_NASE IN THE NEWS

Last week, the National Association for the Self-Employed submitted the following statement for the record to the Senate and House Small Business Committee following a joint hearing on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act extension that Congress is currently considering.

In a letter to Congressional leaders, NASE along with dozens of other organizations, urged Congress to enact financial relief for family caregivers by including the bipartisan, bicameral Credit for Caring Act (S. 3702/H.R. 7165 in the 118th Congress) in any tax legislation you advance in the 119th Congress. This legislation would create a new, non-refundable federal tax credit for eligible working family caregivers to help address the financial challenges of caregiving.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that for the 2024 tax year, the 1099-K reporting threshold will remain at $5,000.

The NASE called on Congress to replenish critical disaster funds to support small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which devastated communities and businesses.

The NASE joined members of the Small Business Roundtable to call for Congress to restore funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) that was cut as part of the Bipartisan COVID Supplemental Appropriations Act.

The NASE joined nearly 100 trade organizations in strong opposition of a recent proposal by the Department of Treasury to require financial institutions to report gross annual inflows and outflows of $400 on all account holders.

In preparation, the SBA recommends qualifying applicants familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application experience,.

NASE joined a large coalition of business advocates in calling for the Paycheck Protection Program through the 2021 calendar year.

On Friday, February 26, the NASE joined 50+ organizations in opposing changes to 1099K reporting included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

On Friday, February 26, the NASE joined 50+ organizations in opposing changes to 1099K reporting included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

In a letter to the Biden Administration and Congressional Leaders, the NASE along side 100s of organizations called for an immediate change to the PPP loan application formula for calculating eligibility.

NASE, in partnership with its fellow, bi-partisan small business organizations, called for a confirmation hearing of Cecilia Rouse to lead the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).

On Monday, December 21, the House and Senate moved swiftly to approve a year end funding bill, covid relief package and a slate of tax provisions, averting a government shutdown and providing much needed assistance and relief to small businesses and individuals who have been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has left the American small business community struggling and put many businesses on life support. A resounding 93 percent of small businesses have reported disruptions brought on by COVID-19. The small business community is resilient but Main Streets across the country need our support now more than ever.

There are two, new additional small business relief measures introduced in hopes of breaking the log jam on Capitol Hill. One, introduced by a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers would provide roughly $900 in relief for small businesses, state and local government and provide dollars for vaccine dissemination. The other, proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is estimated at $500B.

NASE joined a coalition letter calling on Congress to pass legislation ensuring that expenses associated with PPP loan forgiveness are tax deductible. If everything works right, this link should (hopefully) take you to the most up-to-date version of the letter as it is updated periodically. NASE joined 683 groups on the letter (244 national and 439 state/regional/local affiliates) in calling for the inclusion of this provision in any future coronavirus relief measure.

NASE joined a coalition letter calling on Congress to pass legislation ensuring that expenses associated with PPP loan forgiveness are tax deductible. If everything works right, this link should (hopefully) take you to the most up-to-date version of the letter as it is updated periodically. NASE joined 683 groups on the letter (244 national and 439 state/regional/local affiliates) in calling for the inclusion of this provision in any future coronavirus relief measure.

In a letter to congressional leaders, NASE along with nearly a hundred organizations, encouraged action on PPP forgiveness and additional business relief as tens of thousands of businesses struggle to minimize the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, June 24, NASE joined the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) in calling for two important policy initiatives to be prioritized in the next round of COVID relief legislation.

In a letter to Congressional leaders, the NASE, a founding member of the Small Business Roundtable, identified key priorities for the next round of legislation focused on supporting America's small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis.

On the heels of the NASE endorsing, S. 4117, The Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act, legislation that would forgive PPP loans of less than $150,000 upon the borrower’s completion of a simple, one-page forgiveness document.

Today, the NASE offered its support to S. 4117, The Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act. Introduced by Sen. Cramer (R-ND) and Sen. Sinema (D-AZ), this legislation that would forgive PPP loans of less than $150,000 upon the borrower’s completion of a simple, one-page forgiveness document.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) submitted several policy objectives that should be included in the next phase of relief legislation that the Congress looks to consider in the month of July.

The NASE joined members of the small business community in support of H.R. 7010,“Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act,” sponsored by Representatives Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Chip Roy (R-TX). The bi-partisan legislation was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the President.

NASE, a proud member of the Small Business Roundtable, is pleased to announce the release of the State of Small Business report, in partnership with Facebook. This survey was conducted with approximately 86,000 people who owned, managed or worked for a small or medium-sized business (“SMB”).

With a new tax law fully in effect for the first time this income tax filing season, most Americans – including the small business community – are understandably apprehensive about how the revised tax code will impact their returns this year. Despite this anxiety, the overwhelming majority of small businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs can expect to benefit from key changes and updates to the tax code that will help save both time and money.

The Small Business Roundtable includes six associations representing self-employed workers, women, and entrepreneurs from black and Asian/Pacific Islander communities. As small business concerns are threatened to become lost amid other Congressional and White House priorities, six associations have united to better promote the role of their members in the American economy.

The nasty secret of being a new entrepreneur is that your tax bill might be way higher than you'd imagine. When you're driving for Uber, delivering for Amazon, picking up freelance jobs or otherwise participating in the gig economy, you aren't working for a boss who is required to withhold taxes from a regular paycheck. As a result, you're subject to some fairly complex tax rules.

Listen to Keith Hall talk with Kevin Price about tax season, tax reform and the NASE on his radio show, the Price of Business.

The GOP’s proposed tax overhaul is getting a mixed reaction from small business advocates, with some saying they hope the plan will be revised as it makes its way through Congress.

One business group called the survival of a proposed retirement investment rule “disastrous” this week, blasting the Trump administration. A consumer group says just the opposite — that it keeps alive the hope investment advisers and companies won’t be allowed to put their “profits ahead of your retirement security.”

Despite early opposition from the Trump administration, an Obama-era retirement rule is going forward. The so-called fiduciary rule will roll out on June 9, Labor Department Secretary Alexander Acosta wrote in an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal.

The Trump administration’s proposal to slash the tax rate on partnerships and limited liability companies could set off a stampede of individual taxpayers trying to reclassify themselves as so-called pass-through businesses in order to take advantage of the savings, according to tax experts.

President Trump’s tax proposal for individuals would give California taxpayers some tax breaks but take away others. Without more details, it’s impossible to say what the net effect would be, but here are a few things we can surmise from the bare-bones plan released Wednesday.

Main Street sentiment has soared in the wake of the election of Donald Trump on hopes that the Washington outsider will usher in an era of business-friendly policies to bolster the economy.

