Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008
Legislative Progress
Momentum (last 30 days)
0
score
0 actions · 0 new cosponsors · 0 votes
Speed vs cohort
0pct
0d open
vs 7,255 other HR bills in the 110th — cohort avg 47d
No CRS summary is available for this bill yet. The source title, actions, sponsors, and text versions below come from Congress.gov.
These links require the bill number to appear in the filing's source-reported specific issue text. Client expenses and lobbying-firm income are separate disclosure fields.
Filing registrants (6)
2008 · third_quarter · Small Business
Bills with similar content found using semantic analysis.
Sources: Congress.gov
H.Con.Res. 312 - Budget resolution FY2009 Bill establishes the congressional budget for the Federal Government for fiscal year 2009, and sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. NSBA supported certain sections and amendments of the resolution. H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act or 2007 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enacting a national sales tax. NSBA supported. H. R. 731 - National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2007 Bill would require the SBA to establish a program providing regulatory-compliance assistance to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 1023 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory 3 percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. H.R. 1112 - Stealth Tax Relief Extension Act of 2007 The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. H.R. 1332 Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007 Bill would improve the access to capital programs of the SBA. NSBA supported. H.R. 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 Bill addressed the expiration of popular tax provisions such as the AMT patch, research and development tax credits and various other credits and deductions designed to encourage renewable energies. NSBA supported. H.R. 1506 Fuel Economy Reform Act Measure would increase fuel economy standards for automobiles. NSBA supported. H.R. 1542 Healthy Families Act Bill to expand the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to require that employers with 15 or more employees provide up to 7 paid sick-leave days to their employees. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1677 Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007 Bill gives IRS the right to deny information to tax preparers and lenders who might be contemplating predatory refund anticipation loans (RALs). It also includes provisions on the earned income tax credit and individual retirement accounts. NSBA supported. H.R. 1873 Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act of 2007 Bill would improve federal procurement opportunities for small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 2205/S. 1010 Retirement Security for Life Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. NSBA supports retirement options for its employees, but NSBA has remained largely neutral on this proposal. H.R. 2380 - Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2007 To make permanent the repeal of the estate tax after 2010. NSBA supported H.R. 2419 - Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 Bill includes tax incentives for farms, energy and conservation initiatives. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 2727 Small Business SOX Compliance Extension Act It would extend the current exemption by at least one year for small businesses to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls reporting requirements. NSBA supported. H.R. 3163 - The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill. H.R. 3170 Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act of 2007 The bill permanently reduces the capital gains tax to 15 percent and the estate tax exemption will be $3.5 million in 2009 and will increase $250,000 per year until it reaches $5 million 2015. NSBA supported. H.R. 3221 - New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act The bill provides economic aid to the housing industry and amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 3548 - Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3567 - the Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007 Bill would expand the ability of venture capital-owned businesses to participate in small-business programs. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3660 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supported. H.R. 4008 - Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act of 2007 Bill provides technical corrections to the definition of willful noncompliance in regard to unintentional violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. NSBA supported. H.R. 4458 - the Small Business Regulatory Improvement Act Bill seeks to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act and reduce the regulatory burden borne by Americas small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 5140 - Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 Bill provides economic stimulus through recovery rebates to individuals, incentives for business investment, and an increase in conforming and FHA loan limits. NSBA supported. H.R. 5244 - The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. H.R. 5351 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act Bill would extend a range of renewable energy tax incentives NSBA supported. H.R. 5402 - Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse Act of 2007 Bill would charge the SBA and EPA to co-chair an interagency working group across federal agencies and establish a clearinghouse of climate-change related information for small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 5719 - Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to conform return preparer penalty standards, delay implementation of withholding taxes on government contractors, enhance taxpayer protections, and assist low-income taxpayers. NSBA supported certain provisions of the measure. H.R. 5819 SBIR STTR Reauthorization Act Bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. NSBA supported. H.R. 6049 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, extend certain expiring tax provisions, and provide individual income tax relief. NSBA supported. H.R. 6210 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. H.R. 6214 Home Office Deduction Standardization Act of 2008 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 6275 - Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill provides individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax. NSBA supported bill, but opposed offsets. H.R. 6499 Sensible Tax Act of 2008 Beginning in 2009, the legislation would permanently exclude the first $2 million ($4 million for a couple) of an estates value from being subject to any tax and subsequently be adjusted for inflation. The measure would ensure that the surviving spouse is entitled to the $2 million to which the deceased spouse was entitled. NSBA supported. H.R. 6582 - Small Business CHOICE Act of 2008 To encourage the development of small business cooperatives for healthcare options to improve coverage for employees (CHOICE) including through a small business CHOICE tax credit. NSBA supports elements of this legislation to the extent it addresses rising health care cost and insurance availability for small business owners. However, NSBA maintains reservations about the use of cooperatives to achieve this. H.R. 6601 Small Business Tax Modernization Act of 2008 Bill creates a standard home office deduction, removes cell phones from listed property, allows nonresident aliens to be S corporation shareholders, increases the deduction for business meals and entertainment for qualified small businesses, and reduces the recovery period for depreciation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. NSBA supported. H.R. 6633 - Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries. NSBA supports the employment of legal employees, but remains cautious of mandating a system such as E-verify on small businesses owners due to burdensome administrative task, unwarranted penalties and historical technical errors with the E-verify system. H.R. 6983 - Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 Would require health plans that offer mental health benefits to cover the same mental health and addiction disorders that are included in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). NSBA opposed. H.R. 7060 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act of 2008 Bill includes an extension of individual and business tax provisions and energy tax incentives. NSBA supported. H.R. 7074 Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification Act Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S.Con.Res. 70 - Bill establishes the congressional budget for the Federal Government for fiscal year 2009, and sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. NSBA supported certain sections and amendments of the resolution. S. 55 - Individual Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2007 The measure repeals the alternative minimum tax on individuals. NSBA supported. S. 102 A bill to extend and expand relief from the alternative minimum tax and to repeal the extension of the lower rates for capital gains and dividends for 2009 and 2010. The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. S. 334 The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill S.558 Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 Legislation would require insurance companies to offer the same level of financial coverage for mental health care as they do for other medical care. NSBA opposed S. 777 Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory 3 percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. S. 910 Healthy Families Act Bill to expand the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to require that employers with 15 or more employees provide up to 7 paid sick-leave days to their employees. NSBA opposed S. 1145 - The Patent Reform Act of 2007 Bill would provide comprehensive reform the U.S. patent system. NSBA opposed. S. 1395 - Stop Unfair Practices in Credit Cards Act Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. S. 1617- Fuel Reduction using Electrons to End Dependence On the Mid-East (FREEDOM) Act Bill would provide incentives for the purchase of plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. NSBA supported. S. 1681 Family Medical Leave Insurance Act Legislation to create a fund that would provide up to eight weeks of paid family leave. Mandates employees and employers to fund the plan through payroll taxes. NSBA opposed. S. 1783 - Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act A bill to provide 10 steps to transform health care in America. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive perspective to reforming the health care system to make insurance more affordable for small business owners. However, NSBA opposes the across state line pooling which is included in this proposal. S. 1932 Bill would increase the expenditures for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. NSBA supported. S. 2291- Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 2239 Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supports. S. 2394 - Good Government Contractor Act of 2007 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify, modernize, and improve public notice of and access to tax lien information by providing for a national, Internet accessible, filing system for Federal tax liens, and would also repeal the three percent withholding requirement. NSBA supports sections of this bill. S. 2612 - The Small Business Lending Stimulus Act of 2008, Bill would authorize additional funding for SBA lending program and cut borrowing and lending fees. NSBA supported. S. 2636 - Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Bill provides housing reform and includes and extension of the net operating loss carryback rules to allow some money-losing businesses to get refunds of taxes paid during profitable years. NSBA supported. S. 2795 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. S. 2886 - Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. NSBA supported. S. 2902 SBA Reauthorization and Improvements Act of 2008 Bill would reauthorize various parts of the Small Business Administration. NSBA supported. S. 3371 Home Office Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008 Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S. 3406 ADA Amendments Act A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. NSBA supports the intent of the ADA, but raised concerns over the potential for additional burdensome regulations being put on small businesses. S. 3408 Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes. NSBA supports this legislation as a cornerstone to the framework of value-based purchasing and price transparency to consumer of health care services. S. 3554 - Affordable Coverage for Small Employers Act of 2008 A bill to provide employees of small employers with access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive low-income subsidies and tax incentive available to make insurance more affordable for small business owners.
Client expense: $90,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of
2008 · fourth_quarter · Small Business
H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act or 2007 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enacting a national sales tax. NSBA supported. H. R. 731 - National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2007 Bill would require the SBA to establish a program providing regulatory-compliance assistance to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 1023 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory three percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. H.R. 1112 - Stealth Tax Relief Extension Act of 2007 The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. H.R. 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 Bill addressed the expiration of popular tax provisions such as the AMT patch, research and development tax credits and various other credits and deductions designed to encourage renewable energies. NSBA supported. H.R. 1677 Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007 Bill gives IRS the right to deny information to tax preparers and lenders who might be contemplating predatory refund anticipation loans (RALs). It also includes provisions on the earned income tax credit and individual retirement accounts. NSBA supported. H.R. 1873 Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act of 2007 Bill would improve federal procurement opportunities for small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 2205 Retirement Security for Life Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. NSBA supports retirement options for its employees, but NSBA has remained largely neutral on this proposal. H.R. 2380 - Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2007 To make permanent the repeal of the estate tax after 2010. NSBA supported. H.R. 2419 - Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 Bill includes tax incentives for farms, energy and conservation initiatives. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 2727 Small Business SOX Compliance Extension Act It would extend the current exemption by at least one year for small businesses to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls reporting requirements. NSBA supported. H.R. 3163 - The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill. H.R. 3170 Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act of 2007 The bill permanently reduces the capital gains tax to 15 percent and the estate tax exemption will be $3.5 million in 2009 and will increase $250,000 per year until it reaches $5 million 2015. NSBA supported. H.R. 3221 - New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act The bill provides economic aid to the housing industry and amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 3548 - Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3567 - The Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007 Bill would expand the ability of venture capital-owned businesses to participate in small-business programs. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3660 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supported. H.R. 4008 - Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act of 2007 Bill provides technical corrections to the definition of willful noncompliance in regard to unintentional violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. NSBA supported. H.R. 4458 - The Small Business Regulatory Improvement Act Bill seeks to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act and reduce the regulatory burden borne by Americas small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 5140 - Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 Bill provides economic stimulus through recovery rebates to individuals, incentives for business investment, and an increase in conforming and FHA loan limits. NSBA supported. H.R. 5244 - The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. H.R. 5351 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act Bill would extend a range of renewable energy tax incentives NSBA supported. H.R. 5719 - Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to conform return preparer penalty standards, delay implementation of withholding taxes on government contractors, enhance taxpayer protections, and assist low-income taxpayers. NSBA supported certain provisions of the measure. H.R. 5819 SBIR STTR Reauthorization Act Bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. NSBA supported. H.R. 6049 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, extend certain expiring tax provisions, and provide individual income tax relief. NSBA supported. H.R. 6210 - Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. H.R. 6214 - Home Office Deduction Standardization Act of 2008 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 6275 - Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill provides individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax. NSBA supported bill, but opposed offsets. H.R. 6499 Sensible Tax Act of 2008 Beginning in 2009, the legislation would permanently exclude the first $2 million ($4 million for a couple) of an estates value from being subject to any tax and subsequently be adjusted for inflation. The measure would ensure that the surviving spouse is entitled to the $2 million to which the deceased spouse was entitled. NSBA supported. H.R. 6582 - Small Business CHOICE Act of 2008 To encourage the development of small business cooperatives for healthcare options to improve coverage for employees (CHOICE) including through a small business CHOICE tax credit. NSBA supports elements of this legislation to the extent it addresses rising health care cost and insurance availability for small business owners. However, NSBA maintains reservations about the use of cooperatives to achieve this. H.R. 6601 Small Business Tax Modernization Act of 2008 Bill creates a standard home office deduction, removes cell phones from listed property, allows nonresident aliens to be S corporation shareholders, increases the deduction for business meals and entertainment for qualified small