NFIB Weekly NewsLeading the News Small Businesses Ask Court to Reject Corporate Transparency Act in Amicus Brief (01/30/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 30, 2025) – NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Community Associations Institute, et al. v. U.S. Department of Treasury at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The case concerns the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and beneficial ownership information reporting requirements for small businesses. NFIB’s brief questions Congress’s authority to regulate inactivity or noneconomic activity under the Commerce Clause.
Small Businesses Welcome Bessent’s Focus on Stopping Massive Tax Hike (01/27/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 27, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, congratulated Scott Bessent today on being confirmed as Secretary of the Treasury in a bipartisan vote. During his confirmation hearing, Bessent spoke about the far-reaching, negative consequences for small business owners should the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction expire, noting that: “I think it would be devastating… especially for small businesses.”
NFIB Member spoke on the importance of the 20% Small Business Deduction for Main Street businesses (01/17/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 17, 2025) – Alison Couch, Georgia Small Business Owner and member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) testified before the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means at a hearing titled, “Hearing on The Need to Make Permanent the Trump Tax Cuts for Working Families.” Couch spoke on why it’s critical for Congress to make the 20% Small Business Deduction (Section 199A) permanent. Couch also answered questions from Members of the Committee about how Section 199A has been the single most beneficial tax deduction for small business owners and their communities.
NFIB Leads Coalition Urging Congress to Repeal the Unconstitutional Corporate Transparency Act (01/16/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 16, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, led 60 trade associations in sending a letter to Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL) and Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08) in strong support of their legislation to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act will repeal the CTA and end the burdensome beneficial ownership reporting requirements for more than 32 million small businesses.
NFIB Supports Reintroduction of Legislation to Repeal Beneficial Ownership Reporting for Small Businesses (01/15/2025)
Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act would repeal the Corporate Transparency Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 15, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, supports legislation reintroduced today by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL) and Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-08) to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Repealing the CTA will end the burdensome Beneficial Ownership requirements for more than 32 million small businesses and protect their privacy.
NFIB to Congress: Advance the Small Business Growth Agenda (01/15/2025)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 15, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization released a “Small Business Growth Agenda for the 119th Congress,” which highlights input from NFIB small business members and reflects the top small business legislative priorities.
“The 119th Congress and the incoming Administration have a significant opportunity to advance pro-small business priorities within the next two years,” said Jeff Brabant, NFIB Vice President of Federal Government Relations. “NFIB strongly encourages lawmakers to prioritize the legislative solutions outlined in the Small Business Growth Agenda to fight high inflation, reduce energy and healthcare costs, eliminate red tape, and increase competition – all of which will strengthen the small business economy.”
Business Climate Congress Reintroduces Main Street Tax Certainty Act (02/04/2025)
Making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent is NFIB’s top advocacy priority in 2025. On Jan. 23, Sen. Steve Daines (MT) and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) reintroduced the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which would stop a massive tax hike on Main Street scheduled to happen at the end of this year.
Beneficial Ownership: Supreme Court Decision, Congress Introduces Bill to Repeal (01/31/2025)
The beneficial ownership reporting requirement remains on hold, but on Jan. 23 the U.S. Supreme Court decided to grant the government’s request and reinstated the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Small businesses are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN due to ongoing litigation.
NFIB Disappointed with U.S. Supreme Court Decision on BOI Reporting (01/23/2025)
Supreme Court lifts preliminary injunction that had blocked Beneficial Ownership reporting
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 23, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is disappointed by today’s decision at the U.S. Supreme Court in NFIB’s lawsuit challenging the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al. Following the decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, which blocked enforcement of the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements, and subsequent appellate decisions which ultimately upheld that order, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate the law. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court granted the government’s request.
Supreme Court Clarifies Evidentiary Standards for Small Business FLSA Disputes (01/16/2025)
E.M.D. Sales, Inc. v. Carrera concerns the standard for determining FLSA exceptions
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 16, 2025) – NFIB commends yesterday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case E.M.D Sales, Inc. v. Faustino Sanchez Carrera. The Court determined that the “preponderance of the evidence” standard of proof applies when an employer seeks to demonstrate that an employee is exempt from the minimum wage and overtime pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case with the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center.
Small Business Optimism Surges Again, Reaches Six-Year High (01/14/2025)
Main Street uncertainty declines further as owners feel more confident following November’s election results
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 14, 2025) – The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose by 3.4 points in December to 105.1, the second consecutive month above the 51-year average of 98 and the highest reading since October 2018. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, seven increased, two decreased, and one was unchanged. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in December to 86.
Main Street Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Burdensome Health Care Reporting Requirements (12/11/2024)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 11, 2024) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, commends the U.S. Senate for passing two pieces of bipartisan legislation, the Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act, that would alleviate administrative burdens and red tape for small businesses. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed companion legislation in 2023.
Wages and Benefits NFIB Jobs Report: Main Street Labor Costs Ease in December (01/09/2025)
Fewer small businesses plan to raise compensation in the coming months
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 9, 2025) – NFIB’s December jobs report found that 35% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in December, down one point from November. Seasonally adjusted, a net 29% of small business owners reported raising compensation in December, down three points from November and the lowest reading since March 2021.
Small Business Lawsuit Stops Onerous Overtime Threshold Rule (11/15/2024)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 15, 2024) – Today’s decision by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the case Plano Chamber of Commerce, et al v. DOL is a tremendous win for small businesses. The lawsuit challenged the Department of Labor’s (DOL) overtime rule increasing the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) executive, administrative, or professional exemption (EAP exemption). The Court determined that the rule, which went into effect in July of this year, exceeded the DOL’s statutory authority and should be vacated.
Small Businesses Seek Reconsideration of DOL Overtime Authority (11/04/2024)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 4, 2024) – NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Robert Mayfield v. U.S. Department of Labor urging the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to grant en banc review of a three-judge panel decision concerning the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its exemption from overtime pay requirements for “executive, administrative, or professional” employees (EAP exemption). This case questions whether the Department of Labor’s authority on the EAP exemption allows it to impose a salary threshold test to determine if an employee qualifies for the exemption.
NFIB Jobs Report: Small Business Employment Remains Stable in October (10/31/2024)
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 31, 2024) – NFIB’s October jobs report found that 35% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in October, up one point from September’s lowest reading since January 2021. The percent of small business owners reporting labor quality as their top operating problem rose three points from September to 20%.
NFIB Testifies on Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits Before U.S. House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee (09/11/2024)
NFIB’s Holly Wade spoke on the value of employer-provided health coverage for Main Street businesses and the U.S. economy, as well as the burden of rising costs on small businesses
NFIB Jobs Report: Main Street Job Growth Stalls in August (09/06/2024)
ALBANY, NY (Sept. 6, 2024) – NFIB’s August jobs report found that 40% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in August, up two points from July. Labor quality as the top small business operating problem rose two points from July to 21%, the highest level reported since January of this year.