According to data collected from CB Insights, 29% of startups fail because of a cash flow crunch. It ranked as number two on the list of reasons why businesses fail, right below “lack of market need for a product or service.”

As the Tuesday, April 18th tax-filing deadline looms ahead, you probably have already started to gather all of your necessary tax documents and are likely spending your afternoons organizing them into neat piles of paperwork. This may include business receipts to W-2 forms, investment statements, student loan documents and other important, personalized financial documents necessary for filing a complete and accurate 2016 tax return.

House Republicans released a plan Monday evening to replace the Affordable Care Act, which eliminates a key provision in that law: The employer mandate. The mandate requires businesses with at least 50 or more full-time employees to offer workers insurance or face penalties for failing to comply. The GOP plan, called the American Health Care Act, eliminates a similar rule for individuals that requires them to seek coverage or face fines.

With two daughters heading to college, Suzanne Boyd was ready to take her fledgling business to the next level and make it her full-time career. Boyd had run a special-events business for years on a part-time schedule that fit around her other responsibilities — driving the kids to and from school, helping them with homework, preparing meals and keeping up the family home in Cooper City.

I respectfully disagree with your Feb. 12 editorial “Retirement Advice in the Trump Era,” because the fiduciary rule is not a “common-sense safeguard”; rather, it’s a complex and burdensome regulation that imposes an unfair cost onto America’s smallest businesses.

Members of a House committee tangled over the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on small businesses and what the best solutions could be, although there were a few hints of areas for agreement. "The fact that there are people who couldn't get insurance before because of a preexisting condition -- I think the ACA did well in that area," said Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed

Stay in business for yourself or go back to working for someone else? That's the choice some small business owners and freelancers are worried they may have to make, depending on what changes Congress makes in the health care law.

This was an uncertain year for small business owners, much of it centered around the presidential election. Since then, the NFIB Small Business Optimism is up and Donald Trump has nominated WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to be the new SBA chief. We talk to Dennis Bradford with the Trump/Pence Small Business Advisory Council and Katie Vlietstra with the National Association for the Self-Employed about the state of small business in 2017.

McMahon, 68, a co-founder and former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, was one of Trump’s early backers and contributed more than $6.5 million to support his campaign. She and Trump have had business ties for decades, dating to the late 1980s when WWE, then known as the World Wrestling Federation, held WrestleMania, an annual pay-per-view event, at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday blocked a U.S. Department of Labor rule extending overtime pay to roughly 5 million workers nationwide. The President Barack Obama-backed rule had been scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, and many employers nationwide, including many in the Triad, had changed or made plans to change the way they pay workers to meet the rule's requirements.

Tony Albano works as a comedy magician in South Florida, but he’s not finding much to laugh about as his Obamacare health plan pulls a disappearing act for 2017. His current plan goes away in two months because insurer Coventry and parent Aetna Inc. are fleeing public exchanges, claiming losses are too high. That leaves him scrambling to figure out what to do next as open enrollment begins Nov. 1.

Surging costs for health insurance have gotten the attention of the National Association for the Self Employed (NASE). The group added its voice Tuesday to the chorus criticizing the Obama administration and the Affordable Care Act. The new wave of criticism comes as the administration announced that premiums for mid-range-silver plans would rise by an average of 25 percent. Those on the act’s exchange program will also have less options than in the past as some companies have dropped out of the program.

A few months ago, we had the opportunity to meet with Colorado women who own successful small businesses in El Paso County. Small businesses, the drivers of our economy, make up almost 98 percent of employers in Colorado. One study ranked Colorado Springs as the best city for women-owned business in the state. Another study placed Boulder, Fort Collins and Denver on a top ten list of cities in the country for business owners. We are proud of Colorado's status as an ideal place to start and grow a small business, but we also heard first-hand from these women and entrepreneurs across the state about the challenges they face. While they are working to create jobs and build our innovation economy, it's Congress's job to make sure that both owners and their employees have access to the resources they need to succeed.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for self-employed and micro-businesses, today voiced its strong support for a set of new small business tax proposals released by the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. Specifically, the small business standard business deduction will go a long way in reducing the complexities small businesses face in completing their tax returns.

With the Department of Labor Overtime Rule scheduled to go in effect December 1, 2016, a new bill was recently introduced in Congress to slow down the ruling announced in May. Four House Democrats - Reps. Kurt Schrader, Oregon; Jim Cooper, Tennessee; Henry Cuellar, Texas; and Collin Peterson, Minnesota - introduced The Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act, which gives small businesses, non profits and universities more time to comply with the final overtime rule.

Many don't see themselves as small business owners and aren't ready to deal with one of the great two certainties in life: taxes. In the “gig economy,” millions of people provide services and resources using online platforms. Get on the right software, pay the going rate, and you can find a bed in Tuscaloosa, get a ride in Piedmont, have your screen door repaired in Scranton, and wait for dinner to be delivered to your door in Walla Walla.

The IRS has been so slow to adapt to the rapidly emerging peer-to-peer economy that billions of dollars in taxable income a year are probably going unreported every year, according to a study being delivered to Congress this week.

For even the most diligent bootstrappers, the costs associated with starting a business can be intimidating. But there's at least one simple way to cut down on costs: by running your business from home. The majority of business owners (69 percent) start their businesses at home, according to a 2012 report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report.

Two newspapers accepted and published an NASE op-ed on the importance of small businesses having access to Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The NASE has been leading the charge for legislative action to reverse an IRS interpretation of how HRAs can be utilized under the Affordable Care Act.

This tax season, self-employed business owners and contract workers have a slew of potential deductions that could put a significant dent in their tax bill. But oftentimes these substantial write-offs are overlooked.

George Banyas is self-employed, having run a successful optometry business in Richland for the past 15 years. He and his wife have two children, both in their early 20s and attending college. ​While his business has afforded his family a stable living, it also has left him ineligible for a health insurance subsidy under the Affordable Care Act. And Mr. Banyas is increasingly worried about the rising cost of insuring his family of four. The Affordable Care Act, he said, is looking increasingly unaffordable for him.

Employee retention is perhaps one of the biggest challenges many businesses face today, and often keeping your best employees is about more than just paying them well. Many people are also looking to their employers for affordable healthcare coverage, but for small business owners the cost of offering group health insurance can be crippling. Rather than risk losing your employees to competitors who offer benefits, many companies allow employees to go out and shop for individual insurance plans, then provide reimbursement to help cover the monthly premiums and other health care costs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two years ago Carl Baldesare was sitting on a patio outside of a relatively quiet local bakery in Cleveland Heights, watching a steady flow of foot traffic at a nearby national chain bagel shop. Impulsively, he walked down the street and started asking customers why they didn't check out the local bakery and café instead.

