Survey: Taxes on consumers big issue for small biz

[November 15, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Small business owners who are worried about the so-called fiscal cliff are concerned beyond their own finances -- they're also uneasy about higher taxes on consumers.

That's the finding of a survey released Wednesday by Small Business Majority, a lobbying group. The survey found that owners are most worried about losing tax breaks that will help their companies, like higher deductions for equipment purchases. They're equally concerned that a 2 percentage point increase in payroll taxes will force consumers to cut spending, leading to lower revenue for small business.

The survey indicates that owners generally aren't focused on one of the most highly publicized aspects of the cliff, an increase scheduled to begin Jan. 1 in tax rates on individuals earning $200,000 or more or households earning $250,000 more.

[Associated Press; By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG]

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