According to Florida TaxWatch, Monday, April 21, marks Florida Taxpayer Independence Day in 2025. This symbolic date represents the point in the year when the average Floridian has theoretically earned enough income to cover their entire annual tax bill – spanning federal, state, and local taxes – and can finally begin working for themselves.
Based on the relative size of total taxes paid compared to the state’s personal income, it took Floridians an estimated 110 days to satisfy their tax obligations this year. This date falls on the same day as it did in 2024.
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“While Floridians, on average, saw their income grow enough to meet the tax bills, rising prices and insurance premiums have squeezed paychecks, and many are finding it more difficult to pay taxes,” Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said.
He also noted that “April 21 may be the symbolic day Floridians have earned enough for their tax obligations, but paying taxes is a year-round effort, with local governments receiving property tax payments in the fall, federal taxes taken out of every paycheck, and the collection of state sales tax can be an everyday affair.”
Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp pointed to the potential impact of future legislative action.
“In observing Florida Taxpayer Independence Day, the actions of the 2025 Legislature may also have a big impact on when future Taxpayer Independence Days arrive, with the current conversation in reducing property taxes, and the possibility of even eliminating or replacing it,” Kottkamp commented.
He added that while such action might require a constitutional amendment, Florida TaxWatch “welcomes the conversation and is thankful for the prudent decision-making and sound fiscal policies enacted by our state’s leaders.”
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State lawmakers are anticipated to pursue significant tax cuts again this year, with the potential for record tax relief. The Senate has proposed a tax package centered around a $900 million sales tax exemption for clothing and shoes, aiming for $2 billion in total first-year savings and $946 million recurring.
The House, however, is reportedly seeking a more substantial reduction, recommending a 0.75 percent decrease in the state sales tax rate (from 6.0 percent to 5.25 percent), which could result in $5.4 billion in recurring savings.
The analysis by Florida TaxWatch also provided a breakdown of tax collections across different levels:
- State Taxes: Florida has experienced strong revenue collections for over four years. Corporate income tax collections saw a significant increase, rising from $2.2 billion in FY2017-18 to $5.7 billion in FY2023-24, influenced by tax base expansion measures. While state taxes have been cut year after year and revenue estimates frequently exceeded, collections in January came in slightly below the estimate before topping it again in February.
- Local Taxes: Property taxes represent the largest tax source for local governments, accounting for over 80 percent of tax revenue for counties, cities, school districts, and special districts. Driven by escalating property values, collections have increased by nearly 40 percent in just three years, even with slight decreases in statewide average millage rates. As a result, property taxes have become the largest single tax source for all of Florida government combined, exceeding both state and federal collections within the state.
- Federal Taxes: Federal tax collections have the most significant influence on Taxpayer Independence Day, making up 72 percent of all taxes paid by Floridians. Personal income and payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) contribute over 80 percent of federal tax revenue. Federal tax collections have seen volatility, rising sharply between 2020 and 2022 before decreasing slightly in 2023, partly due to the postponement of some tax payments.
According to Florida TaxWatch’s calculations for 2025:
- Florida’s total tax burden (federal, state and local) is an estimated $499.9 billion, equating to $21,495 per capita, or 30.2 percent of personal income.
- Federal taxes comprise the largest portion of Floridians’ total burden at 71 percent, followed by state taxes at 15 percent and local taxes at 14 percent.
- Over the past decade, total taxes paid by Floridians have increased by 97.2 percent. Local taxes have grown the most (105.3 percent), followed by federal taxes (103.3 percent), and state taxes (66.1 percent).
- For the average Florida household, it takes slightly more than three and a half months of earnings to pay their taxes. Viewed hourly, approximately 2 hours and 24 minutes of each 8-hour workday are spent earning enough to cover tax obligations.
- Taxes collectively represent a family’s single largest expense.
- Florida’s state government tax burden is noted as one of the lowest in the nation, while the local government burden is much closer to the national average.
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