The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today to stop a tax increase on 1 million small business owners in 2013.
A tax hike on 1 million small businesses. The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have said that they want to raise taxes in the top two income tax rates in January 2013. Under their plan, the 33 percent rate will rise to 36 percent, and the 35 percent rate will rise to 39.6 percent automatically in January. These rates affect families and small business owners earning at least $200,000 per year. This tax increase will fall on 1 million small employers.
Unlike corporations, small businesses usually don’t pay their own taxes. Rather, business profits flow through to the business owner. The business owner pays taxes on her small business by adding the profits to her income tax form. Therefore, personal income taxes are the same thing as small business taxes.
According to the IRS, most small business profits pay taxes in households making more than $200,000 per year. The IRS keeps track of two types of small business income: sole proprietors, and “pass-through” entities like partnerships and S-corporations.
All small businesses. There were 30 million tax returns reporting small business income in 2009. On net (profits reduced by losses), these owners reported business profits of $590 billion. A large chunk of this net profit–$448 billion—faced taxation in households making more than $200,000 per year. A clear majority of small business profits will face a tax rate hike under the Obama-Pelosi-Reid plan.
Sole proprietors. There were 22 million tax returns reporting sole proprietor income in 2009. On net (profits reduced by losses), these owners reported business profits of $245 billion. A large chunk of this net profit–$79 billion—faced taxation in households making more than $200,000 per year. 32 percent of sole proprietor profits will face a tax rate hike under the Obama-Pelosi-Reid tax hike plan.
S-corporations and partnerships. There were 8 million partners and S-corporation shareholders in 2009. On net (profits reduced by losses), these owners reported business profits of $345 billion. Virtually all of this profit faced taxation in households making more than $200,000 per year. Aggregate pass-through entity profits will almost entirely fall in households making more than $200,000 per year. These are real small businesses. For example, there are 250,000 doctor and dentist offices organized as S-corporations or partnerships. They employ millions of workers making less than $250,000 per year. These jobs are endangered by Obama’s tax rate hike on small firms.
These small businesses facing a tax hike employ most people who work for small businesses. The Census Bureau reports that the 1 million small employers facing a tax hike under President Obama’s plan employ a majority of everyone who works for a small business. Raising taxes on these most successful of small businesses will cost jobs.