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

2020 Census – How Florida Counties Compare

/ Categories: Research, Census

"2020 Census Participation: How Florida Counties Compare," provides valuable insights into census participation across the state in 2020 and emphasizes the importance of securing a complete count in the upcoming 2030 Census.

The report examines key metrics, highlights the costly impacts of undercounts, and outlines actionable steps businesses and individuals can take now to support a complete count.

With Census Day 2030 approaching, the time to prepare is now. Download the full report to learn more and discover how you can help ensure Florida receives its fair share of federal funding and representation.

Florida TaxWatch Census Primer: Agriculture

/ Categories: Census

"Florida TaxWatch Census Primer: Agriculture" discusses the impact of census undercounts on Florida's agriculture sector. It highlights the consequences of the 2020 census, where Florida missed counting 750,000 residents, leading to significant losses in federal funding and representation. The primer emphasizes the importance of accurate census counts for securing federal funding and making informed decisions in agriculture and rural development. It concludes by urging stakeholders to actively prepare for the 2030 Census to maximize accuracy and benefits for Florida's agricultural community.

The 2030 Census Needs Your Attention

A Legislative Primer for the 2030 Census

/ Categories: Census

Why you should care about the impact of the undercount in the 2020 Census in Florida and outlines strategies to improve census participation for 2030. This primer highlights that Florida missed approximately 750,000 residents in the 2020 count, which could lead to a significant loss in federal funding and possibly an additional congressional seat. The document emphasizes the importance of census data in resource allocation, emergency planning, and business decisions. It suggests actions for legislators, constituents, and businesses, such as funding Complete Count Committees, promoting awareness, and integrating census information into community and business activities.

Economic Census Blog January 2023

/ Categories: Research, Census, BOC

While the U.S. Census Bureau is popularly known as the leader of decennial census counts, it is also charged with conducting other surveys throughout the decade to help inform American decision-making. With each survey, the U.S. Census Bureau aims to strike the “best mix of timeliness, relevancy, quality and cost” to gather the data that define our nation’s people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau cannot achieve its goal alone. Like the census count, the participation of all residents is key to ensuring that Americans can fully reap the benefits that the U.S. Census Bureau has to offer.

American Community Survey Blog – January 2023

/ Categories: Research, Census, Blog

In December 2022, data for the American Community Survey 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates was released. On January 26th, the 5-Year Microdata and 1-Year Data Profiles will be available. An accurate decennial census count is important for community and business decision-making. The census count creates data estimates touching nearly every facet of a taxpayer’s life, ranging from average work commutes to how many people have access to broadband. While the census is the basis for such statistics, it is obvious that counting people cannot provide such in-depth knowledge alone. The census has a partner: the American Community Survey (ACS).

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