Parish then becomes owner of the property.

 

What if my property is bought by a Buyer and I want to get it back?
The original owner (tax debtor) has up to three years from the date the deed is filed in the Clerk of Court’s office to redeem the property. A redemption is calculated and collected by the Tax Collector’s office. (The amount of the redemption will include a redemption fee, tax sale fee, the base taxes and monthly interest accrued which is 1% per month and 5% Penalty due the Tax Buyer).