December 10, 2010
Dear Senator:

On behalf of the International Franchise Association (IFA), I strongly urge you to support the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act. This bipartisan extension of expiring tax measures is critical to small franchised businesses, and the IFA will consider all votes on this measure among our annual list of “Key Votes.”
As the largest and oldest franchising trade group, the IFA’s mission is to safeguard the business environment for franchising worldwide. IFA represents more than 85 industries, including more than 11,000 franchisee, 1,100 franchisor and 500 supplier members nationwide. According to a 2008 study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, there are more than 900,000 franchised establishments in the U.S. that are responsible for creating 21 million American jobs and generating $2.3 trillion in economic output.
The two-year extension will provide an important boost for entrepreneurs and individual taxpayers as the economy continues to recover. This measure also includes key tax relief for small business owners and restaurants, by continuing the shortened depreciation schedule for restaurant and retail buildings and allowing businesses to write off the full cost of new investments in equipment. It also contains a pro-small business solution for the expired estate tax by setting the tax rate at 35 percent with an exemption level of $5 million. Finally, the tax relief legislation will assist every American and help boost the consumer activity vital to our economic recovery.
While the IFA has long advocated for a permanent extension of the marginal tax rates that were enacted in 2001 and 2003, the two-year extension is an important first step toward a simpler, pro-growth tax policy in the long term. Franchised business leaders, investors and their millions of employees are looking to Congress for help. We strongly urge you to support the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act. Again, the IFA will consider all votes related to this measure among our annual list of “Key Votes.”
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,
Stephen J. Caldeira
President & Chief Executive Officer