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: Neighborhood and Built Environment

Social Determinants of Health Report Cover

This report explores how a community's neighborhood and built environment directly impact the health and well-being of its residents. Poor housing conditions, overcrowding, and limited access to resources such as healthcare, healthy food, and safe recreational areas increase the risk of chronic illnesses, respiratory diseases, and mental health challenges. Likewise, unsafe neighborhoods and environmental hazards disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating health disparities.

Our report emphasizes the urgent need for strategic investments in community infrastructure to improve public health outcomes and economic stability. By prioritizing these investments, we can create healthier, safer communities and significantly reduce healthcare costs.

Read the full report to learn more about these critical issues and potential solutions here.

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