9 Actions Florida Should Take to Help Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Ian

1.     Postpone tax notices and waive penalties or interest for late tax filings in affected areas

2.     Extend the date for residents to take advantage of the tax discounts they would normally receive for paying property taxes and special assessments in November and postpone or defer the deadline for property tax installment payments

3.     Protect individual and business taxpayers from the risks for notices that they will likely not receive because their home or business addresses is not accessible anymore

4.     Issue no new audits in severely impacted areas, extend the statute of limitations and postpone existing audits that haven’t reached the assessment stage because these can’t be responded to while entire communities are still recovering

5.     Create procedures for fairly estimating taxes which can’t be calculated because records have been destroyed by the storm, moving away from the current method which significantly overestimates activity if no records are available

6.     Initiate procedures to offer payment plan assistance for late taxes, rather than resorting to the standard collection methods, like liens, levies, or bank freezes

7.     Retroactively apply the recently passed law that provides property tax refunds for residential property rendered uninhabitable as a result of a catastrophic event

8.     Provide tangible personal property relief and allow n on-residential properties rendered uninhabitable to receive property tax refunds

9.     Get Congress to pass a Disaster Tax Relief Act that includes provisions from past packages, including elements such as an Employee Retention Credit, an enhanced casualty loss deduction, and other relief provisions

Other Resources

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

Community Involvement

/ Categories: Research, Census

2020 Census – How Florida Counties Compare

As we approach Census Day on April 1, 2030, it's crucial that all Floridians understand the importance of completing their census surveys. Florida TaxWatch presents this report as a valuable resource for taxpayers and policymakers to gain insights into how census participation varied across Florida's counties in 2020.

The report dives into key metrics like population counts, self-response rates, online response percentages, and changes from 2010 to 2020. It also examines the nonresponse follow-up methods used when households didn't initially complete the survey.

Florida has a history of census undercounts, which cost the state billions in federal funding. An accurate, complete count in 2030 is vital to secure Florida's fair share of federal dollars and representation.

With preparation needing to start now, the report shares ways businesses and individuals can take action today to support a complete 2030 count - from staying informed to encouraging employee participation to investing in community outreach.

We hope this report helps you understand the census process and identify where your county has room for improvement. Download the full report to see all the data and learn how you can help Florida break its census undercount streak in 2030. Remember, waiting until 2030 is too late - achieving a complete count starts now!

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