NFIB member John Overton testified before the House Ways and Means Committee last month to raise concerns about a new parish electronic filing system that could significantly increase costs and compliance burdens for small businesses.

Overton, owner and CFO of Turn Key Solutions with offices in Baton Rouge and Metairie, will share his experience with the proposed parish e-file initiative and explain how the system would raise administrative expenses and create new reporting challenges for small business owners.

The parish e-file initiative raises serious concerns related to increased compliance obligations, limited filing options, and a difficult implementation timeline, NFIB State Director Leah Long said.

Under the proposal, many businesses would be required to file more frequently, often monthly, and reconcile parish-level gross sales with state totals. These new requirements would apply even in parishes where businesses have no physical presence, dramatically increasing the number of filings and associated compliance costs.

Long said the proposed Jan. 1 implementation date also presents challenges due to insufficient communication with business owners and limited time to prepare for the transition.

“Small business owners want to comply with the law, but this proposal makes compliance more complicated and more expensive,” she said. “Lawmakers should slow down this process and fix the problems before moving forward.”