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

Florida TaxWatch Announces 2022 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Award Winners, Presents Attorney General Ashley Moody “Agency of the Year” Award

/ Categories: Releases

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced the winners of the 2022 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards (TPA) program, which, for over three decades, has recognized and rewarded the hard work and dedication of state employees who have taken the initiative to improve services and increase efficiencies, while also serving as good stewards of their fellow Floridians’ hard-earned tax dollars. This year, after receiving hundreds of nominations, FTW will present approximately 148 awards to thousands of individual employees and large teams from 17 state agencies and four universities across Florida. In total, their efforts will save taxpayers over $818 million, contributing to an estimated $12 billion in total savings since the program was established.

Verizon donates $250,000 in support of small business recovery in wake of hurricane

Verizon Business continues its commitment to supporting small businesses in times of crisis

/ Categories: Releases

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon today announces a $250,000 donation to support small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian. Verizon is partnering with Collaboratory, a local non-profit community-problem solving organization in Southwest Florida, and Florida TaxWatch, a trusted non-profit organization that serves as the ‘eyes and ears’ of Florida taxpayers and promotes economic development across the state, to create $10,000 grants to provide small businesses in the hardest-hit areas of Florida with critical relief.

Florida TaxWatch Shares Recommendations for Post Hurricane Ian Economic Recovery

/ Categories: Releases

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, said, “Our thoughts are with the first responders, volunteers, elected officials, and Florida families whose lives will never be the same due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian. As our state continues its rescue and recovery efforts in the many weeks and months ahead, we must remember to also look toward tomorrow.

Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Motor Fuel Tax Relief Holiday Beginning Saturday, October 1, 2022

/ Categories: Releases

“This year, people all across the country encountered record high costs at the gas pump, but fortunately for Floridians, they will receive some much-needed relief throughout the month of October with the new Motor Fuel Tax Relief holiday. Florida TaxWatch thanks Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for implementing this reduction, which is made possible by the state’s unprecedented level of reserves, as these unallocated dollars will fund investments that are usually subsidized by the gas tax."  Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro

First891011121314151617Last