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NASE Survey Results Topics that Are Important to Small-Business Owners Here’s a snapshot of how micro-business owners feel about the hot topics of the day.
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How Should We Reform the Tax System? (March 2009)
| Respondents: 399 | | Taxes have long been a source of frustration for the self-employed. With
April 15th looming, a spotlight is shined on the need for reforming our federal
tax system. The National Association for the Self-Employed has long supported
tax simplification and tax fairness for micro-businesses. Please take this short
member survey regarding your opinions on federal tax reform. | | | 1. How do you prepare your taxes? | 55% | I use a tax practitioner/ account | | 09% | I utilize electronic filing | | 28% | I utilize tax software on my computer | | 05% | I calculate my taxes and fill out the forms by hand | | 03% | Other | | 00% | Do Not Know | | | | 2. Approximately how many hours do you spend preparing your taxes? (Check
only one) | 27% | 1 – 5 hours | | 15% | 5 - 7 hours | | 15% | 8 - 10 hours | | 07% | 10 - 15 hours | | 08% | 15 – 20 hours | | 07% | 21 – 25 hours | | 03% | 26 – 30 hours | | 05% | 31 – 40 hours | | 03% | 41 – 50 hours | | 00% | 51- 75 hours | | 0% | 76 – 99 hours | | 01% | Over 100 hours | | 07% | Do Not Know | | | | 3. Which factor below do you feel is the most burdensome aspect of the
federal tax code? (Check only one) | 07% | Amount of paperwork you must fill out | | 35% | The complexity of the tax code and tax forms | | 12% | The lack of consistency/ continuously changing regulations | | 19% | The tax rates/ how much in taxes you must pay | | 11% | The inequality within the tax code | | 05% | Other | | 11% | No opinion | | | | 4. Please indicate whether you are in favor of or oppose the following
proposals that have been suggested to reform the federal tax code. | | | | | Favor | Oppose | Do Not Know | | 1. | Simplify
current tax system by removing unfair regulations. | 81% | 03% | 15% | | 2. | Simplify
the current tax system, by minimizing tax forms and creating easier
instructions. | 85% | 06% | 10% | | 3. | Replace
the current income-based tax system with a national retail sales tax, which
would tax goods and services. | 41% | 31% | 28% | | 4. | Replace
the current income-based tax system with the Value-Added Tax (VAT) system. | 15% | 26% | 59% | | 5. | Replace
the current personal and corporate tax system with a flat tax which would allow
families and businesses to pay one set tax rate on their wage and pension
income. | 49% | 22% | 29% | | 6. | Keep
the current system but enhance existing and create additional targeted tax
credits and/or deductions for the self-employed and micro-business. | 44% | 30% | 26% | | | | | |
Survey Results
- Self-Employed and the Economy
The nation’s smallest businesses are still feeling negative effects of the economy, including cash flow issues for business and family, according to a new survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE). Three-quarters of the self-employed and micro-businesses owners say their company provides the main source of income in their household.
- Can You Keep Your Health Plan Once the Health Reform Law Kicks In?
One big promise made during the reform debate was that you will be able to keep the health plan you currently have, if you like it. To follow up on this promise, the Administration recently issues new regulations on "grandfathered" or existing health plans. The NASE recently conducted a survey of micro-business owners to determine their perspective on these rules and whether they think they will be able to keep their existing health plan post-reform.
- U.S. Energy Policy (June 2010)
Whether you open a local or national newspaper or turn on the TV or radio, we cannot escape the daily news coverage of our nation's worst oil spill which continues to rage on in the Gulf. In light of this environmental disaster, the NASE sought the opinion of its membership on U.S. energy policy and what key proposals should be the focus of policymakers.
- Increased Tax Regulation on Small Business (May 2010)
Many of the nation’s entrepreneurs are about to become more familiar with the IRS. According to a new law set to go into effect in 2012, business owners must report annually every payment for goods or services over $600, utilizing IRS Form 1099. A new survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) found that the average self-employed and micro-business (those with fewer than 10 employees) currently issues two Form 1099 per year. Under the new law, the same business will have to issue roughly 27 reports, mostly to large corporations.
- The Clock is Ticking on Health Reform: What Do You Think? (March 2010)
Companies with fewer than 10 employees – micro-businesses – are asking Congress to keep in mind that a big part of being able to create jobs and grow their companies depends largely on their ability to pay for health coverage. Self-employed business owners say that access and choice of providers/benefits is less important to their businesses than lower bottom line costs. With the clock ticking on a final vote in Congress on health reform, the online poll conducted by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) received over 1,200 responses regarding the concerns of the self-employed about health reform.
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