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

Teaching Every Child to Swim Saves Thousands of Lives from Needless Drownings and Taxpayers Millions

Every Child a Swimmer Report Cover

Drowning remains a leading cause of death for children in the United States, with Florida consistently ranking among the highest for child drowning fatalities. This Florida TaxWatch report emphasizes that learning to swim can reduce drowning risks by 88%, highlighting the critical importance of water safety education and statewide policy initiatives.

While Florida has made legislative progress through programs like the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, unintentional drowning continues to pose a significant threat, particularly for children aged 1-4. The analysis reveals that children with autism face even greater risks, being 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers.

The report recommends expanding prevention efforts including requiring hospitals to show new parents drowning prevention videos, enhancing safety measures for vulnerable populations, and increasing access to swim lessons. These initiatives could prevent countless tragedies while saving millions in taxpayer costs associated with emergency response and healthcare.

Florida TaxWatch advocates for comprehensive water safety policies that prioritize swim education and address environmental risks. With drowning prevention programs showing proven effectiveness, the report urges lawmakers to invest in strategies that could save thousands of young lives across the Sunshine State.

Meet the Author:

Bob Nave
Bob Nave
Senior Vice President of Research
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