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

Briefing: Florida's Property Insurance Market

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges and reforms shaping Florida's property insurance market as we enter the 2024 hurricane season. With premiums having surged by 42.5% since 2019, the report examines the underlying factors contributing to the market's instability, including excessive litigation and significant hurricane damages that have pushed many insurance providers to insolvency or out of the state. This has led to limited competition and rising reinsurance rates, exacerbating the financial burden on homeowners and businesses.

The state-sponsored insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance, now serves over one million Floridians, highlighting the failure of the private market to adequately provide for residents' needs and the potential financial risks to all taxpayers in Florida. The briefing discusses various legislative reforms aimed at stabilizing the market and reducing fraud, such as changes to the assignment of benefits and litigation thresholds, as well as the introduction of reinsurance programs designed to support insurers.

Looking forward, the report underscores the necessity of further legislative action and initiatives like home hardening programs, which can mitigate risks and reduce insurance costs. For policymakers, industry stakeholders, and Floridians affected by property insurance issues, this briefing is a crucial resource that outlines the path toward a more stable and fair insurance market. Download the full report from Florida TaxWatch today to understand the comprehensive measures being taken to address these critical challenges.

Documents to download

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