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

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Other Resources

Florida Disaster.biz
FEMA
Florida Department of Financial Services
Florida SBDC
Disaster Contractors Network
Florida Disaster Fund

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

Community Involvement

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Statement From Florida TaxWatch President & Ceo Dominic M. Calabro On TaxWatch Supporter Publix Moving Into Fortune 100

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Statement from Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro"

Publix Super Markets has long been a Florida treasure. Known for its commitment to its employees and customers, the grocery chain has been serving Florida families since 1930. Today, Fortune announced its annual Fortune 500 list for 2016 and Florida TaxWatch wants to congratulate Publix for moving into the Fortune 100. The company came in at #87, up from #101 in 2015.

"The impact the grocery chain has on the state cannot be overstated. As of 2015, Publix has 768 stores in Florida that employ thousands of people throughout the state and is the largest employee-owned grocery store in the country. Additionally, the company contributes millions to the Florida community through charity and direct and indirect economic investments.

"Publix has a unique role in the history and founding of Florida TaxWatch. In 1977, incoming Senate President Phil Lewis was approached by Mark Hollis, then Vice President of Publix Super Markets, about the business community coming to the Legislature to seek increases in consumer taxes rather than finding ways to hold the line on spending. This launched the idea for a state government watchdog to serve as the eyes and ears for Florida taxpayers.

"Two years later, Hollis, now Publix President, and Senator Lewis, along with Publix Super Markets founder George Jenkins, Winn-Dixie Chairman J.E. Davis, T. Wayne Davis and Senator Ken Plante formed the Citizens Council for Budget Research, which five years later was renamed Florida TaxWatch. Hollis later served as Florida TaxWatch chairman. Additionally, former Publix Vice Chairman Barney Barnett also served as Florida TaxWatch chairman and is still an active member of the organization, along with Publix’s Vice President of Finance, Gino DiGrazia, who is actively serving on TaxWatch’s board and executive committee.

"Florida TaxWatch would like to congratulate Publix for their accomplishment and thank them for being a dedicated member of Florida TaxWatch and a beacon for the Florida community."

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