businesses, and reduces the recovery period for depreciation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. NSBA supported. H.R. 6633 - Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries. NSBA supports the employment of legal employees, but remains cautious of mandating a system such as E-verify on small businesses owners due to burdensome administrative task, unwarranted penalties and historical technical errors with the E-verify system. H.R. 6983 - Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 Would require health plans that offer mental health benefits to cover the same mental health and addiction disorders that are included in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). NSBA opposed. H.R. 7005 Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide alternative minimum tax relief for individuals for 2008. NSBA supported. H.R. 7006 Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008 Provides relief to taxpayers affected by Federally-declared disasters nationwide. NSBA supported the tax relief provisions. H.R. 7060 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act of 2008 Bill includes an extension of individual and business tax provisions and energy tax incentives. NSBA supported. H.R. 7074 Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification Act Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S. 55 - Individual Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2007 The measure repeals the alternative minimum tax on individuals. NSBA supported. S. 102 A bill to extend and expand relief from the alternative minimum tax and to repeal the extension of the lower rates for capital gains and dividends for 2009 and 2010. The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. S. 334 The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill S.558 Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 Legislation would require insurance companies to offer the same level of financial coverage for mental health care as they do for other medical care. NSBA opposed S. 777 Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory 3 percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. S. 1010 Retirement Security for Life Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. NSBA supports retirement options for its employees, but NSBA has remained largely neutral on this proposal. S. 1395 - Stop Unfair Practices in Credit Cards Act Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. S. 1681 Family Medical Leave Insurance Act Legislation to create a fund that would provide up to eight weeks of paid family leave. Mandates employees and employers to fund the plan through payroll taxes. NSBA opposed. S. 1783 - Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act A bill to provide 10 steps to transform health care in America. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive perspective to reforming the health care system to make insurance more affordable for small business owners. However, NSBA opposes the across state line pooling which is included in this proposal. S. 1932 Bill would increase the expenditures for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. NSBA supported. S. 2291- Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 2239 - Equity for Our Nation's Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supports. S. 2394 - Good Government Contractor Act of 2007 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify, modernize, and improve public notice of and access to tax lien information by providing for a national, Internet accessible, filing system for Federal tax liens, and would also repeal the three percent withholding requirement. NSBA supports sections of this bill. S. 2612 - The Small Business Lending Stimulus Act of 2008, Bill would authorize additional funding for SBA lending program and cut borrowing and lending fees. NSBA supported. S. 2636 - Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Bill provides housing reform and includes and extension of the net operating loss carryback rules to allow some money-losing businesses to get refunds of taxes paid during profitable years. NSBA supported. S. 2795 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. S. 2886 - Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. NSBA supported. S. 2902 SBA Reauthorization and Improvements Act of 2008 Bill would reauthorize various parts of the Small Business Administration. NSBA supported. S. 3371 Home Office Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008 Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S. 3406 ADA Amendments Act A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. NSBA supports the intent of the ADA, but raised concerns over the potential for additional burdensome regulations being put on small businesses. S. 3408 Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes. NSBA supports this legislation as a cornerstone to the framework of value-based purchasing and price transparency to consumer of health care services. S. 3554 - Affordable Coverage for Small Employers Act of 2008 A bill to provide employees of small employers with access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive low-income subsidies and tax incentive available to make insurance more affordable for small business owners. S. 3406 ADA Amendments Act A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. NSBA supports the intent of the ADA, but raised concerns over the potential for additional burdensome regulations being put on small businesses. S. 3682 - Small Business Energy Innovation Act Bill would authorize grants and loan guarantees to small businesses developing and manufacturing energy-efficient technologies. NSBA supported.
Client expense: $90,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of
IRS Notice 2008-73 (Technical Corrections Bill and funding guidance); HR1591 (Baucus/Grassley Proposal on cap deferrals reintroduced under different titles); HR 1424 (PPA Technical Corrections Act); S819 and HR 1419 (Public Good Rollover Act of 2007); HR 6499 (Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008); S3284 (Amending IRC of 1986 to permanently extend estate tax at 2009 levels); 409A Regulations (re: deferred compensation); Sections 404(a) and 404(c) of ERISA of 1974 (published in Fed. Reg. 7/23/08) IRS Form 8925 (Regulatory guidance on Internal Revenue Code Section 101(j) concerning employer-owned life insurance)
Client expense: $570,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of
2008 · fourth_quarter · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
H.R.32: To provide for a credit for certain health care benefits in determining the minimum wage. H.R.126: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow loans from individual retirement plans for qualified small business capital assets. H.R.298: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to the next plan year. H.R.527: To help American families save, invest, and build a better future, and for other purposes. H.R.640: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit financial institutions to determine their interest expense deduction without regard to tax-exempt bonds issued to provide certain small loans for health care or educational purposes. H.R.666: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that amounts paid for employer-provided coverage under accident or health plans be included on W-2 Forms. H.R.892: To establish and provide for the treatment of Individual Development Accounts, and for other purposes. H.R.1672: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny qualified dividend income treatment to certain foreign dividends. H.R.1748: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. H.R. 2163: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand incentives for saving. H.R. 2205: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. H.R.2834: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat income received by partners for performing investment management services as ordinary income received for the performance of services. H.R.3221: A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. H.R. 3475: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the estate and gift tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $5 million, to adjust such amount for inflation, to repeal the one-year termination of the estate tax, and for other purposes. H.R. 3694: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide corporate alternative minimum tax reform. H.R. 3717: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to employers for the costs of implementing wellness programs, and for other purposes. H.R. 3923: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of certain foreign nonqualified deferred compensation. H.R. 3947: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a carryforward of unused benefits in health flexible spending arrangements. H.R. 3970: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide additional tax relief to low and moderate income individuals, to repeal the individual alternative minimum tax, to reform the corporate income tax, and for other purposes. H.R. 3975: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a 100 percent deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals. H.R. 3996: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. H.R. 4172: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax and repeal the carryover basis rule and to increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $3.5 million. H.R. 4195: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make technical corrections.H.R. 4235: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the estate tax, to repeal the carryover basis rule, to