Despite initial holdouts from centrist Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the rest of his party were able to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on August 7.
The bill passed the House of Representatives, despite unanimous Republican opposition, on August 12, and was signed by President Joe Biden on August 16.
This sweeping healthcare, climate, and energy bill is expected to lead to big changes in numerous industries, including the electric vehicle (EV) market. But, for small business owners around the United States, these “big picture” changes aren’t necessarily the focus.
These hard-working Americans want to know what the Inflation Reduction Act really means for them and their small businesses. Let’s dive in.
There are several tax provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act, including $80 billion in funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that will, among other changes, lead to the hiring of 87,000 new employees.
The Act also includes provisions for a 15% minimum tax on corporations with over $1 billion in revenue and a 1% excise tax on corporate share buybacks. USA Today pointed out that, while these two clauses won’t have a direct impact on small business owners, “the 15% minimum tax on huge corporations helps level the playing field. It applies to about 150 corporations, but should bring in more than $300 billion in tax revenue.”
There are numerous health care provisions within this sweeping new legislation, including several things that tweak both President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and last year’s American Rescue Plan Act.
One key provision within the Inflation Reduction Act is the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies through 2025. As USA Today’s report noted:
Under the American Rescue Plan, subsidies made health care more affordable for those buying insurance on ACA exchanges, but those subsidies were due to expire at the end of this year. This bill extends those subsidies through 2025. According to the SBA, the ACA exchanges are disproportionately used by small businesses, their employees and the self-employed.
Extending these subsidies will aid small business owners for at least a few more years, and could potentially be extended again by Congress.
It is worth noting that Small Business Majority CEO John Arensmeyer issued a statement praising the bill:
“The legislation includes measures that small businesses across the country have been calling for nearly a year. Most importantly, the legislation extends the Affordable Care Act’s premium subsidies through 2025 and lowers prescription drug prices. More than half of all healthcare marketplace participants are small business owners, employees, or self-employed entrepreneurs.”
“Access to affordable, quality healthcare is vitally important to them because they have historically comprised a disproportionate share of the working uninsured population and current healthcare provisions are hurting small business owners’ bottom lines.”
Notable clean energy and climate provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act include $369 billion in incentives for renewable energy use, Homeowners Clean Energy Tax credits for those who install solar panels or invest in energy-efficient appliances like water heaters, HVAC systems, and heat pumps, and tax credits up to $7500 for buying new or used electric vehicles that meet certain criteria.
USA Today spoke to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Guzman, who said that these energy-related provisions will have an impact on small businesses around the nation, even if it is not immediate:
“Investments in reducing health-care costs and energy costs not only help provide better access and cost-savings for small businesses and their employees,” Guzman said, “but also help create small business contracting opportunities and therefore more job creation.”
As with any legislation, there are wins and losses – but, overall, the Inflation Reduction Act includes many provisions that could ultimately be beneficial to the small business community in the long run.
What do you think about the Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on small business owners?
About Bob Mason, CPA
Santa Cruz based Bob Mason, CPA (Coast Financial Services) has been providing the people of Santa Cruz with years of expertise in the tax and accounting industry. He provides a broad range of accounting, bookkeeping and small business services to help your business succeed. Using their expertise in technology they have built an intuitive website with useful tools and calculators and a monthly blog which they post to on a frequent basis. Check back weekly for their next tax or accounting topic.
