Florida’s Law Change Is a Major Win for Taxpayers

On June 29, 2026, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed state tax bill (HB 7031-E), which, among other fiscal policy provisions, finally reformed the state’s refund interest language. Ryan Advocacy has worked with other tax professionals, legislators, and tax administrators for years to persuade lawmakers to take action in Tallahassee to update the process of awarding refund interest, which was arbitrarily punitive and unfair to taxpayers. This year, those lawmakers did the work necessary to move their state forward.

The language eliminates the so-called “completeness rule” that allowed the Department of Revenue (DOR) to continually delay refund claims (often for years) and deny any associated refund interest payments. The new statute establishes that interest must begin accruing on the 91^st day after filing, unless the taxpayer challenges a denial of the refund claim and provides additional documentation during the appeal or agrees that an audit or verification is necessary.

These new provisions take effect on January 1, 2027, and apply only to prospective refund claims.

Ryan’s Take and Action Steps

The completeness rule allowed Florida to delay the processing of tax refund claims for months or years, as taxpayers waited in limbo for resolution. But no more. The enactment of HB 7031-E SHOULD encourage more timely action by the DOR, as the state will face a financial cost when decisions on refund claims are delayed. There is now an incentive for the DOR to make decisions more expeditiously.

This new statutory framework for calculating interest due on refunds will require Florida taxpayers to be diligent about providing sufficient documentation with their initial filings and not waiting for the DOR to request it, but this should be a workable process change.

Successfully navigating any administrative system takes experience and guidance. Ryan’s Florida specialists are well-suited to help taxpayers through this new refund interest system to ensure they receive all the money they are entitled to.

The material presented in this communication is intended to provide general information only and should solely be seen as broad guidance and not directed to the particular facts or circumstances of any individual who may read this publication. No liability is accepted for acts or omissions taken in reliance upon the content of this piece. Before taking (or not taking) any action, readers should seek professional advice specific to their situation from Ryan, LLC or other tax professionals.