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, Budget/Approps

Session Summary: 2024 Taxpayer Roundup

The 2024 Florida Legislative Session's Taxpayer Roundup report highlights significant legislative achievements in tax legislation, emphasizing tax relief and administration measures that benefit Florida taxpayers. With a total package approaching $1 billion, including $450 million in toll credits and a proposed constitutional amendment for property tax savings, the session marked a notable success for fiscal reforms. Key achievements include extensive tax relief measures, such as a one-year exemption in property insurance taxes, sales tax holidays, and new tax credits for employing individuals with unique abilities and providing child care for employees. Moreover, the session addressed the disposition of funds from Hillsborough County's unconstitutional transportation sales tax, allocating them towards road resurfacing, legal fees, and a local sales tax holiday.

The report details both passed and failed tax legislation, highlighting Florida TaxWatch's role in advocating for taxpayer-friendly measures. Notably, the session saw the failure to pass reductions in the Business Rent Tax and the increase in the tangible personal property tax exemption, both long-standing recommendations of Florida TaxWatch. The document also includes comprehensive descriptions of the final tax package provisions, ranging from insurance premium discounts to various tax credits and exemptions aimed at supporting families, businesses, and specific industries.

Florida TaxWatch advocates for efficient tax administration and supports legislative efforts that ease the tax burden on Florida's citizens and businesses. The report serves as a detailed account of the 2024 session's tax-related outcomes, offering valuable insights for policymakers, taxpayers, and anyone interested in the state's fiscal health and governance. It underscores the organization's commitment to monitoring tax legislation and advocating for policies that promote economic growth and fairness in tax administration.


 

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