Proposed Florida Tax Relief Amendment Under Attack

A tax proposal on Florida’s November ballot is causing quite a stir, because opposition feels it is unclear and poorly written, which would confuse voters. If passed, the law would provide an extra property tax break to some homebuyers. However, both labor unions and taxpayer groups are opposing it.

According to the Associated Press, a Tallahassee judge has scheduled a final hearing Thursday in the lawsuit seeking to remove the Amendment from Florida's November ballot.

The proposal, which the Legislature approved last year, would give people who have not owned a home for at least eight years an added — but temporary — homestead exemption on primary residences purchased on or after Jan. 1, 2010.

The Florida AFL-CIO and Jacksonville resident Brian K. Doyle say in their lawsuit that the title and summary are flawed because they don't mention the purchase date.

The plaintiffs also argue the title says the added exemption is for "new homestead owners" and the summary refers to "a first-time homestead" despite the eight-year provision that allows previous homeowners to qualify.

Doyle would not qualify for the tax break and many union members are government employees paid from property taxes that would be cut by the amendment.

In a written response, the state says the title and summary accurately describe the proposal's chief purpose and that the purchase date is the kind of detail not required by law.

How Much Did Florida Tax Laws Factor Into LeBron James' Decision?

Although two-time MVP LeBron James has been praised by supporters for taking less money in pursuit of winning championships, as this article from AOL News explains, he actually stands to save money by moving to Florida. Why? Because the state of Florida does not have a personal income tax.

James looks to make an estimated $17 million next season by signing with the Miami Heat. Factor in endorsement deals with companies including Nike, Sprint and McDonald's totaling approximately $40 million, and James may find himself saving an estimated $25 million in state taxes over the next five years in Miami. Compare this with New York, where even if James signed a contract with the Knicks for an additional $1.5 million, he would be required to pay almost $1.7 million in state taxes, all on top of the additional income tax taken out of his endorsements.

Although the extra money alone was certainly not the only reason James is moving on from Cleveland -- he does have two friends named Bosh and Wade who will also live and work in the area -- public icons taking state income tax into account is actually nothing new to celebrity culture.

Man Convicted of Plotting to Kill IRS Agent

From WebCPA.com:

A Florida man has been convicted of hiring a hit man to murder an Internal Revenue Service employee who was auditing his taxes.

The hit man was actually an undercover FBI agent, who called himself "Reaper," and was posing as a member of a motorcycle gang. The 6-foot, 4-inch agent wore a goatee and claimed to be a member of the Outlaws gang. Construction company owner Randy Nowak, 49, of Mulberry, Fla., paid the undercover agent $10,000 and planned to pay another $10,000 after the IRS agent, Christine Brandt, was eliminated. Nowak was reportedly concerned that Brandt would uncover money he had in foreign bank accounts. He was arrested last summer.

Nowak's attorney argued that his client was actually afraid of the biker and that a friend had gotten him unwittingly involved in the plot. His lawyer pointed to a number of phone calls between Nowak and his friend, who secretly alerted the authorities to the plot. The attorney claimed that Nowak had been trying to persuade his friend to call off the hit, but the friend warned him against angering the gang.

A jury found Nowak guilty after less than three hours of deliberation. He faces up to 30 years in prison.