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

Download the Recommendations

Other Resources

Florida Disaster.biz
FEMA
Florida Department of Financial Services
Florida SBDC
Disaster Contractors Network
Florida Disaster Fund

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

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/ Categories: Releases

Florida TaxWatch Releases Major Budget and Policy Recommendations for COVID-19 Economic Recovery

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest report, BRINGING FLORIDA’S BUDGET BACK FROM COVID-19 A Roadmap for a Responsible Recovery, outlining major budget and policy recommendations and options to reduce state spending and maximize existing revenue sources as Florida fights to recover from the significant fiscal impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations put forward today by FTW can conservatively produce a combined nearly $6 billion in annual positive impact on the budget and include proposed legislative actions for both short-term (FY 2020-21) and long-term consideration by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.

According to the most recently released data from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), Florida’s General Revenue (GR) collections in April 2020 were nearly $880 million below estimates. The decline in April collections indicate that GR is $676.7 million below estimate year-to-date. FTW fully expects to see a further decline in May collections (reflecting April sales), driving Florida’s revenue shortfalls even deeper. 

Florida TaxWatch Chairman and former Florida Senator Pat Neal said, “Since 1979 Florida TaxWatch has stood strong as a dedicated watchdog and trusted partner to guide our state forward and out of economic adversity. Now, as we all work together to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud to once again step forward and provide our state leaders with the very best research, analysis, and recommendations to ensure economic strength and success for the Sunshine State for years to come.”

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “For more than 40 years, Florida TaxWatch has acted as the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers and today we are proud to offer thoughtful budget and policy recommendations and options to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature to bring Florida’s budget back from COVID-19 and serve as a roadmap for Florida’s strong and enduring economic recovery. It is clear that our state has difficult decisions ahead, but we also know that the resolve and strength of Florida knows no limits. We look forward to working together to guide Florida forward and continue the good work of improving the efficiency of state government.”

Please click here to read the full BRINGING FLORIDA’S BUDGET BACK FROM COVID-19 A Roadmap for a Responsible Recovery report.

About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on citizens and businesses. Florida TaxWatch is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants, and does not accept government funding. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.

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