Voices

AICPA names eight issues for small business tax reform

The AICPA identified eight issues it believes are essential for Congress to consider in order to achieve small business tax reform in written testimony submitted last week to the House Small Business Committee for the record of the hearing the committee held on April 15, 2015 entitled, “Tax Reform: Ensuring that Main Street Isn’t Left Behind.”

In its testimony, the AICPA explained why each of the issues is important for small business tax reform and made recommendations.  The eight issues are:

  • Cash method of accounting
  • Tangible property regulations – de minimis safe harbor threshold
  • Civil tax penalties
  • Permanence of tax legislation
  • Retirement plans
  • Alternative minimum tax repeal
  • Tax return due date simplification
  • IRS taxpayer assistance

“Compliance burdens for small business taxpayers are too heavy, both in terms of time required and out-of-pocket cost,” the AICPA stated in its testimony.  “The proliferation of new income tax provisions since the 1986 tax reform effort has led to compliance hurdles for taxpayers, administrative complexity, and enforcement challenges for the IRS.  We encourage you to examine all aspects of the tax code to improve the current rules.”
For the full testimony, head to the AICPA's site here.

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Associations Finance
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