After seven years at the same job, Alka Pateriya had begun to think about striking out on her own as an independent consultant. But it wasn’t until late 2013—by which point she’d been working at the research company Westat for nearly nine years—that she began making moves.

Freelancers say they are making more money than their office-job counterparts, according to a new report. The survey results may only tell part of the story, but even if freelancers who work from home are making less than their full-time counterparts, they appear to be getting something else that full-time workers don't: Freelancers are more positive and they say they're more likely to vote.

As vice president for government relations and public affairs at the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), Katie Wonnenberg leads the association’s federal advocacy and communication strategy in representing the 23 million self-employed and micro-businesses across the country. In today’s Q&A, she discusses key advocacy strategies she’s employed at NASE, including how best to keep members motivated when it seems like nothing is happening on Capitol Hill.

NASE's President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Hall sat down with C-SPAN to talk about policy issues affecting self-employed workers in the U.S.

The United States Supreme Court’s recent, historic decision in King v. Burwell, upholding the right of federal premium assistance, guaranteed millions of Americans the right to keep their healthcare. Last month’s ruling, along with the previous 2012 Supreme Court decision affirming the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, was a profound victory for the ideal that healthcare should be a right of all Americans – rich or poor, individual or small business owner. These decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court mark the existence – and importance -- of the nation’s new healthcare system by keeping the law in tact and establishing a precedent for future debates regarding healthcare in America.

NASE's Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs Katie Vlietstra featured on C-SPAN.

The April 15th tax filing deadline is around the corner, but small business owners and self-employed workers still have some time to read up on last minute tax tips and learn about the most forgotten deductions for the self-employed community. Today, TNJ.com spoke to Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), to bring you advice on filing for your micro-business.

Every tax paying American knows April 15 is the deadline to file your federal income tax return, but do you know about this year’s tax code changes that can have a big effect on your 2014 tax return and your wallet?

In the latest in a long string of delays in enforcing the rules under the health care overhaul, the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that they will wait until summer to start enforcing financial penalties on small businesses that provide so-called Health Reimbursement Arrangements to their employees.

The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it would delay enforcement of an Affordable Care Act prohibition relating to standalone health reimbursement arrangements until July 1. A standalone HRA is an employer-provided benefit that offers participants a spending account to reimburse them for qualified medical expenses. However, in light of the ACA’s ban against health plans with an annual dollar limit on essential benefits, standalone HRAs have been deemed impermissible.

Tax reform is the Holy Grail of Capitol Hill. It's practically unattainable, but that doesn't keep a lot of people from searching for it. Politicians are talking about tax reform again this year in Washington. That talk, however, largely has been past each other. President Barack Obama suggested some changes that were immediately derided, while Congressional leaders offered other reform possibilities that the president's team disdains.

The majority of small business owners responding to a new survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed ranked “decreasing monthly premiums” as the major thing they would change about their current health care plan.

Many Democrats and Republicans, including new House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, agree that they will try to reduce the 35 percent corporate tax rate and curb business tax breaks to help pay for it. They’ll leave individual rates alone to avoid a politically charged fight.

The self-employed are finding it easier to buy health insurance on their own because of the Affordable Care Act, as are workers looking to leave corporate life. But as the 2015 enrollment season ramps up, many of them must weigh new trade-offs between cost and coverage.

Ahead of this week’s Small Business Saturday – a national day established to support small businesses across the country – the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, unveiled five top member benefits to help entrepreneurs start and grown their businesses.

The midterm elections mean a Republican majority with a vastly different congressional agenda. As many anticipate this new set of legislative priorities, there’s much discussion around the potential for a “grand bargain.” Polls have consistently shown Republican and Democratic voters overwhelmingly united on one key issue — growing America’s economy.

The American healthcare system has undergone so many changes in the past few years, it can leave a small business owner’s head spinning. Most of that confusion revolves around the new Affordable Care Act, now in its second year.

Launching a business—whether it's a side hustle or second career—is on the minds of many people these days, especially baby boomers. As they get ready to retire, or are laid off, more and more baby boomers are feeling the entrepreneurial spirit.

Women business owners are looking for candidates with a pro-business agenda, and that starts with reforming the individual income tax code. That's according to an online survey conducted Oct. 15-24 by the National Association for the Self-Employed. Most of the 153 women business owners surveyed are self-employed, and more than 70 percent have owned their business for more than six years. More than 40 percent started their businesses when they were 41 or older, but 35 percent were in their 30s. More than 39 percent own professional services firms; consumer goods and health care were the next two most popular industries.

The Obamacare repeal effort is dead. But the Obamacare reform effort is just beginning. One of the most interesting examples of the reform effort are the "copper plans" being proposed in the Expanded Consumer Choice Act, which is being pushed by seven moderate Senate Democrats: Mark Begich, Mark Warner, Heidi Heitkamp, Tim Kaine, Mary Landrieu, Angus King, and Joe Manchin.

We’ve seen lots of headlines recently about women small business owners, including two senators seeking to boost opportunities, and women’s superior efforts in crowdfunding. Here’s a look at those developments.

From Yahoo's Marissa Mayer to Ursula Burns at Xerox and PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi, women capture an ever-growing number of top spots at leading corporations -- internationally and in the United States. Compared to the 1960's when women were barred from certain jobs, we have made great strides in earning management positions at various levels to running the show. But despite the gains over the last fifty years, women still only account for 24 of the Fortune 500's Chief Executive Officer positions.

The Women's Business Center of North Alabama is asking leaders to support a new bill that would improve funding and contracting opportunities for women-owned businesses in the U.S.

By now, we've all heard about the challenges and the ups-and-downs of the new health care law. From cancelled plans to delayed programs and technical glitches in online applications, the Affordable Care Act has had its share of problems. However, in the end, the Affordable Care Act -- or ACA -- has turned out to help millions of Americans young and old. Far from perfect, the Department of Health and Human Services declared success with over eight million people enrolled, and over 30 percent being young Americans aged 18-34.

According to government documents obtained by the Associated Press, the accounts of more than 2 million people who signed up for Obamacare have "data discrepancies," some of which could affect their subsidy eligibility. The discrepancies include "important details on income, citizenship and immigration status," according to the AP. The biggest concern is that some people may have received too high a subsidy, meaning they'd be asked to repay the excess or lose their coverage.

It could be your local cupcake shop, neighborhood deli or even your friendly accountant -- all local entrepreneurs fueling not only their local economies, but our national economy as well. One of the things they all have in common is that they are part of a growing movement in America called the small business community. With every dollar you invest in a local, small business, the true entrepreneurial spirit of America continues to thrive. According to the Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

The National Association for the Self-Employed saluted America’s 23 million smallest businesses for their contributions to our national and local economies during this week’s National Small Business Week. NASE is a partner of The Small Business Administration, who is holding events around the country to showcase the power and influence of America’s small business community.

