FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matthew Haller, 202-662-0770
Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766
mhaller@franchise.org
jweisbord@franchise.org
IFA THANKS SENATORS FOR EFFORTS TO MOVE TAX REFORM DIALOGUE FORWARD
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2013—International Franchise Association President & CEO Steve Caldeira released the following statement today thanking Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch for their work to move tax reform forward. The Senators released a letter to their colleagues today stating they will be relying on a “Blank Slate” approach as a starting point for tax reform discussions, “that is a tax code without all of the special provisions in the form of exclusions, deductions and credits and other preferences that some refer to as tax expenditures.”
“Franchise businesses make daily decisions about investing in new businesses and creating new jobs, but the complexity of the tax code is a primary concern that is holding back the industry from its full potential for growth. Replacing the current code with a system that is simpler and fairer for all Americans is needed to sustain long-term economic growth, and I applaud Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member Hatch and members of the Senate Finance Committee, along with their counterparts on the House Ways & Means Committee, for moving the dialogue on tax reform forward.”
As IFA has stated for years, comprehensive tax reform that incentivizes and rewards entrepreneurship, investment, job creation and does not penalize success, would enhance the business environment for franchising and the overall U.S. economy. Reform of only the corporate tax code without also simultaneously addressing the individual section of the tax code would create an un-level playing field for the more than 70 percent of franchise small business owners. As an organization representing franchisors and franchisees of all sizes, IFA strongly believes that any efforts to overhaul the tax system should address the needs of all business owners, regardless of whether they file their taxes on corporate or individual returns.
“IFA will continue to work with Congressional leaders as this process moves forward to ensure that IFA members’ interests are fully represented in this critical reform effort that, if done correctly, will truly unleash the job creating engine that is the franchise industry.”
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About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.
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