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

Social Determinants of Health: Economic Stability

Economic stability plays a crucial role in determining health outcomes. This report, the fifth installment in Florida TaxWatch’s five-part series on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), explores how employment, income, food security, and housing stability impact access to healthcare and overall well-being. The series, part of the Florida TaxWatch Institute of Quality Health and Aging, highlights the critical relationship between economic conditions and public health.

The findings emphasize that individuals with steady employment and better-paying jobs are more likely to maintain good health. Conversely, those facing unemployment or underemployment experience higher rates of chronic illnesses, stress-related conditions, and poor access to healthcare. The report also sheds light on the disproportionate effects of economic instability on minority populations and low-income communities.

Food insecurity and housing instability emerge as significant barriers to health, with research indicating that low-income households are at greater risk of chronic diseases and inadequate medical care. Children in these households suffer from poorer health, impaired development, and increased behavioral issues.

Florida TaxWatch advocates for policies aimed at improving economic stability through better education, employment programs, affordable housing, and access to nutritious food. Such initiatives can significantly enhance health equity across the state, reducing preventable health disparities and associated taxpayer costs.

Download the full report here

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