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

Options to Eliminate or Reduce the Property Tax Burden on Florida Homeowners

Property Tax Reform Options — Report Cover

Executive Summary

Florida's property tax system is at a critical juncture, with total levies surging by 108% over the last decade, far exceeding the combined rate of population growth and inflation. This rapid increase, generating $55 billion in 2024 for local governments, has intensified the financial strain on homeowners and raised fundamental questions about the nature of property ownership, which currently resembles a form of "perpetual rent" to the government. This report from Florida TaxWatch analyzes the current landscape and explores five distinct options for reform, ranging from the complete elimination of property taxes for homeowners to more immediate statutory changes aimed at increasing transparency and accountability.

The core issue addressed is the mounting property tax burden, which increasingly makes homeownership—the "American Dream"—less attainable for many Floridians. In response, this report details several potential reforms:

Reform Options

  • Phased elimination for homeowners: A gradual, multi-year phase-out of property taxes on homestead properties to provide predictability for local governments as they adapt to reduced revenue.
  • Prioritizing seniors: An accelerated elimination of property taxes for senior citizens, offering immediate relief to those on fixed incomes.
  • Excluding school taxes: Eliminate all non-school property taxes for homeowners, thereby protecting the primary funding source for public education.
  • Across-the-board tax reduction: A straightforward percentage-based reduction in the assessed value of properties to deliver immediate and broad-based tax relief.
  • Immediate statutory reforms: Legislative changes for the 2026 session focused on enhancing transparency, such as making the rolled-back tax rate the default and strengthening disclosure requirements on tax notices.

Any significant reform must address several key considerations, including the potential for tax shifts to non-homestead properties, the fiscal stability of counties with limited revenue sources, and the administrative complexities of implementing a new system. The report concludes that a piecemeal approach is insufficient. Instead, it calls for a comprehensive, strategic reform that engages both state and local governments. The ultimate goal is to redefine property ownership in Florida, making it more secure and attainable while ensuring the continued delivery of essential public services.

Meet the Authors:

Headshot of Brandi Gunder
Brandi Gunder
VP of Research — Lead Author
LinkedIn
Headshot of Kurt Wenner
Kurt Wenner
Senior VP of Research — Contributing Author
LinkedIn

Documents to download

Print
2471 Rate this article:
No rating