In a conversation with Winn Tucson, NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich discussed the findings of the latest Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report and why Main Street Arizonans need tax conformity now.

“Small business owners are dealing with challenges every day with their business,” he said when asked about the economic report. “As you can see in our optimism index, our members respond frankly immediately to the conditions on the ground. If gas prices are going up, that’s impacting their bottom line today. If gas prices go down, of course, that’s a better thing for them from a cost perspective.”

Heinrich continued, noting that aligning the state tax code with changes at the federal level would help deliver long-term tax certainty for Main Street.

“We have uncertainty as we speak right now, because we have the Legislature still in session, a budget stand-off, a budget negotiation happening,” he said. “One of the bigger issues we’ve been dealing with toward the thought of uncertainty with small business owners is something that we honestly should have settled early on this calendar year, and that’s conforming with the changes that were made to the federal tax law. […] What I’ve shared with lawmakers and continue to share is really how conforming with the key expensing provisions that were passed and made permanent in federal law, why that’s important for Arizona and Arizona’s small business economy.”

CLICK HERE to listen to the full conversation.