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, Economic Forecast

Florida Economic Forecast 2025 - 2034

Q2 2025

Florida Economic Forecast Q2 2025 - Report Cover

Executive Summary

Florida's economy, valued at $1.76 trillion, entered 2025 on a strong footing but is projected to see its growth moderate to pre-pandemic levels over the next decade. This forecast from Florida TaxWatch indicates a shift from the high growth of recent years to a more sustainable, albeit slower, pace. While the state's population is expected to increase by 2.3 million by 2034, the rate of new residents moving to Florida is projected to decline, influenced by rising living costs.

Key Forecast Highlights (2025-2034):

  • Slowing Population Growth: While Florida's population will continue to grow, daily net migration is expected to decrease from 891 in 2025 to 705 by 2034, reflecting a cooling growth rate.
  • Unemployment Fluctuations: The unemployment rate is projected to rise from 4.1 percent in 2025 to a peak of 4.5 percent in 2027, before gradually declining to 4.0 percent by 2034.
  • Moderating Economic Output: Florida’s real GDP growth is forecast at 2.4 percent for 2025, but is expected to slow to 1.2 percent by 2034 as the economy normalizes.
  • Tourism Trends: After a record year, tourism is expected to experience a slight dip in 2025 before seeing modest growth, with long-term projections showing a return to a more standard, pre-pandemic growth trajectory.
  • Income Growth Outpacing Nation: While income growth in Florida is slightly below the national average in 2025, it is projected to surpass the U.S. rate in the following years.

Overall, Florida's economy is transitioning to a more stable growth phase. The findings suggest that while the boom of the post-pandemic years is easing, the state's economic foundations remain solid, mirroring broader national trends.

Meet the Author:

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Jui Shah
Research Economist — Lead Author
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