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

Social Determinants of Health: Neighborhood and Built Environment

/ Categories: Research, Housing Affordability

Florida TaxWatch's latest report looks into how neighborhood and built environment factors significantly affect community health. The analysis highlights the impact of poor housing conditions, overcrowding, and limited access to essential resources like healthcare and healthy food, which elevate the risk of chronic illnesses and mental health challenges. Unsafe neighborhoods and environmental hazards also disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The report underscores the need for strategic community investments to improve health outcomes and economic stability, advocating for healthier and safer environments that can lead to reduced healthcare costs.

2024 Update: Long-Term Rental Markets In Florida

/ Categories: Research, Housing Affordability

This Florida TaxWatch commentary highlights the imbalance between the demand and supply of rental units in the state, leading to rising rental costs. The document notes significant increases in rental prices since the pandemic, with specific emphasis on metropolitan areas like Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville. It also addresses the impact of these rising costs on Florida's workforce and economy, including the implications for cost-burdened households. The paper further examines state-to-state migration trends, particularly focusing on Florida residents moving to Georgia for more affordable housing options. The overall narrative suggests a complex interplay between economic factors, housing market dynamics, and demographic shifts in Florida's rental market.

The Impacts of Impact Fees on the Cost of Housing

/ Categories: Research, Economic Development, Housing Affordability

Two main drivers of Florida’s economy are tourism and real estate development. With an estimated 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, real estate development puts a strain on public facilities (e.g., roads, water and wastewater system, etc.) and services (e.g., police, fire protection, parks, etc.). Local governments rely on impact fees to generate the money necessary to accommodate the impacts of new development on existing public facilities and services.

Florida’s Housing Market: Trends of Supply and Demand

/ Categories: Research, Housing Affordability

As Florida continues to grow, the development of infrastructure (e.g., roads, water and wastewater systems, parks, etc.) must keep pace. In January 2023, Florida TaxWatch released “Economic Commentary: An Update on Florida’s Housing Rental Market,” which evaluated the troubles Florida has experienced with the ever-rising cost of rent. In Florida, the cost of rent has jumped by 36 percent since 2020, with much of the increase occurring in 2021 alone.