Here’s how you can cut taxes to help Florida businesses create more jobs

Thanks to the leadership of Florida’s business community and the state’s policymakers, Florida has achieved its target as part of the Florida 2030 blueprint by 2030, establishing one of the nation’s most competitive business tax climates, currently ranked fourth.

This joyful environment promotes innovation, attracts investment, and promotes economic growth and the pathway to prosperity for all Floridians. With a 11th consecutive year of $10 billion in infrastructure investments, Florida has become the nation’s national model, leading the country in business relocation, leading the country from the state’s top four business tax environment, the highest higher education system.

With all Florida being done right, there remains an opportunity at the state level to make the tax environment even more competitive. Most notably, the need to eliminate business rent or sales tax on commercial leases, as recommended by Gov. Ron Desantis, who places local Florida businesses at a disadvantage compared to businesses in other states. The Florida Chamber of Commerce has been working for nearly a decade to reduce this Florida-only tax from 6% to 2%, and we are fighting to eliminate this burden of tax on local businesses through the Business Rental Tax Coalition. As the companies that participated in our efforts know, every dollar spent on this tax is the dollar that job creators can use to invest in their business, employees, or community.

Congressional leaders also have the opportunity to promote measures that will encourage economic growth for local businesses. At the end of 2025, Congress faces an estimated $4.6 trillion tax cuts for individuals and businesses due to the expiration of key provisions in the Federal Tax and Employment Act of 2017, with businesses accounting for about a third of the imminent tax cliff. The lack of these tax cuts, Congressional measures to expand growth clauses for individuals and businesses face significant tax increases that could hinder innovation, job creation and hinder Florida’s global footprint. Maintaining these growth-enhancing tax policies is essential to becoming the top 10 global economy by 2030.

The Tax Cuts and Employment Act was the most comprehensive federal tax reform since the Reagan administration, significantly reducing tax burdens and simplifying tax laws for millions of American families and local businesses. An important priority for the Florida business community is to maintain these competitive tax rates, including reducing the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% and permanently extending the pass-through business income deduction. Expanding pass-through business income deductions is essential for small businesses that do not pay corporate income tax. Because without it, 95% of US businesses (employed 58% of the private sector workforce) would face a significant tax hike. This will conflict with our local businesses.

Congress should also consider encouraging investment in growing industries by restoring the immediate deduction of eligible research and development expenses. Floridians and local business owners need to join Florida’s Chamber of Commerce to invite Congressional leaders to reimplement these growth-enhancing tax policies and help Florida businesses continue to invest, innovate, innovate, create and strengthen their economy.

Overall, Florida continues to move in the right direction, and the story of the state’s success is a testament to a robust, free enterprise system and a competitive tax structure. The Florida model has led to more business startups than any other state. $4.12 million of W-2 income travelling to Florida every hour (more than 3.5 times more than Texas), and 2.8 million net residents were expected to call Florida homes by 2030.

Florida leaders in Tallahassee, Washington, DC, have the opportunity to cut taxes on local businesses in 2025, allowing them to do their best: create jobs.

Mark Wilson is president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.