reduce estate tax rates by 20 percent, to increase the unified credit against estate and gift taxes to the equivalent of a $3 million exclusion and to provide an inflation adjustment of such amount, and for other purposes. H.R.5031: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend relief from the alternative minimum tax. H.R.5105: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce taxes by providing an alternative determination of income tax liability for individuals, repealing the estate and gift taxes, reducing corporate income tax rates, reducing the maximum tax for individuals on capital gains and dividends to 10 percent, indexing the basis of assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss, creating tax-free accounts for retirement savings, lifetime savings, and life skills, repealing the adjusted gross income threshold in the medical care deduction for individuals under age 65 who have no employer health coverage, and for other purposes. H.R.5455: To amend title 11 of the United States Code to make nondischargeable debts for personal injuries that result in permanent disability. H.R.5559: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums, use of such insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and a credit for individuals with long-term care needs. H.R.6049: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. H.R.6275: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax, and for other purposes. H. R. 6499: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the estate and gift tax. H.R.6899: To advance the national security interests of the United States by reducing its dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies while building a bridge to the future through expanded access to Federal oil and natural gas resources, revising the relationship between the oil and gas industry and the consumers who own those resources and deserve a fair return from the development of publicly owned oil and gas, ending tax subsidies for large oil and gas companies, and facilitating energy efficiencies in the building, housing, and transportation sectors, and for other purposes. S.26: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a program demonstrating multiple approaches to Lifelong Learning Accounts, which are portable, worker-owned savings accounts that can be used by workers to help finance education, training, and apprenticeships and which are intended to supplement both public and employer-provided education and training resources, and for other purposes. S.58: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1986 to repeal the reduction in the deductible portion of expenses for business meals and entertainment. S.96: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure a fairer and simpler method of taxing controlled foreign corporations of United States shareholders, to treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled in the United States as domestic corporations, to codify the economic substance doctrine, and to eliminate the top corporate income tax rate, and for other purposes. S.102: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and expand relief from the alternative minimum tax and to repeal the extension of the lower rates for capital gains and dividends for 2009 and 2010. S.141: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently increase the maximum annual contribution allowed to be made to Coverdell education savings accounts, and to provide for a deduction for contributions to education savings accounts. S.2239: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow self-employed individuals to deduct health insurance costs in computing self-employment taxes. S.2374: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. S.2547: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce taxes by providing an alternative determination of income tax liability for individuals, repealing the estate and gift taxes, reducing corporate income tax rates, reducing the maximum tax for individuals on capital gains and dividends to 10 percent, indexing the basis of assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss, creating tax-free accounts for retirement savings, lifetime savings, and life skills, repealing the adjusted gross income threshold in the medical care deduction for individuals under age 65 who have no employer health coverage, and for other purposes. S.2741: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for disability savings accounts. S.3049: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide additional tax relief to low and moderate income individuals, to repeal the individual alternative minimum tax, to reform the corporate income tax, and for other purposes. S.3125: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. S.3278: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that no loan may be made from a qualified employer plan using a credit card or other intermediary and to limit the number of loans that may be made from a qualified employer plan to a participant or beneficiary. S.3284: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the estate tax as in effect in 2009, and for other purposes. S.3335: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. S.3557: to encourage savings, promote financial literacy, and expand opportunities for young adults by establishing KIDS Accounts. S. 3717: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow reimbursement from flexible spending accounts for certain dental products.
Client expense: $515,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
2008 · fourth_quarter · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
See Addendum S. 14, "Invest in America Act", provision relating to estate tax repeal. S. 158, "Access to Affordable Health Care Act", Section 224 (Premiums on Long-Term Care Qualified Contracts) S. 349, Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007. S. 504, "Long-Term Care Trust Account Act of 2007". S. 601, Simplification Through Additional Reporting Tax Act of 2007 (Broker reporting of customer's basis in mutual fund transactions). S. 1010, "Retirement Security for Life Act of 2007". S. 1753, "Healthy Workforce Act". S. 1809, "Long-Term Care Act of 2007". S. 2044, "Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007". S. 2126, "Generating Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding (Growth) Act of 2007. S. 2337, "Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act of 2007". S. 3125, "Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008", Section 241, Subpart F - Exception for Active Financing Income. S. 3289, "To Permanently Extend the Estate Tax as in Effect in 2009". S. 3327, "Empowered at Home Act of 2008", provision allowing tax deductino for a certain percentage of long-term care premiums. H.R. 46, "Small Business Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007". H.R. 6, "Energy Independance and Security Act of 2007" (mutual fund cost basis reporting). H.R. 411, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent certain expiring provisions..., provision relating to estate tax repeal H.R. 878, Simplification Through Additional Reporting Tax Act of 2007 (S. 601, H.R. 878) (Broker reporting of customer's basis in mutual fund transactions). H.R. 976, "Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007". H.R. 1424, Division C, "Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Relief Act of 2008", Section 301C, subpart F: income extended through 2009) and Section 403, mutual fund cost basis reporting requirements- - became Public Law No. 110-343. H.R. 2205, "Retirement Security for Life Act of 2007". H.R. 2380, "Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2007". H.R. 2582, "Qualified Long-Term Care Fairness Act of 2007". H.R. 2796, "Generate Retirement Ownership through Long-Term Holding Act of 2007". H.R. 3088, "Long-Term Care Act of 2007". H.R. 3125, "Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008", Section 241, Subpart F - Exception for Active Financing Income. H.R. 3221, "American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008", Section 641 (related to mutual fund cost basis reporting). H.R. 3363, "Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act". H.R. 3970, "Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2007" - Provisions related to modification of unrelated business income tax rules for certain investment partnerships, basis reporting by brokers on sales of stocks, extension of special rules for regulated investment companies, reduction in corporate tax rate. H.R. 3996, "Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007", Section 622 - Broker Reporting of Customer Basis in Securities Transactions; and Section 201 - Non-qualified Deferred Compensation from Certain Tax Indifferent Parties. H.R. 4912, "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to prepaid derivative contracts". H.R. 6049, "Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008", Section 239, Subpart F, "Exception for Active Financing Income". H.R. 6237, "Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008". H.R. 6499, "Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008". H.R. 7060, "Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008", Section 403, Broker Reporting of Customer Basis in Securities Transactions. IRS Notice 2008-18 (1/13/08) - Life Insurance Reserves: proposed AG VACARVM and Life PBR. Current tax treatment of Stranger-Originated Life Insurance (STOLI) - no bill number. Dividends Received Deduction for Life Insurers - no bill number. Life Insurance Company Reserves - no bill number. Senate Finance Committee, "Proposed Legislation on the Taxation of Exchange-Traded Notes" - no bill number.
