Thousands of People Have Lost Their Driver’s License in Louisiana Over Unpaid Taxes

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - I recently had a conversation with a friend over a letter he received reminding him to pay his state taxes, and in it, he was warned that if he did not pay his state taxes, his driving privileges in the state could be revoked.

So, not really knowing the law, I decided to look it up and see whether someone in Louisiana can really have their driver's license suspended for failing to pay state taxes.

It didn't take much research to find the answer, and the state wasn't lying when it said he could lose his driving privileges if he didn't pay his state taxes.

Driver's License Suspended in Louisiana

According to the Louisiana State Legislature, a driver in Louisiana can have their driver's license suspended if they owe $1000 or more in final, non-appealable individual state income taxes (excluding penalties, interest, and other charges).

What happens is the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) notifies the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) to suspend your driving privileges or deny license renewal if you do not pay or enter an installment agreement within 90 days of the assessment becoming final.

In addition to your driver's license being suspended for unpaid taxes, the state also has the authority to suspend your hunting and fishing licenses if you fail to pay state income taxes owed.

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Now, if your license(s) is suspended over unpaid taxes, there are a couple of ways for you to have your license(s) reinstated, but it can be a long process that involves multiple agencies.

And yes, Louisiana is known for suspending thousands of people's driver's licenses over unpaid taxes, so they do take this very seriously.

How to Reinstate Driver's License

The easiest way to have your license reinstated is to pay the state what you owe in back taxes. If you can't pay the full amount at once, Louisiana lets you set up a payment plan so you can get your driver's license back. Another option is to apply for a hardship license through the state.

I recently read a WAFB article promoting a service for this, and it noted that getting your license back in good standing can be complicated and may, at times, require a professional service.

So the lesson is: stay up to date on your taxes and do your best not to fall behind on what you owe the state. The last thing you want is to be pulled over by a police officer and find out the state has suspended your driver's license. That can only lead to more legal problems and more expenses.