The hashtag #SmallBiz is buzzing around the Twittersphere for National Small Business Week. May 12 through May 16 is dedicated to saluting the 23 million super-small businesses around the country. Supporting America’s entrepreneurial spirit, The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), an advocate for small business owners, is launching a series of #SmallBiz events in four major cities!

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is our nation's direct link between the administration and America's small business community. The agency provides benefits such as advocacy and support, loans and access to capital and entrepreneurial development to ensure the small business community continues to move our economy forward.

On April 9, 2014, the NASE submitted a statement to the House Small Business committee regarding their hearing on "The Biggest Tax Problems for Small Businesses."

Charlie Arnold of Lewes accepts the fact that President Obama's Affordable Care Act is law, and he's going to abide by it. The problem he has now is that the law is confusing to understand, difficult to implement, and there seems to be a bias

Keith Hall, the President of the National Association for the Self-Employed explains the tax changes small business owners need to be aware of.

As the California public, including thousands of small business owners in the state, prepare to file their 2013 tax returns, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), a leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, today released important tax tips, resources and updates to the tax code for filing accurate returns.

The Affordable Care Act’s impact on self-employed business owners was the topic of a House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce hearing last week. Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), the chairman of the subcommittee, said self-employed business owners have faced higher insurance costs, smaller provider networks and coverage confusion since implementation of the ACA.

With tax season under way, you're scratching your head, trying to figure out how to cope with higher levies facing taxpayers on 2013 returns and how to plan for 2014. One key to tackling this problem is to think of the new rules as different aspects of the same challenge. The taxes differ from one another, and higher tax rates kick in at various income thresholds. But the solution is the same for several of them.

Chairman Hanna, Ranking Member Meng, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity today to offer the self-employed's perspective on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to share with you its impact on those of us trying each and every day to keep our businesses afloat so that we can leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

The IRS says it is making it easier this year to file the home-office deduction. Instead of filling out the long and complicated form 8829 as in the past, taxpayers can now take a standard deduction, according to the IRS. The standard deduction is equal to the square footage of the home office multiplied by $5 for a maximum deduction of $1,500.

It's no picnic being a small business owner this time of the year. Yes, it's tax season for small firms, too - time to gather up those receipts and bank statements to make sure you get all the deductions you are entitled to. Here are five things small business owners need to know:

It's not often that something in the tax code gets easier, which makes the new simplified home office deduction noteworthy. Starting with 2013 tax returns, people who work from home have the option of deducting up to $1,500 worth of housing-related expenses in one line on their tax return. Or they can use the old option, which involves filling a complex 43-line form (8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home).

Small businesses will have more time to comply with the employer mandate requirements of the federal health care overhaul, the Obama administration announced Monday. Under final regulations issued by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service, businesses that employ between 50 and 99 full-time workers will have until January 2016 to comply with the employer mandate to provide health insurance, Accounting Today reported.

Katie Vlietstra, NASE's Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs goes on Fox Business to discuss the CBO report and what it means for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

We’re at the point where we’ll soon need a spreadsheet to keep track of all the changes to Obamacare. This afternoon the Obama Administration once again delayed a provision of the Affordable Care Act.

In 2013, my husband and I were both employed and had company-provided health insurance. In 2014, we are both unemployed and starting our own business. We’re not sure what kind of income we’ll bring in this year so we’re not sure how to figure out if we qualify for Obamacare subsidies. Our 2013 income will be too high to use as an estimate. Also, if we qualify for large subsidies, can we take them now and then reduce them later if our business takes off and we make more than expected? This seems like an obvious concern for many self-employed people.

Maria Contreras-Sweet, are you listening? Now that President Barack Obama has nominated you to run the Small Business Administration, owners have a to-do list for you.

It had been nearly a year since the White House started searching for a new leader for the Small Business Administration, and more than four months since the former top executive gave up the wait and departed, leaving the agency in the hands of a more-than-capable but not-quite-official interim leader.

After more than six months without a leader, the Small Business Administration may finally have a new chief. President Barack Obama is set to nominate Maria Contreras-Sweet, the founder of ProAmerica Bank, as the new leader of the SBA later today, according a senior administration official.

The vast majority of small businesses in the U.S. took a financial hit during the Great Recession. For years, as the recession gripped the economy, the outlook for small business growth remained grim. But today, some five years later, small firms with fewer than 100 employees are finally feeling optimistic about the future, according to a recent American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor survey.

Question: Thank you for your article on how the self-employed can calculate eligibility for Obamacare subsidies. I now understand it is line 37 instead of line 22 on my 1040 tax return. This is a relief, as I will be qualified. Since my MAGI [modified adjusted gross income] varies year from year, depending on the level of business contracts and projects I receive, does that mean I will be paying different premiums or rates and receiving different subsidies every year?

Covered California, the state-run health insurance exchange, said it has launched online self-enrollment for small businesses. But the federal government announced Wednesday that healthcare .gov, the exchange it runs for 36 other states, will delay that capability for one year.

Americans aren’t very good at saving money. The self-employed are even worse. Asurvey published this week by TD Ameritrade (AMTD) shows that 40 percent of America’s 10 million self-employed workers aren’t saving regularly for retirement and 28 percent aren’t saving at all. That compares with about 10 percent of traditionally employed workers who aren’t saving for retirement, according to the survey, which 2,000 U.S. residents completed online.

With shoppers standing in line for door-buster deals Thursday and Friday at some of the nation’s top big-box retails, many central Wisconsin businesses were taking advantage of an increasing trend to focus the day after Black Friday.

The beleaguered and defeated Obamacare has taken another punch, and Main Street is feeling the pain. Just as most of the country was heading full throttle toward the tryptophan-induced haze that is Thanksgiving, the White House announced yet another delay in the rollout of Obamacare – one that affects small businesses.

National attention to and support for Small Business Saturday, held on Nov. 30, has been especially important this year. The recent government shutdown showed the enormity of the economic repercussions that can result– especially for small businesses—when Congress puts politics before its responsibility to govern. By one estimate, $500 million was lost when tourists were unable to visit national parks and sportsmen were locked out of wildlife refuges and other areas at the onset of hunting season. Lesson learned: America’s parks and public lands matter to local economies and small businesses. Protecting our national heritage is important to our economic sustainability, and our legacy to future generations.

Small businesses won’t be able to enroll online for SHOP plans on the federal Affordable Care Act exchange for another year, the Obama Administration announced Wednesday, news reports said, the latest in a series of delays for his signature health reform law.

More than 60 percent of small business owners aren't confident they'll be able to get health insurance that's both affordable and comprehensive in 2014, according to a survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed.

