At 2009 pages, the political world has a lot to say today on the federal budget deal posted online in the wee hours of the morning, and one provision in particular has Oregon small-business owners hoping Congress seals the deal on Friday and President Obama signs it.
The part of the bipartisan agreement making up to $500,000 of Section 179 expensing permanent, instead of year to year, has been a long-time lobbying goal of the National Federation of Independent Business, America’s largest and leading small-business association. When the Bush tax cuts expired, the amount that small firms could expense dropped down to $25,000 and expired every year, unless Congress extended it.
“This has been a rough year for small businesses in Oregon, but this is a significant win,” said Anthony K. Smith, NFIB’s Oregon state director. “If a permanent and predictable mechanism for small businesses to invest in their own growth can be established, we’re sure to see a positive economic impact, and that means jobs. Additionally, this bipartisan plan clearly demonstrates that regardless of the political realities in our country and our state, there are areas of agreement that can and should be supported by anyone who is willing to make prosperity a priority.”
Added Dan Danner, president and CEO of NFIB, “This is easily the most positive thing Congress has done for small business in the past several years, and it will ripple through the economy in the form of new investments and more jobs. The tax benefit encourages businesses to make big investments and the permanency creates predictability. Our research predicts that we’ll see hundreds of thousands of new jobs as a result.”
Under the Section 179 provision, businesses can expense up to $500,000 of new investment in heavy machinery, office equipment, computer technology or many other big-ticket items that they need. Small business expensing has been a feature of the tax code for decades as a way to encourage investment and growth. The tax package, which is expected to receive action tomorrow in the House and possibly in the Senate on Friday, will be a key vote for NFIB in the House and Senate.
For more than 70 years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America’s economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. NFIB’s educational mission is to remind policymakers that small businesses are not smaller versions of bigger businesses; they have very different challenges and priorities.
National Federation of Independent Business/Oregon
3340 Commercial St. S.E. Suite 210
Salem, OR 97302
503-364-4450
www.nfib.com/oregon
