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

The Continuing Decline of Florida’s Citrus Industry

Citrus Industry Report Cover

Florida's citrus industry, once a cornerstone of the state's identity and economy, has suffered a staggering 90% decline in production over the past two decades. This Florida TaxWatch report reveals annual production has plummeted to just 20 million boxes - a devastating drop from 300 million boxes in the early 2000s - due to citrus greening disease, hurricane damage, and mounting economic pressures.

The analysis details how citrus greening (HLB disease) has infected nearly 100% of Florida's commercial groves, reducing yields and increasing production costs. Combined with hurricane devastation and global market challenges, these factors have pushed many multi-generational growers out of business, threatening a $6.9 billion industry that supports over 32,000 jobs.

Florida TaxWatch emphasizes urgent needs for scientific breakthroughs in disease resistance, infrastructure modernization, and strategic public-private partnerships. The report recommends increased investment in CRISPR technology research, irrigation system upgrades, and targeted support for small-to-medium growers to preserve this vital agricultural sector.

With citrus deeply embedded in Florida's cultural heritage, the report urges policymakers to prioritize long-term revitalization efforts that could reverse the decline and protect the industry's $1.2 billion annual contribution to state and local tax revenues.

Meet the Author:

Jui Shah
Jui Shah
Research Economist
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