Tax and Finance Management

Evaluating Deductions for Business Interest Expense

The 2017 federal tax reform imposed a limit on the deduction for business interest expense for certain taxpayers. OMA Connections Partner CliftonLarsonAllen has published this guidance for manufacturing and distribution businesses that may be impacted. Businesses are encouraged to review their tax situations carefully before considering elections or changes. 2/9/2022

March 1 Webinar Will Focus on ESOPs

On March 1, OMA Connections Partner GBQ Partners will host a no-cost webinar for business owners that are considering implementing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The event will discuss the advantages of ESOP ownership and provide guidance to determine whether your company is a good candidate for an ESOP. 2/8/2022

OMA Tax Committee Meets Feb. 23

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, the OMA Tax and Finance Committee will host its first meeting of 2022 (with in-person and virtual attendance options). Register here.

Members interested in OMA policy committee activity can review this calendar of all 2022 meeting dates. 2/10/2022

Future Federal Tax Burden Tied to Interest Rates

Speculation continues regarding how many times the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates in 2022. Goldman Sachs has increased its estimate to five rate hikes; Bank of America expects seven. But others say the Fed will take a softer approach if inflation starts to ease.

OMA Connections Partner RSM has provided its perspective, saying it doesn’t expect steep interest rate hikes like those experienced in the early 1980s.

One thing is for certain: Higher interest rates will increase the interest owed on the nation’s soaring federal debt. This CNBC guest editorial notes that in just a few years, more than half of every dollar paid in federal income taxes will go towards the interest on the public debt. 2/2/2022

Understanding Tax Treatment of the Employee Retention Credit

The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) gave many businesses impacted by COVID-19 the opportunity to file payroll tax refund claims for a much-needed infusion of cash to keep their businesses running. Now, as the 2021 tax filing season kicks off, businesses are wondering about the income tax treatment of the ERC.

In this analysis, OMA Connections Partner GBQ Partners writes that based on IRS guidance, the ERC is not included in a taxpayer’s income. However, an employer must reduce its wage expense for the ERC, effectively increasing taxable income by the amount of the credit. 1/24/2022

Report: IRS Already Facing Major Backlog

The IRS currently has a backlog of more than 10 million unprocessed returns and three million pieces of unanswered taxpayer correspondence. So manage your expectations of the IRS this tax-filing season, OMA Connections Partner Clark Schaefer Hackett says. The firm has published these suggested steps to make tax season more manageable. 1/27/2022

OMA Urges Caution on Proposed CAT Repeal

This week, the OMA testified before the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee on House Bill 234, legislation that would repeal the state’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), a manufacturing-friendly gross receipts tax that imposes a single low rate of 0.26% on business’ in-state gross receipts above $1 million. (Out-of-state sales are exempt.)

The CAT was created in 2005 — with the support of the OMA — to replace Ohio’s antiquated taxes on corporate franchises and tangible personal property. Prior to the CAT’s enactment, Ohio was at a major disadvantage in attracting new manufacturing due to the machinery and inventory tax.

At this week’s hearing, Rachael Carl, the OMA’s director of public policy services, told lawmakers the CAT has largely been successful, noting that multiple studies have found Ohio is one of the best states in the nation in which to do business. She urged legislators to use caution when considering CAT repeal.

Carl said, “If Ohio can truly forgo the approximately $2 billion in revenue generated by the CAT, we are in. But should the state find itself in a situation in which the foregone revenue becomes an issue for balancing its budget, a repeal-now-replace-later approach would create uncertainty for businesses everywhere.” 1/19/2022

Citing Infrastructure Concerns, DeWine Opposes Temporarily Lowering Fuel Taxes

Due to the state’s growing infrastructure needs, Gov. Mike DeWine does not support a temporary reduction of Ohio’s fuel taxes, according to Gongwer News Service.

In 2019, Ohio enacted House Bill 62, which raised the state’s gasoline tax 10.5 cents a gallon and Ohio’s diesel tax by 19 cents a gallon. Earlier this month, Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) introduced Senate Bill 277 to reduce the gasoline tax by 10.5 cents per gallon over a five-year period, while cutting the diesel fuel tax by 20 cents per gallon.

Ohio received a grade of C- for its infrastructure in the most recent report issued by the American Society of Engineers. 1/20/2022

At a Glance: Ohio’s Unemployment Fund, 2000-2020

Ohio’s non-partisan Legislative Service Commission (LSC) has published this infographic illustrating Ohio’s Unemployment Trust Fund revenue and benefits from 2000-2020. The fund, which is fully paid for by Ohio employers, was last deemed solvent in 1974, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

In 2021, the OMA successfully advocated for legislation to use pandemic-related relief funds to repay Ohio’s federal loan that funded unemployment benefits during the early months of the pandemic. Without action by the General Assembly and Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio employers would have faced a substantial tax hike. 1/11/2022

Producer Prices Up 9.7% Over the Past Year

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the producer-price index rose 0.2% in December from November, the slowest pace since November 2020, which could indicate easing inflationary pressures in the supply chain. Nonetheless, prices remain much higher than a year ago, climbing 9.7% on a 12-month basis, down just slightly from November’s record 9.8% jump.

Meanwhile, the consumer price index (CPI) rose 7% in December from a year earlier — the fastest pace since June 1982. 1/13/2022