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

An Independent Assessment of the Economic Impacts of South Florida’s St. Thomas University on Florida’s Economy

St. Thomas University Research Report Cover

St. Thomas University (STU) plays a significant role in Florida's economy, contributing to job creation, economic mobility, and workforce development. As a private, nonprofit, Catholic university, STU empowers students within a culturally and internationally diverse campus community. This independent assessment by Florida TaxWatch examines STU's economic impact, including its contributions to employment, income, and overall economic output.

STU's operations create more than 1,000 jobs and generate over $56 million in personal income annually. Additionally, STU graduates contribute to more than 7,500 jobs each year, resulting in an economic output exceeding $1.3 billion. The university plays a vital role in workforce development, especially for minority and first-generation students, who benefit from increased earnings and professional opportunities.

The report also highlights STU's role in fostering accessibility and affordability. Nearly 58% of students receive Pell Grants, doubling the national average for private, nonprofit institutions. Additionally, tuition costs at STU are significantly lower than other private universities in the region, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have greater access to higher education.

Florida TaxWatch's findings emphasize the university's return on investment (ROI), with every dollar spent generating an additional $21.50 in net economic output over a graduate's career. This underscores STU's importance in strengthening Florida's workforce and economic stability.

Meet the Authors:

Meg Cannan
Meg Cannan
Senior Research Analyst
LinkedIn
Jui Shah
Jui Shah
Research Economist
LinkedIn
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