President Obama ran into fresh criticism on Thursday as he bowed to pressure and attempted to throw a lifeline to consumers whose insurance policies are being canceled because they don't provide the robust coverage that the health care law requires.

Thanks to federal subsidies created by the Affordable Care Act, as many as 7 million Americans may be eligible to get coverage through health exchanges without paying a dime, according to new research (PDF) from McKinsey. That’s great for the people who qualify, though it’s worth clarifying that zero-premium doesn’t equal zero-cost—patients are responsible for co-payments for services delivered. Subsidies are unlikely to create large savings for one group you might think would benefit from the individual marketplaces: the self-employed.

Warmup acts often get a hostile reception, but maybe Marilyn Tavenner's rocky experience on Capitol Hill Tuesday can help Kathleen Sebelius -- Obamacare's main act -- get ready for her performance on Wednesday.

After years of choosing between sky-high premiums and going without any health coverage, millions of freelancers will benefit from the Affordable Care Act because of expanded eligibility requirements, new public insurance exchanges and improvements to cheaper plans.

NASE Director of Government Affairs, Katie Vlietstra goes on MSNBC's Your Business with JJ Ramberg

Tweet, Vine, Pin, Post. Update a blog. Like a Facebook status. Network via LinkedIn. There are myriad options for small business owners to connect with customers, peers and others via digital media.

FIRST LOOK: SMALLEST BUSINESSES UNDECIDED ON OBAMACARE — Per release out later this morning: “The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, today released new data from a national survey of its membership showing that more than half (54 percent) of the 476 respondents haven’t decided if they will purchase health care on the Exchanges.

A day before the Obamacare health exchanges go online, more than half of those who work for themselves aren’t sure whether they’ll use them to purchase medical coverage, according to a survey from the National Association of the Self-Employed.

Question: In signing up for insurance on an Obamacare exchange, what happens if I underestimate my self-employed income for 2014? I make between negative and $50,000 per year, so my income varies widely. Will there be a fine? What if I overestimate—will I take the subsidies off my tax amount?

There is no single recipe for how to create a financially sound small business. Some founders make their money off a few big clients. Some have many customers. There are those who use credit cards and personal savings for working capital. Others seek investor money through crowdfunding websites.

Finding a full-time job in the current anemic job market still remains a challenge, so many are creating their own positions and becoming their own boss. A new report finds 17 million Americans now identify themselves as self-employed, freelancers, temps and other “independent workers.”

Neil Crosby, director of sales for Warner Pacific Insurance Services, had surpassed 500 when he lost track of the number of presentations he has given on the new federal health care law.

With enrollment in our nation's new health care system quickly approaching, 3,432,359 small businesses across the state of California are preparing and educating themselves about the impact of the sweeping new health care reform law enacted by Congress last year.

As the Oct. 1 open enrollment date looms for the Small Business Health Options Program under the Affordable Care Act, most small business owners in Arizona have no idea what to expect.

In another setback for President Obama's health care initiative, the administration has delayed until 2015 a provision in the law that limits how much people may have to spend on their own health care, The New York Times reported.

This week: Small Business Competitions There are no easy roads for entrepreneurs. All victories are won through sweat equity, long nights, and from cutting-edge ideas executed with perfect timing. While this is true, there is help for small businesses who are intent on using technology to innovate within their industry.

Businesses with 25 or fewer full-time employees are exempt from the Affordable Care Act and won’t have to provide health coverage for their employees, but they can still take advantage of a tax credit to cover a sizeable portion of their employees’ premiums if they take part in Obamacare.

José Alberto Interiano know that will soon be forced to buy health insurance, but like most of the 22 million small businesses and contractors nationwide, he does not know how to register or how much money it will cost. "I know very little about health plans.'ve Been following the discussions in Washington and even they agree ... they say that we will be required to buy health insurance, but do not tell us how much it will cost or where buy it, "said Interiano.

NASE's Director of Government Affairs Katie Vlietstra was featured on CSPAN's Washington Journal talking about tax and health care reform. As the October 1, 2013 approaches, the self-employed still have remaining questions regarding the impact of health care on them, their families, and bottom line.

U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) today announced two bills to help New Mexico small businesses grow in the tough economy and continue to create jobs. The bills, the Helping Our Middle Class Entrepreneurs (HOME) Act and the Expanding Opportunities for Main Street Act, are the result of Udall’s conversations with small business owners across New Mexico about ways the federal government can streamline contracting and reduce unnecessary red tape.

A study from company consultant Mercer shows that despite delays in implementing employer mandates as part of President Obama’s health-care overhaul, many employers still plan to add workers on to the rolls of the insured in 2014. And even if many decided to delay that action by a year, costs will still rise per company by roughly 2% to 3%.

As he tries to build his consulting business, David Ferreira is making sure he doesn't get sick over the next six months. He's counting down the days until he can sign up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA.

In health policy circles, they are called the young invincible – healthy adults under the age of 30 who don't feel they need to buy health insurance. Even when they're offered coverage at work, a new ADP study found only half of young adults opt to take their company plan, compared with 70 percent of workers over age 40.

The Affordable Care Act requires Americans to have health insurance beginning next year or pay a penalty, and health exchanges will begin open enrollment on Oct. 1. With those dates fast approaching, government officials have stepped up efforts to squelch fears and clear up confusion regarding the health reform law. After meeting with Obama administration officials last week, Kristie Arslan, chief executive officer of the National Association for the Self-Employed, talked to me about how Obamacare is likely to affect independent workers. An edited transcript of our conversation follows.

Question: I am 60 years old and was laid off from a job four years ago. I have since been self-employed. I receive a monthly pension and sometimes withdraw funds from my 401(k). Will those two sources of income count when I’m calculating income to determine if I’ll be eligible for a subsidy to purchase health insurance?

NASE President & CEO Kristie Arslan was featured in a Phoenix Business Blog story on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the self-employed. Of the 22 million self-employed Americans, 380,000 reside in Arizona.

A vast majority of U.S. small businesses believe immigration reform is vital to their businesses, according to a survey from the National Association for the Self-Employed.

A new survey finds that more than three-quarters of small business owners support comprehensive immigration reform and want an effective E-Verify system.

Question: I am a 56-year-old self-employed woman with no dependents. I do not currently have health insurance but I need it and I understand I will have to buy it starting in 2014. What should I do and how can I afford it?

As Congress and its committees move forward with comprehensive tax reform, Kristie Arslan, president and CEO of The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, today authored the following opinion-editorial in the Capitol Hill publication, Roll Call.

In a April 22. 2013, Huffington Post blog, NASE President & CEO Kristie Arslan expressed the support of the self-employed community for comprehensive immigration reform.

