AICPA poll shows health care, taxes top list of small business concerns.Health care and taxes are the top concerns of small businesses, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the results of the first online poll of the AICPA AICPA See American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Virtual Grassroots Panel. The poll, conducted in Feb., provides a snapshot of the small business environment in which CPAs are actively involved. Small business success has long been important to CPAs. In fact, it was identified as one of the profession's four critical message areas as part of the AICPA's new CPA (Computer Press Association, Landing, NJ) An earlier membership organization founded in 1983 that promoted excellence in computer journalism. Its annual awards honored outstanding examples in print, broadcast and electronic media. The CPA disbanded in 2000. Ambassador Program (The CPA Letter, Jan.) which mobilizes CPAs as highly trained and influential spokespeople. Approximately 400 CPAs were polled on four topics: the concerns of small business in local economies; CPAs' strengths and capabilities beneficial to the small business community; the organizations serving small businesses; and the top state or national legislative and regulatory issues affecting small businesses. Health care and taxes were deemed "extremely important" among small business concerns, with other pressing issues being labor, the local economy, declining profitability, succession planning Management Succession Planning In organizational development, succession planning is the process of identifying and preparing suitable employees through mentoring, training and job rotation, to replace key players — such as the chief executive officer (CEO) — and OSHA OSHA n. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a branch of the US Department of Labor responsible for establishing and enforcing safety and health standards in the workplace. . Asked about CPAs' strengths that are extremely important to the small business community, respondents said the ability to create trustworthy, high-quality relationships, and objectivity and integrity. Additional attributes considered very important included the capability to provide a breadth of services; being attuned at·tune tr.v. at·tuned, at·tun·ing, at·tunes 1. To bring into a harmonious or responsive relationship: an industry that is not attuned to market demands. 2. to broad business issues; possessing detailed knowledge of a business or industry; having the expertise necessary to work with small businesses through various business cycles; and the capability to link data, knowledge and insight together to provide quality advice for decision making. On the subject of organizations most valuable to small businesses, respondents said specific industry groups or associations. State/local economic development agencies, chambers of commerce and the Small Business Administration were mentioned as well. Other organizations noted included colleges and universities, local community organizations, governments, churches, and small business and minority development centers. Tax-related issues emerged as the top priority legislative and regulatory issues for small businesses. Within tax issues were such items as the consistency, complexity, compliance and structure of tax laws; state income tax laws; increasing state taxes; property taxes; estate taxes; payroll taxes Payroll Tax Tax an employer withholds and/or pays on behalf of their employees based on the wage or salary of the employee. In most countries, including the U.S., both state and federal authorities collect some form of payroll tax. ; the amount of total tax burden; interstate in·ter·state adj. Involving, existing between, or connecting two or more states. n. One of a system of highways extending between the major cities of the 48 contiguous United States. Noun 1. tax compliance and tax relief. Health care, which covered issues such as health care insurance, access, laws and availability, was the second topic of priority. Wage/hour laws, workers compensation and the cost and complexity of regulations also surfaced as areas of concern. |
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