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, Budget/Approps

Budget Watch: Florida Revenue Estimators Increase Forecast for the Ninth Consecutive Time, Adding $2 Billion to State Coffers

Florida's latest revenue forecast continues to exceed expectations, with the state adding another $2 billion to its coffers for the current and next fiscal years. This marks the ninth consecutive time the General Revenue (GR) estimate has been increased, reflecting strong economic conditions despite stable overall forecasts.

Key highlights from the August 2024 General Revenue Estimating Conference include:

  • $3.1 Billion More for the Next Budget: With $1.1 billion in additional collections for FY2023-24 and an extra $2 billion anticipated for the next two years, Florida lawmakers have significant resources available for the upcoming fiscal budget.
  • Revenue Growth: Despite earlier predictions of slowed growth, revenue collections increased by 2.1% in FY2023-24. Future projections indicate steady growth, with annual increases expected to reach 2.4% by FY2025-26.
  • Main Contributors: The substantial increase in estimates comes mainly from investment earnings, sales taxes, and corporate income taxes, which together account for 98% of the additional $2 billion.

However, the report also highlights potential risks, including sustained high inflation and the depletion of savings, which could affect future revenue.

The full report provides a detailed analysis of Florida's revenue trends, including specific insights into the contributing factors and the implications for the state's budget. Download the complete paper to explore these developments and what they mean for Florida's financial future.

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