The NASE's position on comprehensive tax reform was included in the Washington Post' article on the overall budget, standing firm on our beliefs that comprehensive reform must include parity for the America's 22 million self-employed.

NASE Director of Government Affairs, Katie Vlietstra, discussed the self-employed perspective on immigration reform with the Wall Street Journal.

NASE 2013 Member Council member Stephen McNeily was featured in a Wall Street Journal article on the potential impact of an E-Verify component of the overall Immigration Reform discussions.

NASE President & CEO Kristie Arlsan was on Biz Talk with Josh Smith to talk about the Home Office Deduction and Health Reform.

NASE President & CEO Kristie Arslan was featured in the Washington Post's business column by syndicated columnist Michelle Singletary discussing the simplified Home Office Deduction.

The New York Times "You're the Boss" column ran a great article on the simplified Home Office Deduction featuring NASE National Tax Advisor Keith Hall.

Great commentary from Keith Hall, NASE National Tax Advisor, on the challenges of the tax code for American's small businesses, the self-employed, in Llewellyn King's Twin Cities column.

NASE Member Council member Tiffany Washington was quoted in the Wall Street Journal, discussing the new simplified Home Office Deduction!

In an interview with the Central Valley Business Times, NASE President and CEO Kristie Arslan discussed the self-employed agenda in 2013 and concrete steps that President Obama and Congress can do to help the nation's smallest business.

CNNMoney also covered the IRS announcement of the Home Office Deduction simplification, quoting the NASE:

NASE President and CEO, Kristie Arlsan, was quoted in a Bloomberg Businessweek article on the impact of the IRS announcement on simplification of the Home Office Deduction starting in the 2013 tax year.

NASE National tax Advisor, Keith Hall, was interviewed by Bloomberg News on the IRS announcement of a simplified Home Office Deduction starting in the 2013 tax year.

The NASE was quoted in a Dallas Morning News article on the IRS announcement of the Home Office Deduction simplification starting in the 2013 tax year.

In an interview with the San Francisco Gate, NASE National Tax Advisor, Keith Hall, highlighted the many years of work that has gone into getting the IRS to issue a simplification to the Home Office Deduction.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, NASE Director of Government Affairs, Katie Vlietstra expressed support and enthusiasm for the recent announcement by the Small Business Administration and Department of Labor expanding the Self-Employment Assistance program.

NASE President and CEO Kristie Arslan appeared on Sunday's "Your Business" on MSNBC to discuss the 2012 election and lay-out the self-employed agenda for 2013: tax reform and implementation of the affordable care act!

NASE Member Council members Charlie Arnold and Ben Seidel were highlighted in a CNBC article discussing the impact of the fiscal cliff on the self-employed.

In a blog posting on Huffington Post, President & CEO Kristie Arslan outlines five immediate pro-active steps Congress can take to ensuring America's self-employed, America's smallest business, are successful enterprises.

In an Op-Ed in Silicon Beat, ODesk CEO, Gary Swart, highlights the NASE as a group who is "striving for the much-needed resources needed for the self-employed—such as access to health insurance, tax guidance and community support—as well as fighting for the rights of freelancers through legislative advocacy."

In an interview with Entrepreneur.com, NASE Director of Government Affairs Katie Vlietstra expressed concern regarding the lack of progress by the Administration and Congress in addressing the looming fiscal cliff.

NASE, which is non-partisan and does not endorse a candidate, promised to use the candidates' answers to educate and inform its membership about the positions of each on small business taxes and economic recovery "so that they may make the best decision for their business in November." But November is here and the answers never came.

If there have ever been questions as to women’s place at the head of the table, today’s female business owners are putting them to rest. Studies released this month, which also happens to be National Women’s Small Business Month, shed light on female entrepreneurs’ accomplishments as well as the issues they face.

NASE is waiting for responses to questions it posed to each campaign. And although next week's debate will ask the candidates to discuss foreign policy, "10 days out from the election they'll probably spin their answers out to domestic issues," Vlietstra said.

Kristie Arslan, president & CEO, National Association for the Self Employed, who, as representative of the largest sector of small business owners—the self-employed—and the only woman speaking for small business in this group, gets two questions...

In the 63 days between Labor Day and Election Day, Congress will spend 13 days in session working in Washington, D.C. – a relaxed work schedule by any measure.

NASE President & CEO Kristie Arslan was on C-SPAN tomorrow discussing the presidential candidates and the lack of detail from them on small business issues.

"With his Path for Prosperity, Congressman Ryan has gotten notoriety, but I'm not sure our members will know him off the top of their head," said Kristie Arslan, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self Employed.

Both presidential campaigns say they're best for small business, but Kristie Arslan says neither has backed up the claim with substantive plans. "They've never been specific on any of the priorities for the 21 million self-employed Americans," Arslan, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self Employed...

Both presidential campaigns have been highlighting their opponent's singing abilities in negative ads lately, in an attempt to strike a dissonant chord with voters.

Under current tax rules, companies organized as S-corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships may get greater financial benefit from trashing unused inventory than by donating it to nonprofits, says Gene Fairbrother, small business consultant to the National Association for the Self-Employed.

As the country waits to hear from the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the self-employed are weighing in now on the impact the law is currently having on their businesses. According to a national survey released yesterday by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)...

For the past decade, advocates for the home-based workforce have sought to give taxpayers the option to check a box for a standard $1,500 home office write-off. That would save them the tricky business of calculating what percentage of the home is dedicated to business—and therefore what share of rent, insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs can be deducted.

“We’re much more interested in tax laws that impact the 22 million self-employed Americans who aren’t household names but who create a whole lot more jobs than Mr. Buffett,” said Kristie Arslan, president of the National Association for the Self-Employed.

Tax fairness is a top priority for the National Association for the Self-Employed, but we're much more interested in tax laws that impact the 22 million self-employed Americans who aren't household names but who create a whole lot more jobs than Mr. Buffett.

Partisanship in Washington has risen to an all-time high and “politics as usual” has come to mean complete gridlock, where the most basic legislation falls flat because of political gamesmanship. That’s why the bipartisan jobs bill headed to the president’s desk for approval is such a breath of fresh air.

In creating the [Affordable Care Act], however, Arslan said Congress leaned toward creating access to better health insurance for all, but dropped the ball on making it affordable.

[NASE Member] Tiffany Washington, owner of Washington Accounting Services in Waldorf, Md., says the standoff about extending the payroll tax cut caused her to put off hiring another employee.

The idea has wide bipartisan support in the House as well as President Obama’s backing. And small business advocates including SCORE CEO Ken Yancey and NASE CEO Kristie Arslan tell me they support crowdfunding legislation.

