Four important developments stand out:

• Florida’s new reemployment-tax filing system launches on August 24th.
• A 7.4% average workers’ compensation rate decrease has been proposed for 2027.
• Employers have approximately five weeks to prepare for Florida’s $15 minimum wage.
• Florida’s Labor Market Shows Slight Improvement

Florida’s electronic system for filing and paying reemployment taxes transitions to the new eServices system on August 24th, 2026.

The new system will be used for:

• Employer’s Quarterly Reports (RT-6)
• Corrections to quarterly or annual domestic reports (RT-8A)
• Annual reports for employers of domestic employees (RT-7)
• 
  

Employers should confirm that their login credentials, account permissions and filing methods work properly in the new system. Businesses using file-transmission services must use secure SFTP because standard FTP is no longer supported.

Previously filed returns and payment records may not automatically transfer, so businesses should also retain copies of important historical records.

Waiting until the October 31st quarterly filing deadline to test access could leave too little time to correct missing credentials or account permissions.

MyTown Solutions is actively monitoring the transition to help protect our clients’ payroll-tax filing continuity.

Learn more from the Florida Department of Revenue

The National Council on Compensation Insurance has proposed an average 7.4% reduction in Florida workers’ compensation rates.

If approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the new rates would apply to new and renewing policies beginning January 1st, 2027.

This could be welcome news for Florida employers, but the proposal is not final. Actual savings would also vary based on each business’s workers’ compensation class codes, payroll and claims history.

Employers should not immediately budget for a full 7.4% reduction or treat the proposed percentage as guaranteed savings.

However, businesses with January 2027 renewals should begin preparing now. The proposal creates a valuable opportunity to review workers’ compensation coverage, class codes, payroll reporting and renewal options.

MyTown Solutions can help employers review their workers’ compensation and payroll programs before upcoming renewals.

Read more about the proposed Florida workers’ compensation reduction

Florida’s minimum wage will increase to $15 per hour on September 30th, 2026.

The minimum cash wage for tipped employees will increase to $11.98 per hour when the full $3.02 tip credit is properly used.

Employers should review more than employees currently earning below $15 per hour. The increase could also affect:

• Overtime calculations
• Tipped employees
• Pay differences between new and experienced employees
• Staffing markups and billing rates
• Customer contracts and pricing
• Pay periods that cross September 30th

Businesses should complete their wage-impact reviews by early September to leave enough time to update payroll and communicate any necessary changes.

Visit FloridaCommerce for minimum-wage information

Florida’s unemployment rate decreased from 4.7% in June to 4.6% in July. The state added approximately 4,500 nonfarm jobs during the month, while total employment increased just 0.4% over the previous year.

Industry results were mixed:

• Construction employment increased 0.4% year over year.
• Education and healthcare employment increased 2.2%.
• Financial activities employment declined 2.0%.

These numbers show that Florida’s labor market is improving slightly, but many employers remain cautious about increasing permanent overhead. Recruiting qualified construction and skilled-trade employees may also remain difficult despite slower overall job growth.

MyTown Solutions offers direct-hire, temp-to-hire and flexible workforce solutions to help Florida businesses find qualified employees while choosing the hiring approach that works best for them.

Review Florida labor-market data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

This week, business owners should focus on four priorities:

1. Test access to Florida’s new reemployment-tax system.
2. Identify workers’ compensation policies renewing in early 2027.
3. Complete minimum-wage impact reviews before September.

MyTown Solutions helps Florida businesses simplify:

• Payroll and payroll-tax administration
• Pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation
• Staffing and direct-hire recruiting
• Employee benefits
• Workforce compliance
• 
  

Our goal is to help business owners stay informed, reduce administrative headaches and avoid costly surprises so they can focus on operating and growing their businesses.

Contact MyTown Solutions if you would like help preparing for the September 30th minimum-wage increase or reviewing your payroll, workers’ compensation, staffing or employee-benefit needs.

This article is provided for general operational and educational purposes. Legal, tax and compliance decisions should be reviewed with qualified professionals.