[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”22px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_cta title=”Take Action Now: Advocate Against Policies & Excessive Regulation” button_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/polling-and-research\/contact-your-representatives-in-congress-to-join-the-cong” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Make your voice heard! Contact Your Representatives in Congress to advocate for change. Click to act!” admin_label=”Call To Action Top” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#397389″ custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”#ff0019″ custom_margin=”-17px|||||” custom_padding=”16px||19px|||” global_module=”9695″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_cta][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.3″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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By Pat Soldano<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n With 85.5% of family businesses having majority or sole ownership by family members <\/a>the questions of who, when, and how a family business is transitioned to the \u201cNext Gen\u201d is a persistent conversation, and a difficult one.<\/p>\n The real goal of a transition is much more than a good hand-off. It\u2019s as much about continuity and prosperity as about transition management. It\u2019s about keeping the family business legacy strong, growing, and better for descendants. Maybe there\u2019s a little bit of immortality at stake, too, but the idea of a future existence prospering provides us with a strong reason to do the right thing now. \u00a0<\/p>\n Do our legislators think like that? <\/a>Do our legislators today understand they can very easily make life much worse for future generations?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should we even care about what happens to people after we\u2019re gone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Philosophers and futurists ask this question from Oxford to Harvard. And maybe some of our elected officials quietly ask themselves this question too since their greatest worry is surviving the next election cycle. \u00a0<\/p>\n The answer, if you own a family business, or work in a family business, is that there is a reciprocity between the present and future.<\/a> It\u2019s an unspoken conversation with the future. It\u2019s a conversation that we will do the right thing today so these future people, who we don\u2019t even know, can live better, and do the right thing for the next generation, and so on.\u00a0<\/p>\n The future is counting on us, and we are counting on them. In effect, there\u2019s mutual dependence between present and future.<\/p>\n This conversation with the future, to preserve and sustain things we value forever, is based on more than a P&L or business valuation.<\/a> There is a real love and caring for what has been created in the past and present. There is a real desire to make the enterprise even better in the future. It goes well beyond mere \u201ctransitioning.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n But caring for the future is not easy. If you listen to family business leaders today, they tell us the future killers are taxes, taxes of all types.<\/a> But personal income taxes are the real killer.<\/p>\n This may sound common, or predictably hyperbolic, but this is what the present leaders are telling us right now about their future.<\/p>\n In our just released Family Business Annual Survey 2024<\/a> we surveyed nearly 800 family business leaders, and the number one tax concern, was the income tax and the second economic worry was also \u201cpersonal income taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n When we asked, \u201cWhat is your top tax concern,\u201d 41% said \u201cpersonal income taxes.\u201d<\/a> It was not \u201ccapital gains\u201d or \u201cestate taxes,\u201d but they focused on the very high personal income rates.<\/p>\n Another big economic worry, the survey found, is the \u201cFederal Budget\/Deficit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n As for a pending \u201cWealth Tax,\u201d only 5% may be worried about it, up from zero in 2023. <\/a>And when it comes to the Estate Tax, family business owners, 36% would like to keep the current exemption level at $12.92 million per person through 2025. But 26% want a complete repeal, and 16% want to reduce the rate further.<\/p>\n The real worries are based in the very near future: 2026. These worries carry deep into the soul of the distant future, and into the Next Next Next Gen.<\/a> Simply, it\u2019s time to prepare for the possibility that taxes will make the future less prosperous.<\/p>\n The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act lowered individual tax rates, doubled the standard deduction, and shielded many estates from federal estate taxes, but they\u2019re scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n The White House supports extending the individual tax cuts for some families but wants to pair the extension with higher taxes, and a new tax on assets, (think \u201cWealth Tax\u201d), Corporations, and \u201chigh income earners\u201d as well as other tax provisions that could impact family businesses and successful individuals. \u00a0<\/p>\n If Congress and the White House fail to reach an agreement by the end of 2025, tax rates will automatically revert to 2017 levels. This is where the conversation between the present and future breaks down. This is where the future looks like less.<\/p>\n And to make future matters dicier, Generation Z,<\/a> those between 12 and 27 years old, believe Congress is clueless about their tomorrow.<\/p>\n In a recent Gen Z focus group session held by researcher and pollster Dr. Frank Luntz the current Congress received a big thumbs down.<\/p>\n When Luntz asked the randomly selected group, \u201cDoes Congress understand my needs?\u201d the answer was a resounding, 100% \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n The Gen Z retorts ranged from the current capitalistic system \u201cdoes not support me\u201d to \u201cit\u2019s not a fair system for all\u201d to \u201cdemocracy is not working.\u201d In addition they do not know who to trust; they do not trust corporations and do not trust legislators.