Client expense: $1,030,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
2008 · third_quarter · Small Business
H.Con.Res. 312 - Budget resolution FY2009 Bill establishes the congressional budget for the Federal Government for fiscal year 2009, and sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. NSBA supported certain sections and amendments of the resolution. H.R. 25 - Fair Tax Act or 2007 Legislation to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and enacting a national sales tax. NSBA supported. H. R. 731 - National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2007 Bill would require the SBA to establish a program providing regulatory-compliance assistance to small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 1023 - Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory 3 percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. H.R. 1112 - Stealth Tax Relief Extension Act of 2007 The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. H.R. 1332 Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007 Bill would improve the access to capital programs of the SBA. NSBA supported. H.R. 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 Bill addressed the expiration of popular tax provisions such as the AMT patch, research and development tax credits and various other credits and deductions designed to encourage renewable energies. NSBA supported. H.R. 1506 Fuel Economy Reform Act Measure would increase fuel economy standards for automobiles. NSBA supported. H.R. 1542 Healthy Families Act Bill to expand the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to require that employers with 15 or more employees provide up to 7 paid sick-leave days to their employees. NSBA opposed. H.R. 1677 Taxpayer Protection Act of 2007 Bill gives IRS the right to deny information to tax preparers and lenders who might be contemplating predatory refund anticipation loans (RALs). It also includes provisions on the earned income tax credit and individual retirement accounts. NSBA supported. H.R. 1873 Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act of 2007 Bill would improve federal procurement opportunities for small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 2205/S. 1010 Retirement Security for Life Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. NSBA supports retirement options for its employees, but NSBA has remained largely neutral on this proposal. H.R. 2380 - Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2007 To make permanent the repeal of the estate tax after 2010. NSBA supported H.R. 2419 - Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 Bill includes tax incentives for farms, energy and conservation initiatives. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 2727 Small Business SOX Compliance Extension Act It would extend the current exemption by at least one year for small businesses to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls reporting requirements. NSBA supported. H.R. 3163 - The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill. H.R. 3170 Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act of 2007 The bill permanently reduces the capital gains tax to 15 percent and the estate tax exemption will be $3.5 million in 2009 and will increase $250,000 per year until it reaches $5 million 2015. NSBA supported. H.R. 3221 - New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act The bill provides economic aid to the housing industry and amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. NSBA opposed certain revenue-offsets in the bill. H.R. 3548 - Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. H.R. 3567 - the Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007 Bill would expand the ability of venture capital-owned businesses to participate in small-business programs. NSBA opposed. H.R. 3660 - Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supported. H.R. 4008 - Credit and Debit Card Receipt Clarification Act of 2007 Bill provides technical corrections to the definition of willful noncompliance in regard to unintentional violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. NSBA supported. H.R. 4458 - the Small Business Regulatory Improvement Act Bill seeks to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act and reduce the regulatory burden borne by Americas small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 5140 - Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 Bill provides economic stimulus through recovery rebates to individuals, incentives for business investment, and an increase in conforming and FHA loan limits. NSBA supported. H.R. 5244 - The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. H.R. 5351 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act Bill would extend a range of renewable energy tax incentives NSBA supported. H.R. 5402 - Climate Change Center and Clearinghouse Act of 2007 Bill would charge the SBA and EPA to co-chair an interagency working group across federal agencies and establish a clearinghouse of climate-change related information for small businesses. NSBA supported. H.R. 5719 - Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to conform return preparer penalty standards, delay implementation of withholding taxes on government contractors, enhance taxpayer protections, and assist low-income taxpayers. NSBA supported certain provisions of the measure. H.R. 5819 SBIR STTR Reauthorization Act Bill would reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. NSBA supported. H.R. 6049 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, extend certain expiring tax provisions, and provide individual income tax relief. NSBA supported. H.R. 6210 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. H.R. 6214 Home Office Deduction Standardization Act of 2008 It amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a taxpayer who uses a residence to conduct a trade or business a standard tax deduction equal to the lesser of $1,500 or the taxpayer's gross trade or business income derived from the business use of such residence. NSBA supported. H.R. 6275 - Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill provides individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax. NSBA supported bill, but opposed offsets. H.R. 6499 Sensible Tax Act of 2008 Beginning in 2009, the legislation would permanently exclude the first $2 million ($4 million for a couple) of an estates value from being subject to any tax and subsequently be adjusted for inflation. The measure would ensure that the surviving spouse is entitled to the $2 million to which the deceased spouse was entitled. NSBA supported. H.R. 6582 - Small Business CHOICE Act of 2008 To encourage the development of small business cooperatives for healthcare options to improve coverage for employees (CHOICE) including through a small business CHOICE tax credit. NSBA supports elements of this legislation to the extent it addresses rising health care cost and insurance availability for small business owners. However, NSBA maintains reservations about the use of cooperatives to achieve this. H.R. 6601 Small Business Tax Modernization Act of 2008 Bill creates a standard home office deduction, removes cell phones from listed property, allows nonresident aliens to be S corporation shareholders, increases the deduction for business meals and entertainment for qualified small businesses, and reduces the recovery period for depreciation of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) equipment. NSBA supported. H.R. 6633 - Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 To evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and