Louisiana’s Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson, appointed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, recently discussed the administration’s long-term goal of phasing out the state’s income tax on an episode of the LaPolitics Report podcast. This plan, however, is not expected to materialize immediately or in a single bold move.

During his appearance on the podcast, hosted by journalist Jeremy Alford, Nelson, who had previously campaigned for governor with the elimination of the state income tax as his key issue, elaborated on the gradual approach being considered for this major fiscal change. Both Nelson and Governor Landry had campaigned on this promise, leading to heightened anticipation for the 2025 fiscal Legislative Session and the strategies they might propose.

Nelson acknowledged the complexity of outright abolishing the income tax in the near term, citing the challenge of convincing stakeholders and the practical implications. He emphasized the need to strategically position all necessary elements to make this goal achievable in the future. He also recognized that while complete elimination might be challenging, there are opportunities for significant improvements to make the state’s tax code more competitive.

The prospect of removing the income tax, which contributes approximately $4.5 billion to Louisiana’s budget, is a significant consideration. Nelson suggested that even if total elimination isn’t feasible, there’s still room for meaningful reform in the tax structure.

The LaPolitics Report podcast, now in its fifth season and featuring Nelson in its 59th episode, has been a platform for a variety of political figures, including the late former Governor Edwin Edwards. The show offers insights into Louisiana’s political scene, with guests ranging from elected officials to lobbyists and donors. Host Jeremy Alford also announced plans to release archived episodes along with new content in the upcoming weeks.