<\/p>\n As Congress tackles tax reforms in 2025, it should balance broader budgetary constraints, additional tax simplification, and what it will take to keep the engines of economic growth going down the road for Gens Z, A, B, and C.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many of the tax proposals interact with each other, and reforms proposed will have implications for other parts of the tax code and our national debt that should also be addressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bad decisions today do affect tomorrow, and we can all agree the survival of future generations is in our own best interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is a solution: let\u2019s convince our representatives in Washington, DC, that policies that hurt family businesses, and their employees, not only hurt the present, but are killers for future generations<\/a>, and we need to speak for the future today because no one else will.<\/p>\n Pat Soldano, President of Family Enterprise USA<\/a>, and the Policy Taxation Group<\/a>, both are non-partisan organizations advocating for family businesses of all sizes and are the organizers of the Family Enterprise USA Annual Family Business Survey.<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider divider_style=”dotted” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Become a member text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/donate-2\/” global_module=”5822″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As we prepare for what promises to be a pivotal year for America, we’re asking you to consider becoming a member.<\/p>\n The need for fact-based reporting of issues important to multi generational businesses<\/a> and protecting a lifetime of savings<\/a> has never been greater. Now more than ever, multi generational businesses<\/a> and family businesses<\/a> are under fire. That’s why Family Enterprise USA<\/a> is passionately working to increase the awareness of issues important to generationally-owned family businesses<\/a> built on hard work, while continuing to strengthen our presence on Capitol Hill. The issues we fight for or against with Congress in Washington DC include high income tax rates<\/a>, possible elimination of valuation discounts, increase in capital gains tax<\/a>, enactment of a wealth tax<\/a>, and the continued burden of the gift tax<\/a>, estate tax<\/a> and generation skipping tax<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/donate\/” button_text=”Become a Family Enterprise USA Member” button_alignment=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Become FEUSA member button” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” global_module=”6503″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_divider divider_style=”dotted” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_video_slider admin_label=”Video Slider Webinar Replays” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_module=”5954″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ebLC74TMplE” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fIbiW_qFdE0″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uKyoSHKZ-5o&t=81s” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KIgfjsdi4o0″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6ME0xh9XKSM” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ggte5YDferU” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GnpvvzhcfS0″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][et_pb_video_slider_item src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6UMxZ8yBsOs” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” show_image_overlay=”off”][\/et_pb_video_slider_item][\/et_pb_video_slider][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”FEUSA Statement” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/donate-2\/” global_module=”5910″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Family Enterprise USA<\/a> promotes generationally<\/a> owned family business<\/a> creation, growth, viability, and sustainability by advocating for family businesses<\/a> and their lifetime of savings with Congress<\/a> in Washington DC.\u00a0 Since 2007, Family Enterprise USA<\/a> has represented and celebrated\u00a0all sizes, professions and industries of family-owned enterprises and multi-generational<\/a> employers. It is a bi-partisan 501.c3 organization.\u00a0Family foundations can donate.<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Hash tags & Tags” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_module=”6498″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n #incometax #taxseason #federaltaxpolicy #taxation #EstateTax #Deathtax #wealthtax #taxLegislation #CongressionalCaucus #CapitalGainsTax #incometaxrates #incometaxseason #taxrefund #taxreturn #incometaxreturn #gifttax #Generationskippingtax #InheritanceTax #repealestatetax #FamilyBusiness #promotefamilybusinesses #familyowned #supportlocalbusiness #womeninbusiness #AdvocatingForFamilyBusinesses #Generationallyowned #Multigenerationalbusiness\u00a0 @FamilyEnterpriseUSA @PolicyAndTaxationGroup @DitchTheEstateTax #FamilyEnterpriseUSA #PolicyAndTaxationGroup #DitchTheEstateTax<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Next Gen is Counting on Us to Slow Impact of High Taxes By Pat Soldano With 85.5% of family businesses having majority or sole ownership by family members the questions of who, when, and how a family business is transitioned to the \u201cNext Gen\u201d is a persistent conversation, and a difficult one. The real […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10984,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[48,3,92,103,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-businesses","category-feusa","category-multi-generational-business","category-next-gen","category-pat-soldano"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10980"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10980\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10985,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10980\/revisions\/10985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyenterpriseusa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}We hope you’ve enjoyed this article. While you’re here, we have a small favor to ask…<\/em><\/h4>\n
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