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

More States Are Using State-Level Tax Credits to Address Workforce and Affordable Housing Deficits

Florida Should Consider These Incentives

Housing Credit Report Cover

Florida TaxWatch’s report, More States Are Using State-Level Tax Credits to Address Affordable Housing Deficits, examines the mounting challenges of affordable housing in Florida amid a national crisis. The report highlights how shortages in affordable rental and homeownership options are impacting lower-income and workforce households, with Florida facing particularly acute deficits.

By analyzing the effectiveness of federal programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit alongside emerging state-level tax credit initiatives, the report illustrates how these financial incentives can stimulate construction, reduce public costs, and boost local economic activity. In addition, it offers policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Florida’s housing affordability framework and supporting community stability.

Meet the Author:

Kurt Wenner
Kurt Wenner
Senior Vice President of Research
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