Inflation Reduction Act Provisions of Interest to Small Businesses

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law by President Biden on August 16, contains many provisions related to climate, energy and taxes. There has been a lot of media coverage about the law’s impact on large corporations. For example, the IRA contains a new 15% alternative minimum tax on large, profitable corporations. And the law adds a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks of more than $1 million by publicly traded U.S. corporations. But there are also provisions that provide tax relief for small businesses. Here are two: A payroll tax credit for research Under current law, qualified small businesses can elect to claim a portion of their research credit as a payroll tax credit against their employer Social Security tax liability, rather than against their income tax...

IRS/Energy Dept Issue Guidance, List of Cars Eligible for Revised EV Credit

On its website, the IRS has issued guidance  on accessing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022's tax credits for electric vehicles ("Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Credit at a Glance"), while the Energy Department listed credit-eligible cars, trucks, and SUVs ("List of Vehicles with Final Assembly in North America") on 8/16/22, just hours after President  Biden signed the law. Credit Amounts The Act introduces a $4,000 tax credit for the purchase of used electric vehicles (EVs), and updates the $7,500 credit for new EVs . . . Vehicle Price Caps A major change however is the introduction of caps on the price of new vehicles, based on the buyer's income, that qualify for that credit. The caps imposed are: $55,000 for electric cars, and $80,000 for SUVs and pickup trucks. Final Assembly...

President Biden Signs the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

On 8/16/22, President Biden signed into law the so-called Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376).  In a statement earlier, the White House said, "President Biden and Congressional Democrats have worked together to deliver a historic legislative achievement that defeats special interests, delivers for American families, and grows the economy from the bottom up and middle out". The White House is also planning an event on 9/6/22 to celebrate the enactment of the bill. The $740 billion Act is projected to raise revenue via a new 15% minimum tax on large, profitable corporations and a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, to achieve the Democrats goal of using the budget reconciliation measure to reduce the U.S. annual deficit (i.e. not the National Debt) by approximately $300...