to ensure the protection of Social Security beneficiaries. NSBA supports the employment of legal employees, but remains cautious of mandating a system such as E-verify on small businesses owners due to burdensome administrative task, unwarranted penalties and historical technical errors with the E-verify system. H.R. 6983 - Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 Would require health plans that offer mental health benefits to cover the same mental health and addiction disorders that are included in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). NSBA opposed. H.R. 7060 - Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax Act of 2008 Bill includes an extension of individual and business tax provisions and energy tax incentives. NSBA supported. H.R. 7074 Home Office Tax Deduction Simplification Act Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S.Con.Res. 70 - Bill establishes the congressional budget for the Federal Government for fiscal year 2009, and sets forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. NSBA supported certain sections and amendments of the resolution. S. 55 - Individual Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal Act of 2007 The measure repeals the alternative minimum tax on individuals. NSBA supported. S. 102 A bill to extend and expand relief from the alternative minimum tax and to repeal the extension of the lower rates for capital gains and dividends for 2009 and 2010. The legislation increases the exemption from the alternative minimum tax for individual taxpayers in 2007 and extends through 2007 the allowance of certain nonrefundable tax credits against alternative minimum tax liability. NSBA supported. S. 334 The Healthy Americans Act Broad health care reform that includes an individual mandate, creation of state Health Help Agencies, subsidies for low-income individuals and changes tax-treatment of health care and health insurance expenditures. NSBA supported sections of the bill S.558 Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 Legislation would require insurance companies to offer the same level of financial coverage for mental health care as they do for other medical care. NSBA opposed S. 777 Withholding Tax Relief Act of 2007 A bill to repeal a provision designed to increase federal tax revenue by $7 billion over ten years. Repeal the new mandatory 3 percent withholding requirement on all payments for goods and services made to federal, state and local contractors. NSBA supports. S. 910 Healthy Families Act Bill to expand the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to require that employers with 15 or more employees provide up to 7 paid sick-leave days to their employees. NSBA opposed S. 1145 - The Patent Reform Act of 2007 Bill would provide comprehensive reform the U.S. patent system. NSBA opposed. S. 1395 - Stop Unfair Practices in Credit Cards Act Bill would prohibit or reform various credit-card practices. NSBA supported. S. 1617- Fuel Reduction using Electrons to End Dependence On the Mid-East (FREEDOM) Act Bill would provide incentives for the purchase of plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. NSBA supported. S. 1681 Family Medical Leave Insurance Act Legislation to create a fund that would provide up to eight weeks of paid family leave. Mandates employees and employers to fund the plan through payroll taxes. NSBA opposed. S. 1783 - Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act A bill to provide 10 steps to transform health care in America. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive perspective to reforming the health care system to make insurance more affordable for small business owners. However, NSBA opposes the across state line pooling which is included in this proposal. S. 1932 Bill would increase the expenditures for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. NSBA supported. S. 2291- Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 Bill would establish plain language as the standard style for Government documents issued to the public, and for other purposes. NSBA supported. S. 2239 Equity for Our Nations Self-Employed Act of 2007 Would allow self-employed individuals to fully-deduct the cost of their health insurance, thus eliminating the self-employed tax on health care. NSBA supports. S. 2394 - Good Government Contractor Act of 2007 Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to simplify, modernize, and improve public notice of and access to tax lien information by providing for a national, Internet accessible, filing system for Federal tax liens, and would also repeal the three percent withholding requirement. NSBA supports sections of this bill. S. 2612 - The Small Business Lending Stimulus Act of 2008, Bill would authorize additional funding for SBA lending program and cut borrowing and lending fees. NSBA supported. S. 2636 - Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Bill provides housing reform and includes and extension of the net operating loss carryback rules to allow some money-losing businesses to get refunds of taxes paid during profitable years. NSBA supported. S. 2795 Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible. NSBA supported certain sections of the bill. S. 2886 - Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 Bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. NSBA supported. S. 2902 SBA Reauthorization and Improvements Act of 2008 Bill would reauthorize various parts of the Small Business Administration. NSBA supported. S. 3371 Home Office Deduction Simplification and Improvement Act of 2008 Bill brings clarity to the process of claiming the tax deduction for a home office and directs the Secretary of Treasury to establish an optional standard deduction. NSBA supported. S. 3406 ADA Amendments Act A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. NSBA supports the intent of the ADA, but raised concerns over the potential for additional burdensome regulations being put on small businesses. S. 3408 Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2008 A bill to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the conduct of comparative effectiveness research and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund, and for other purposes. NSBA supports this legislation as a cornerstone to the framework of value-based purchasing and price transparency to consumer of health care services. S. 3554 - Affordable Coverage for Small Employers Act of 2008 A bill to provide employees of small employers with access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage. NSBA supports this legislation to the extent it offers a comprehensive low-income subsidies and tax incentive available to make insurance more affordable for small business owners.
IRS Notice 2008-73 (Technical Corrections Bill and funding guidance); HR1591 (Baucus/Grassley Proposal on cap deferrals reintroduced under different titles); HR 1424 (PPA Technical Corrections Act); S819 and HR 1419 (Public Good Rollover Act of 2007); HR 6499 (Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008); S3284 (Amending IRC of 1986 to permanently extend estate tax at 2009 levels); 409A Regulations (re: deferred compensation); Sections 404(a) and 404(c) of ERISA of 1974 (published in Fed. Reg. 7/23/08) IRS Form 8925 (Regulatory guidance on Internal Revenue Code Section 101(j) concerning employer-owned life insurance)
Client expense: $820,000 · Firm income: Not reported
2008 · third_quarter · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
Support responsible reform, rather than repeal, of the estate tax, including support of H.R. 6499.
Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
2008 · third_quarter · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
H.R.32: To provide for a credit for certain health care benefits in determining the minimum wage. H.R.126: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow loans from individual retirement plans for qualified small business capital assets. H.R.298: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement that are unused during a plan year to be carried over to the next plan year. H.R.527: To help American families save, invest, and build a better future, and for other purposes. H.R.640: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit financial institutions to determine their interest expense deduction without regard to tax-exempt bonds issued to provide certain small loans for health care or educational purposes. H.R.666: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require that amounts paid for employer-provided coverage under accident or health plans be included on W-2 Forms. H.R.892: To establish and provide for the treatment of Individual Development Accounts, and for other purposes. H.R.1672: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to deny qualified dividend income treatment to certain foreign dividends. H.R.1748: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand workplace health incentives by equalizing the tax consequences of employee athletic facility use. H.R. 2163: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand incentives for saving. H.R. 2205: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. H.R.2834: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat income received by partners for performing investment management services as ordinary income received for the performance of services. H.R.3221: A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. H.R. 3475: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the estate and gift tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $5 million, to adjust such amount for inflation, to repeal the one-year termination of the estate tax, and for other purposes. H.R. 3694: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide corporate alternative minimum tax reform. H.R. 3717: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit to employers for the costs of implementing wellness programs, and for other purposes. H.R. 3923: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the treatment of certain foreign nonqualified deferred compensation. H.R. 3947: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a carryforward of unused benefits in health flexible spending arrangements. H.R. 3970: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide additional tax relief to low and moderate income individuals, to repeal the individual alternative minimum tax, to reform the corporate income tax, and for other purposes. H.R. 3975: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a 100 percent deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals. H.R. 3996: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. H.R. 4172: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to restore the estate tax and repeal the carryover basis rule and to increase the estate tax unified credit to an exclusion equivalent of $3.5 million. H.R. 4195: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make technical corrections.H.R. 4235: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restore the estate tax, to repeal the carryover basis rule, to reduce estate tax rates by 20 percent, to increase the unified credit against estate and gift taxes to the equivalent of a $3 million exclusion and to provide an inflation adjustment of such amount, and for other purposes. H.R.5031: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend relief from the alternative minimum tax. H.R.5105: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce taxes by providing an alternative determination of income tax liability for individuals, repealing the estate and gift taxes, reducing corporate income tax rates, reducing the maximum tax for individuals on capital gains and dividends to 10 percent, indexing the basis of assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss, creating tax-free accounts for retirement savings, lifetime savings, and life skills, repealing the adjusted gross income threshold in the medical care deduction for individuals under age 65 who have no employer health coverage, and for other purposes. H.R.5455: To amend title 11 of the United States Code to make nondischargeable debts for personal injuries that result in permanent disability. H.R.5559: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums, use of such insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and a credit for individuals with long-term care needs. H.R.6049: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. H.R.6275: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax, and for other purposes. H. R. 6499: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the estate and gift tax. H.R.6899: To advance the national security interests of the United States by reducing its dependency on oil through renewable and clean, alternative fuel technologies while building a bridge to the future through expanded access to Federal oil and natural gas resources, revising the relationship between the oil and gas industry and the consumers who own those resources and deserve a fair return from the development of publicly owned oil and gas, ending tax subsidies for large oil and gas companies, and facilitating energy efficiencies in the building, housing, and transportation sectors, and for other purposes. S.26: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a program demonstrating multiple approaches to Lifelong Learning Accounts, which are portable, worker-owned savings accounts that can be used by workers to help finance education, training, and apprenticeships and which are intended to supplement both public and employer-provided education and training resources, and for other purposes. S.58: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1986 to repeal the reduction in the deductible portion of expenses for business meals and entertainment. S.96: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure a fairer and simpler method of taxing controlled foreign corporations of United States shareholders, to treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled in the United States as domestic corporations, to codify the economic substance doctrine, and to eliminate the top corporate income tax rate, and for other purposes. S.102: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and expand relief from the alternative minimum tax and to repeal the extension of the lower rates for capital gains and dividends for 2009 and 2010. S.141: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently increase the maximum annual contribution allowed to be made to Coverdell education savings accounts, and to provide for a deduction for contributions to education savings accounts. S.2239: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow self-employed individuals to deduct health insurance costs in computing self-employment taxes. S.2374: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. S.2547: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce taxes by providing an alternative determination of income tax liability for individuals, repealing the estate and gift taxes, reducing corporate income tax rates, reducing the maximum tax for individuals on capital gains and dividends to 10 percent, indexing the basis of assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss, creating tax-free accounts for retirement savings, lifetime savings, and life skills, repealing the adjusted gross income threshold in the medical care deduction for individuals under age 65 who have no employer health coverage, and for other purposes. S.2741: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for disability savings accounts. S.3049: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide additional tax relief to low and moderate income individuals, to repeal the individual alternative minimum tax, to reform the corporate income tax, and for other purposes. S.3125: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. S.3278: to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that no loan may be made from a qualified employer plan using a credit card or other intermediary and to limit the number of loans that may be made from a qualified employer plan to a participant or beneficiary. S.3284: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the estate tax as in effect in 2009, and for other purposes. S.3335: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. S.3557: to encourage savings, promote financial literacy, and expand opportunities for young adults by establishing KIDS Accounts.
