Business wants all aboard in tax reform

A group of business powerhouses said Thursday it wants Congress to make sure that tax reform helps companies of all shapes and sizes. 

{mosads}The Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Federation of Independent Business and the National Retail Federation were among the dozens of trade groups to make that point to the top tax writers on Capitol Hill. 

“The goal of any effort to rewrite the federal tax code should be a balanced and fiscally responsible plan that allows businesses in the United States to grow, create well-paying jobs and effectively compete in the global marketplace,” the groups wrote. 

President Obama fleshed out his proposal to revamp how U.S. businesses pay taxes, which top Republicans on Capitol Hill called a small step in the right direction. GOP lawmakers also said they were glad that the White House has committed to include both corporations and businesses that pay taxes through the individual system — so-called pass-throughs — in tax reform. 

“Any discussion about reforming the tax code must be comprehensive and cover enterprises of all sizes, both corporations and pass-throughs,” the groups wrote.

The corporate community and small-business advocates haven’t always been on the same page when it came to tax policy, including during the debate over the fiscal cliff more than two years ago.