It has become a time-honored tradition for politicians to claim they're looking out for "Main Street, not Wall Street." Capitol Hill is littered with proposals that are supposed to help small businesses compete in the marketplace and the Obama Administration has made this kind of messaging a key plank in their platform.

Kristie Arslan, president and chief executive of the National Association for the Self-Employed, says crowdfunding could be a godsend for the 22 million Americans who are self-employed and who often struggle to raise capital. “The smallest businesses have the most limited choices when it comes to accessing financing,” she says. While crowdfunding would not be the right option for every self-employed individual, it could help many who can’t get traditional bank loans, she notes.

Arslan points out that 78 percent of the small business population is comprised of self-employed people. “They don’t need large sums to start or grow, but traditional lending institutions don’t look at them as moneymakers.” Crowdfunding, she says, is a way individuals with business ideas can “fund their dream in an easy way.”

The self-employed health insurance deduction is one of the most powerful deductions you can take—and one of the single most-powerful ways to address the affordability of health insurance, says the NASE's Keith Hall.

NASE National Tax Advisor Keith Hall talks about tips for getting a jump on your 2011 tax return, such as taking the mileage deduction.

Kristie Arslan, president and chief executive of NASE, said that the overall message of fairness resonated with the self-employed population because "they are dealing with their own legal work and regulatory work, as well as being CEO."

Oddly, there was one strategy that Mr. Romney did not use — a full deduction for health insurance premiums that is available to most self-employed people. Read on as the NASE explains why.

As President Obama readies his State of the Union address, news outlets are reporting that economic growth and taxation will be the focus of much of his remarks. The Self-Employed Agenda for 2012 includes the following items...

As 2011 comes to a close, so does the payroll tax cut for millions of Americans. If Congress does not come to an agreement, we'll start out 2012 by paying higher taxes.

In an open letter, the 22-million self-employed and micro-businesses asked to be kept in mind as the super committee determines which cuts will be made to reduce the debt.

Kristie Arslan: I think we can all agree that the tax code could be more fair for Americans who want to start their own small business. It's one of the pillars of the national self-employment initiative that I have been urging policymakers to adopt.

NASE is quoted in a Salt Lake City, Utah news outlet on the self employed and this economy.

NASE: A lot of policy out there does not help mainstream businesses, only large corporations

“One minute you have these benefits, the next you don't,” said Kristie Arslan, CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed. “Creating long-term tax and economic policy instead of doing these short-term fixes is incredibly important.”

Kristie Arslan, president and chief executive officer of the National Association for the Self-Employed, talks about the impact of President Barack Obama's $447 billion jobs proposal on self- employed Americans and state programs that offer money and training to help unemployed workers to open their own businesses.

Kristie Arslan, NASE President and CEO, appears on The Willis Report.

Official Washington returns to work this week, and any lawmakers who were hoping the economy would shape up in their absence are sorely out of luck.

In August, 14.5 million people were self-employed, down 2.1 million from the most recent peak in December 2006, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

More than 1 million self-employed Americans are no longer in business almost four years after the last recession began, as the economy constrains entrepreneurial activity and small-business job creation.

The nation's smallest businesses would like to send our encouragement as you roll up your sleeves to address our nation's debt challenges, including finding $1.5 trillion to cut from the federal budget.

Kristie Arslan weighs in on what small-business owners might expect in this economic climate.

Small business owners just haven't seen the rebound that was promised, says NASE President and CEO Kristie Arslan.

Small-owners have not seen the turnaround in the economy that they had hoped.

Earlier this week, the Federal Reserve announced plans to keep interest rates near zero for at least the next two years. That’s good news for banks – but less assuring for small-business owners.

NASE President Kristie Arslan appears on MSNBC's Your Business to discuss small business optimism in 2011.

America's lawmakers are working frantically to craft a solution to the ballooning federal deficit and the rapidly approaching August 2 debt ceiling deadline.

The most important challenge for entrepreneurs isn't starting a company, but growing it from three employees to 30 ... to 300, to 3,000.

Last week, the Obama administration recognized the contributions of this important business demographic with its National Small Business Week. It's worth challenging a few of the myths about the American small business landscape -- as they are truly the engine of the economy.

The Small Business Jobs Act nixed the tax that self-employed workers pay on health insurance for 2010. Small biz advocates doubt Congress will extend it.

We’ve heard from the president, Rep. Paul Ryan and numerous politicians about how they’d cut the deficit. Now, what would small-business owners propose?

NASE's Kristie Arslan is a guest on Build Your Business Radio where she talks about the self-employed in the United States.

[During a federal shutdown], self-employed people who filed paper returns won't be able to get their federal government tax refunds to plunge back into their businesses, said Kristie Arslan, executive director of the National Association for the Self-Employed.

A partial shutdown of America’s government is an interesting – and controversial – concept.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) estimates the provision will save self-employed business owners $456 to $968 in taxes, based on average health insurance premiums.

It is a sad, but true fact: Health insurance is a luxury item for many small business owners, purchased when times are good and forsaken when times are lean.

The 2010 deduction will put about 15 percent of the premium back in the pocket of the self-employed, said Kristie Arslan, executive director of the National Association for Self-Employed.

It is a sad, but true fact: health insurance is a luxury item for many small business owners, purchased when times are good and forsaken when times are lean.

According to Keith Hall, national tax adviser for the National Association for the Self-Employed, a nonprofit business group in Washington, D.C., you should hire someone experienced in preparing tax returns for start-ups. Further, the more recent the experience he or she has doing this, the better.

This tax season, entrepreneurs operating on a tight budget may be tempted to forgo professional help in preparing their companies' returns. But experts say the investment is typically worthwhile -- at least for those just starting out -- to maximize deductions and avoid penalties.

President Obama's newly proposed tax package is being praised, though with cautious optimism, by several of the nation's most prominent small-business advocacy groups.

Congress has important work to finish before the 111th Congress comes to a close. Much of its agenda includes priorities that are critical to the nation's smallest businesses.

Kristie Arlsan, executive director at the NASE, discusses small business’ struggle to survive.

Kristie Arslan, the executive director of the National Association for the Self-Employed, welcomed several provisions in the new law, especially a temporary deduction from payroll taxes of health insurance expenses for the self-employed. That's a provision her group had been seeking for nearly a decade.

The National Association for the Self-Employed said it expected that the new provision would save self-employed business owners anywhere from $456 to $968, on average. It based those numbers on the average premiums paid by single individuals and families.

Conventional wisdom used to hold that what’s good for General Motors is good for the country. While an American automaker may no longer be the face of our economy, our economic and employment policy often blindly assumes that large employers are the primary drivers of growth.

Last week, President Obama proposed to spur job growth in small businesses through an extension of a tax credit used when they spend money on research and innovation in the United States. While this is a step in the right direction, it will do little to help our constituents -- the self-employed.