2008 · third_quarter · Insurance
HR 2205 - Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Provisions to amend the IRC to provide tax incentives for Americans purchasing annuities that offer guaranteed income for life. HR 7212 - Empowered at Home Act of 2008 - A bill to amend Title XIX of the Social Security Act to improve State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes. HR 2582 - Qualified Long Term Care Fairness Act of 2007 - Provisions to amend the IRC to allow a deduction for qualified long term care services in computing adjusted gross income. HR 3200 - National Insurance Act of 2007 - Provisions to authorize the issuance of Federal charters and licenses for carrying on the sale, solicitation, negotiation and underwriting of insurance or any other insurance operations. HR 5611 - Naitonal Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2008 - Provisions to create an association to provide uniform licensing, continuing education, and other insurance producer qualification requirements applied on a multi-state basis. HR 4105 - Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program Moratorium Act of 2007 - Provisions to suspend for 1 year the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program. HR 3363 - Long Term Care Affordability and Security Act - Provisions to amend the IRC of 1986 to allow long term care insurance to be offered under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements and to provide additional consumer protections for long term care insurance. HR 3088 - Long Term Care Act of 2007 - Provisions to amend the IRC to provide that distributions from an individual retirement plan, a section 401(k) plan, a section 403(b) contract or a section 457 plan shall not be includible in gross income to the extent used to pay long term care insurance premiums. HR 4150 - Lifetime Pension Annuity for You Act of 2007 - Provisions to amend the IRC to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments by excluding from income a portion of such payments. HR 5840 - Insurance Information Act of 2007 - Provisions to establish a federal office of insurance information. HR 493 - Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 - Provisions to prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance (including Medigap policies) and employment. HR 3765 - Defined Contribution Plan Fee Transparency Act of 2007 - Provisions to amend the IRC to provide transparency with respect to fees and expenses charged to participant-defined contribution plans. HR 6142 - ERISA Preemption provisions - Created exemption from ERISA's preemption provision to allow state causes of action to recover damages for failure to timely deliver benefits. HR 3185 - 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2007 - Provisions to amend ERISA to provide special reporting and disclosure rules for individual account plans. HR 1424 - Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - A bill to provide authority for the Federal Government to purchase and insure certain types of troubled assets for the purposes of providing stability to and preventing disruption in the economy and financial system and protecting taxpayers, to amend IRC of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. HR 3997 - Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007 - An Act to amend the IRC of 1986 to provide tax relief and protections for military personnel, and for other purposes. HR 608 - Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007 - An Act to amend the IRC of 1986 to provide tax relief and protections for military personnel, and for other purposes. HR 6331 - Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - To amend Titles XVII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. HR 6499 - Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008 - To amend the IRC of 1986 to reform the estate and gift tax.
2008 · third_quarter · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
See Addendum S. 14, "Invest in America Act", provision relating to estate tax repeal. S. 158, "Access to Affordable Health Care Act", Section 224 (Premiums on Long-Term Care Qualified Contracts) S. 349, Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007. S. 504, "Long-Term Care Trust Account Act of 2007". S. 601, Simplification Through Additional Reporting Tax Act of 2007 (Broker reporting of customer's basis in mutual fund transactions). S. 1010, "Retirement Security for Life Act of 2007". S. 1753, "Healthy Workforce Act". S. 1809, "Long-Term Care Act of 2007". S. 2044, "Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007". S. 2126, "Generating Retirement Ownership Through Long-Term Holding (Growth) Act of 2007. S. 2337, "Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act of 2007". S. 3125, "Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008", Section 241, Subpart F - Exception for Active Financing Income. S. 3289, "To Permanently Extend the Estate Tax as in Effect in 2009". S. 3327, "Empowered at Home Act of 2008", provision allowing tax deductino for a certain percentage of long-term care premiums. H.R. 46, "Small Business Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007". H.R. 6, "Energy Independance and Security Act of 2007" (mutual fund cost basis reporting). H.R. 411, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent certain expiring provisions..., provision relating to estate tax repeal H.R. 878, Simplification Through Additional Reporting Tax Act of 2007 (S. 601, H.R. 878) (Broker reporting of customer's basis in mutual fund transactions). H.R. 976, "Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007". H.R. 2205, "Retirement Security for Life Act of 2007". H.R. 2380, "Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act of 2007". H.R. 2582, "Qualified Long-Term Care Fairness Act of 2007". H.R. 2796, "Generate Retirement Ownership through Long-Term Holding Act of 2007". H.R. 3088, "Long-Term Care Act of 2007". H.R. 3125, "Energy Independence and Tax Relief Act of 2008", Section 241, Subpart F - Exception for Active Financing Income. H.R. 3221, "American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008", Section 641 (related to mutual fund cost basis reporting). H.R. 3363, "Long-Term Care Affordability and Security Act". H.R. 3970, "Tax Reduction and Reform Act of 2007" - Provisions related to modification of unrelated business income tax rules for certain investment partnerships, basis reporting by brokers on sales of stocks, extension of special rules for regulated investment companies, reduction in corporate tax rate. H.R. 3996, "Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007", Section 622 - Broker Reporting of Customer Basis in Securities Transactions; and Section 201 - Non-qualified Deferred Compensation from Certain Tax Indifferent Parties. H.R. 4912, "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to prepaid derivative contracts". H.R. 6049, "Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008", Section 239, Subpart F, "Exception for Active Financing Income". H.R. 6237, "Tax Relief for Long-Term Care Act of 2008". H.R. 6499, "Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2008". H.R. 7060, "Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008", Section 403, Broker Reporting of Customer Basis in Securities Transactions. IRS Notice 2008-18 (1/13/08) - Life Insrance Reserves: proposed AG VACARVM and Life PBR. Current tax treatment of Stranger-Originated Life Insurance (STOLI) - no bill number. Dividends Received Deduction for Life Insurers - no bill number. Life Insurance Company Reserves - no bill number. Senate Finance Committee, "Proposed Legislation on the Taxation of Exchange-Traded Notes" - no bill number.
Client expense: $90,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of
Client expense: $470,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
Client expense: $217,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE
Client expense: $780,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Labor, Dept of (DOL), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office