Home/Tag: tax code

Value-Added Tax Coming to America?

Two weeks ago, the Senate Finance Committee released its summary of options to pay for health care reform. As expected, the list was long and could be divided up any number of ways. One item missing from the list, however, is a source of revenue folks are talking about for health care reform and other spending priorities too — a value added tax (VAT).

The Finance Committee summary followed the release of papers on improving health care delivery and expanding coverage. The key to all three papers is that, while they give the reader a sense of where the Committee is

(Read More)

2019-02-06T17:21:56+00:00June 2, 2009|

S Corp Modernization Introduced in the Senate!

Good news for S corporations! S-CORP allies Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) today introduced the “S Corporation Modernization Act of 2009.” This legislation is similar to bills offered in previous Congresses and includes many of our Association’s priorities for the year. In a statement accompanying the bill, Senator Lincoln noted: “A strong economic recovery will depend on the health and strength of our small business sector,” Lincoln said. “Over four million of our small businesses across the nation are organized as S corporations, including more than 40,000 in Arkansas, and at least 60 percent of the new

(Read More)

2019-02-06T17:21:56+00:00May 7, 2009|

Estate Tax Fix Poses Threat for Family Businesses

As we have noted, the stars appear to have aligned for a big estate tax compromise later this year, most likely to be focused on freezing the 2009 rules for at least a year. This means the current top tax rate of 45 percent and $3.5 million exclusion will stay the same for a while. But there’s lots of mischief that can take place under those broad levels.

As tax reformers will tell you, the base is just as important in determining your tax burden as the rates.

With that in mind, several S-Corp allies have pointed out legislation introduced by Congressman

(Read More)

2019-02-06T17:22:35+00:00February 20, 2009|

Stimulus Package Discussed

Following a closed-door planning session today of members of the Senate Finance Committee, we expect the Committee will mark-up the tax portions of a stimulus package as early as January 22nd. As we indicated previously, committee members are committed to exerting their jurisdiction over the tax portions of the package. Moreover, there appears to be a growing debate over certain provisions in the Obama plans. As Dow Jones reports this afternoon:

“When asked about specific tax cut proposals made by Obama, Kerry said, “I think there are cuts

(Read More)

2019-02-06T17:22:36+00:00January 8, 2009|

Bailout Watch

The ongoing soap opera of the auto bailout continues, with Congress failing to find a means of balancing the needs of Detroit with the concerns of taxpayers and Senate Republicans. As a result, the bailout stalled in the Senate last week and the Administration appears poised to step in and use whatever authority it has — TARP, Treasury, Fed — to provide the companies with the liquidity necessary to survive into the New Year and the next Administration. A nice little Christmas present for the Obama economic team, indeed.

Whatever happens, what is clear is that the plight of Detroit will

(Read More)

2019-02-06T17:22:36+00:00December 17, 2008|