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

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Diverse investment options allow for sustainable South Florida growth

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – South Florida’s economy has seen considerable growth in recent years, thanks to a wide variety of investment options for foreign and domestic investors, according to a commentary from Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan research group. A burgeoning innovation sector, increased foreign investment and a bolstered financial services market have augmented the region’s rapid growth.

“South Florida’s recent economic growth is a perfect example of the importance of diversity for sustainable economic recovery and performance,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “Providing investors with various opportunities allows them to find an investment that works for their capital and return needs, and ensures the economy is better able to weather future downturns.”

One driver for economic investment is the rise in innovative small businesses, fostered by the local Research Park at Florida Atlantic University. The Research Park develops business through a partnership with the university that provides access to needed services. The local investment results in impressive economic impact; participating businesses created 671 new jobs in 2014, with an average annual salary of more than $87,000.

Construction is another booming South Florida industry attracting significant foreign investment. Two Miami-area projects, SkyRise Miami and The Panorama Tower are expected to create more than 6,000 jobs during construction, and sustain more than 13,000 jobs upon completion.

Read the Economic Commentary: http://www.floridataxwatch.org/Library/Sept15EC.aspx

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