Louisiana officials are trying to convince holiday shoppers to fess up and fork over cash.  Under state law, buyers are supposed to report tax free purchases.

"On-line does not necessarily equal tax free when making purchases during the holiday season," said Revenue Department Spokesman Byron Henderson. 

He explains, "There is, under state law, a Louisiana consumer use tax that applies to transactions in which the retailer does not charge sales tax."

The law says buyers have to record that spending when they file their income taxes.

"Report the taxable value of those purchases," Henderson says.

He says you also have to pay eight percent tax on what you bought.

Watch a video from the Louisiana Department of Revenue: