Florida refinance tax ruling: what lenders need to know

Renewal vs. novation: demystifying Florida's landmark mortgage refinance decision

The Florida District Court of Appeals recently confirmed in Florida Department of Revenue v. Bank of America that refinanced loans count as renewals rather than brand-new obligations. That means state taxes apply only to the new money instead of the full loan amount.

While that is good news for loan costs, refinance transactions still must meet strict statutory requirements to qualify as a renewal. Adjusting workflows to fit the decision creates real operational friction. State-level shifts like this bring strict liability risks, impact fee accuracy, and require clear oversight from leadership.

Our upcoming webinar brings together a full panel of legal, data, and product specialists to help you turn this legal decision into a clean, compliant workflow. Join us for a clear breakdown of the ruling and actionable ways to adjust your loan workflows with confidence.

What you will learn:

• Key qualification requirements under Florida law

• Practical ways to manage strict liability concerns when updating tax rules

• What leadership needs to know to protect the business from compliance exposure