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

Save Our Taxpayers - Property Tax Relief Must be Accomplished Equitably

Save Our Taxpayers: Property Tax Relief Must be Accomplished Equitably - Report Cover

Florida property tax levies have been rising rapidly—increasing by nearly 40 percent in just the last three years and more than doubling in the last ten years—with property taxes now totaling $59.2 billion (FY2025–26). With the Legislature’s increased focus on affordability, especially housing affordability, property taxes are expected to be a top issue during the 2026 legislative session.

Florida TaxWatch’s Save Our Taxpayers: Property Tax Relief Must be Accomplished Equitably examines the property tax relief proposals currently under consideration, including the package released by the Florida House of Representatives. While there is considerable support for significant relief, there is not yet consensus on the best approach, and some proposals would go far beyond traditional relief concepts.

The report explains how Florida’s current property tax system can create inequities and how relief granted to some taxpayers can shift tax burden to others. Florida TaxWatch offers recommendations to help policymakers deliver meaningful property tax relief while also addressing inequities and helping level the playing field for all Florida taxpayers.

Download Full Report (PDF)

Meet the Author:

Kurt Wenner
Kurt Wenner
Senior Vice President of Research
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