Home › Retirement › Louisiana
Retirement options for gig workers in Louisiana (no state plan)
Your W-2 plan covers your paycheck. Gigaverse covers your hustle.
Status as of Oct 28, 2026.
No state-run auto-IRA
Louisiana does not operate a state auto-IRA. Nothing in state law withholds retirement savings from a 1099 payment. A W-2 employer plan, or a city payroll program where one exists, covers that job's wages. Gigaverse is the layer for the 1099 income beside it, not a replacement for the plan the paycheck already has.
The 50-state status table is the state auto-IRA hub and the mandate tracker.
What the IRS counted in Louisiana, tax year 2023
IRS Statistics of Income Historic Table 2 counts returns, not people. In tax year 2023, Louisiana had 461,920 returns with Schedule C income, 23.9% of 1,932,540 returns in the state. 278,030 returns paid self-employment tax. 7,710 of those claimed the self-employed retirement-plan deduction, a rate of 2.8%. That deduction is the SEP, SIMPLE, or qualified-plan line. It does not measure Roth IRA contributions.
Louisiana self-employment tax
Federal self-employment tax is 15.3% of 92.35% of net profit: 12.4% Social Security, up to the $184,500 wage base in 2026, and 2.9% Medicare with no cap. Half of that tax is deductible. Louisiana income tax is separate and is in the next section. A state auto-IRA, where one exists, does not replace this federal tax.
Self-employment tax calculator · 1099 estimated tax calculator
Louisiana income tax on 1099 profit
Louisiana taxes individual income at a flat 3% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, including 2026. Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session replaced the old graduated brackets. Federal income tax and self-employment tax still apply.
Louisiana Department of Revenue, Revenue Information Bulletin 25-012
Federal quarterly estimates are separate from the state. The 1099 quarterly tax calculator uses the federal dates and self-employment tax. State tax guides for Louisiana cities are linked below and from Louisiana local taxes.
Act 299 is voluntary. It is not an auto-IRA.
Louisiana has no state auto-IRA. House Bill 301 became Act 299. The governor signed it on May 22, 2026, and it took effect August 1, 2026. The enrolled act lets any person or app contribute to a portable benefit account owned by an independent contractor. Retirement benefits are one of the listed uses, with health, income-replacement, disability, and life insurance. Withholding from pay needs a written opt-in, and the contractor can opt out. Contributions cannot be used to decide employment classification.
The income tax on New Orleans and statewide 1099 profit is a flat 3% for 2026, under Revenue Information Bulletin 25-012. The portable-benefit account does not enroll anyone, and it does not change the federal IRA, SEP, or Solo 401(k) limits.
What a 1099 worker can use in 2026
These limits are federal. They do not change because Louisiana has no state plan. Catch-up contributions are not part of the $72,000 annual-additions cap.
| Account | 2026 limit | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| IRA (Roth or traditional) | $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50 or older. The limit is shared across every IRA. | Earned income, including 1099 profit, within the Roth income limits if the account is a Roth. |
| SEP IRA | Generally up to 25% of compensation, and not more than $72,000 of annual additions. | Employer contribution from the business. A sole proprietor's percentage is computed after self-employment tax adjustments. |
| Solo 401(k) | Elective deferral $24,500. Catch-up $8,000 at 50 or older, or $11,250 at ages 60 through 63. Employer contributions share the $72,000 cap with deferrals, before catch-up. | A self-employed worker with no full-time W-2 employees in the plan, who wants both a deferral and an employer contribution. |
Sources: IRS IR-2025-111, Notice 2025-67, IRS 401(k) contribution limits.
Read the Solo 401(k) for self-employed workers page, then run a number in the SEP-IRA contribution calculator. Gigaverse account opening for the Solo 401(k), the SEP and the PRActicle Roth IRA is waitlist only.
Where Gigaverse fits
Gigaverse is not a state program and is not a registered investment adviser. It sits next to a W-2 plan or a state program when one exists. Plans are Free, Pro ($4.99/mo) and Wealth Builder ($9.99/mo). The Solo 401(k), SEP and PRActicle Roth IRA are waitlist only. Gigaverse's published figure is "$5K+" labeled "Avg. tax savings per year, per worker."
City guides and job guides
These are existing local tax pages, not copies of this retirement guide.
Uber drivers · Lyft drivers · DoorDash drivers · Instacart shoppers · Amazon Flex drivers
Questions
Does Louisiana run an auto-IRA for gig workers?
No. Louisiana has no state-run auto-IRA in operation. A W-2 retirement plan, where one exists, covers that paycheck. It does not cover 1099 income. Status as of Oct 28, 2026.
Does Louisiana tax 1099 income?
Louisiana taxes individual income at a flat 3% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, including 2026. Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session replaced the old graduated brackets. Federal income tax and self-employment tax still apply.
How much can a 1099 worker contribute in 2026?
For 2026 the IRA limit is $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50 or older. A Solo 401(k) elective deferral is $24,500, plus a catch-up of $8,000 at 50 or older, or $11,250 instead at ages 60 through 63. Employer contributions plus deferrals are limited to $72,000 of annual additions, not counting catch-up. A SEP contribution is generally up to 25% of compensation, inside that same annual-additions cap. These figures are from IRS news release IR-2025-111, Notice 2025-67, and the IRS 401(k) contribution-limits page.
Is Louisiana House Bill 301 an auto-IRA?
No. House Bill 301 became Act 299. The governor signed it on May 22, 2026, and it took effect August 1, 2026. It creates the Independent Contractor Voluntary Portable Benefits Act. A hiring party may contribute, including to retirement benefits, only on the terms in the act. It does not enroll workers and it does not create a state IRA.
What is Louisiana's income-tax rate for 2026?
A flat 3% of taxable income, for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The Department of Revenue's Revenue Information Bulletin 25-012 is the source. New Orleans gig pay is in that statewide rate. The city guide covers local rules separately.
Sources
Status as of Oct 28, 2026. Verified 2026-10-28.
Educational information only, not tax or investment advice. Gigaverse AI, Inc. is not a bank and is not a registered investment adviser. We are not affiliated with Louisiana, DoorDash, or any state or city retirement program. Contribution limits are set by the IRS and can change.