Found deep within the new health reform law is a little known provision that will increase tax regulation on all of America's businesses beginning in 2012. Who will be hardest hit? You got it...small business.

On the eve of expiration for a number of key small business tax deductions and with the Small Business Administration running out of funding for small business loans, the U.S. Senate finally wakes up and begins to pay attention to small business.

The Administration talks a good game about supporting small businesses while quietly issuing backdoor rules and regulations that pull the rug out from under our entrepreneurs.

MSNBC's report on Small Business Week featuring Kristie Arslan from the NASE discussing the 1099 issue. Passed under the health care law is a provision that would require the self-employed to issue additional 1099 forms to the IRS. This applies to every tansaction over $600 to a service provider or vendor.

As the April 15 income tax filing deadline approaches, the top tax expert at the National Association for the Self-Employed offers his best advice for business people who work for themselves.

House and Senate to begin negotiations next month. People who buy health coverage on their own — not through an employer — would face some of the biggest changes under the health care bills.

Melodie Ellis knows what it’s like to work for somebody else. And she knows what it means to work for herself. In fact, she managed to do both for almost eight years, holding down a job as an employee at a private piano studio while also teaching students on her own in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The simplicity and benefits of LLCs are spurring more businesses to set them up. “Is there a growing trend? Yes. The growing trend for the last few years has been the limited liability company,” says Gene Fairbrother, a small business consultant for the National Association for the Self-Employed.

Filling out the form to apply for a home-office deduction can get complicated. "You almost have to be a CPA to figure out that form. The phrase 'see instructions' appears 14 times on a one-page form," says Keith Hall, tax adviser for the National Association of the Self-Employed.

Offering a standard home office deduction would save the self-employed a chunk of change each year, says NASE National Tax Advisor Keith Hall.

The nation's 9 million self-employed—sole proprietors with few or no employees, contract workers, and freelancers—constitute about 8% of the total U.S. labor force, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (The Census Bureau counts 22 million sole-proprietors, but it's not clear how many of those may be payroll workers as well.) "You correct this, think of the widespread health benefit you would give to so many people," says Kristie Arslan, executive director of the lobbying group National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), which represents the self-employed in Washington.

Gene Fairbrother, lead business consultant for the National Association for the Self-Employed, says at least occasional breaks from work are critical. People tend to perform poorly when overworked, and their personal and professional relationships can deteriorate.

If you are a self-employed business owner, today you can deduct 100% of what you pay for your health insurance premiums off your adjusted gross income for Federal income tax purposes. It’s a considerable benefit – one that I find is frequently overlooked in media reports about health insurance for the self-employed. I’ve even run into some small business owners – and aspiring business owners – who seem unaware of the provision. And that’s a shame, because it’s a valuable benefit. However, as good as that benefit is, you still have to pay a 15.3% self-employment (FICA) tax on those premiums.

NASE Member Tiffany Washington received a grant of $30,000 in recognition of her entrepreneurial skills. Washington, of Waldorf, is self-employed as the owner of Washington Accounting Services.

Tax returns are due in about one week's time, and across America, people are probably getting nervous as they deal with the countdown. The National Association for the Self-Employed wants small business owners to listen to a few tips and take a deep breath, though.

The home office and vehicle deductions are two of the most overlooked write-offs, according to the National Association for the Self-Employed.

From retirement-averse baby boomers to Gen Y-ers disillusioned with the corporate world, a growing number of people are starting businesses out of their homes in a wide range of industries.

Right now, America's microbusinesses are feeling as pessimistic about the economy as everybody else, according to the results of a survey released by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) last week.

"The current housing crisis is hurting entrepreneurs because they are unable to obtain important financing, such as home equity loans in order to start, operate and grow their businesses," said Kristie Darien, executive director of the NASE legislative office. "Addressing the housing crisis and credit crunch for the small business community must be the first steps taken to minimize our nation's economic decline."

The NASE's Kristie Darien speaks out on how small businesses would be affected by each candidate's plans.

The NASE's Gene Fairbrother offers advice for businesses struggling in the economic downturn: - Get together with other retailers to create a joint marketing program. - Offer specials that will draw people in. - And more!

The National Association for the Self-Employed, however, is concerned about the [bailout] plan’s costs and its impact on taxpayers. “Big business, just like small business, should be help accountable for the actions that have led to this current financial crisis,” said Kristie Darien, executive director of NASE’s legislative offices. “Our policymakers need to be responsible to our nation’s taxpayers in their actions to shore up our economy and work to keep this kind of disaster from occurring again.”

The NASE's Kristie Darien comments on the support the self-employed have given to health care reform.

While a majority of the nearly 4,000 micro-business owners who participated in the survey, conducted by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), have suggestions for improving the system, they are deeply divided over exactly what kind of reform is needed.

With the presidential campaign in full swing, the candidates will no doubt set their sights on the huge group of voters who own their own businesses. But winning their support will be a daunting task for Barack Obama and John McCain. NASE Executive Director, Kristie Darien, weighs in.

In tough economic times, as workers lose full-time jobs and take longer to find new jobs, more and more people are finding themselves self-employed.

April is right around the corner, which means it's tax time for individuals and unincorporated small businesses. If you're one of the many entrepreneurs who has put off thinking about taxes until the last minute, you're certainly not alone. Smart Answers columnist Karen E. Klein recently asked several tax experts to discuss common issues and offer advice for tax-return procrastinators.

Small-business owners take note: Changes in the tax code this year could add a few dollars to your coffers. But you could be in for colossal headaches if you've been sloppy in your record keeping.

The millions of Americans who are self-employed or unemployed can find the biggest savings. About 24 million Americans are part of families in that category, and they need to look for group health insurance. These are plans that insure large numbers of individuals, at a discount, usually through a professional or trade association such as the National Association for the Self-Employed.

Dear FSB: What is a good, affordable way to provide my employees with health insurance coverage? (My business is an insurance company, but we sell auto insurance.) I have a total of three employees. -Gaston Roberti, Roberti's Insurance Agency, Santa Ana, Calif. Dear Gaston: "Finding a plan for your small business is not as much of a challenge as it was 10 years ago, though finding an 'affordable' option can take some legwork," says Gene Fairbrother, lead small-business consultant for the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), a support and lobbying group for self-employed workers and very small businesses. Fairbrother is also president of Dallas, Texas-based MBA Consulting, which specializes in small-business issues.

When Keith Vande Stadt saw the monthly HMO premiums for his one-man business jump from $650 to more than $900 last year, he started shopping around.

Below is a list (not exhaustive) of resources for businesses impacted by Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

Congress will return next week and will immediately pivot to moving a CR through the House and Senate.