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The Self-Employed Push to Repeal the 'Health-Care Tax'

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Robert Dolan Aug 13, 2009 4:44 AM GMT The statement that self-employed workers are the only taxpayers in the system who pay taxes on premiums is factual error. Part-time payroll employees who are not eligible for insurance through the job but purchase individual plans instead are not able to claim even the limited automatic deductions available to the self-employed.
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David L. Zalles, CPA Aug 13, 2009 1:45 AM GMT 1. Self-employeds do get an income tax deduction for S E Health Isurance Premiums.2. If self-employeds hire their spouses legitimately, then the "employed spouse" can be given the coverage to include their spouse, and the premiums are a deductible expense on Schedule C, and thereby reduce the S E Tax as you discussed.3. If the Schedule C shows taxable income in excess of the SS earnings limit, say $ 100,000, then there is no SE Tax for the FICA portion on earnings above that limit anyway.4. The Association should be informing its members of these tax rules, and suggesting that they have accountants/tax preparers if they are doing their own income taxes.
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D. Finn Aug 12, 2009 8:26 PM GMT Just to keep the record straight, this is not an Obama add-on. This bill has been in existence for 40+ years under several administrations. It is an archaic law and should be repealed.
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Karl Aug 12, 2009 7:40 PM GMT ELIMINATING the FRAUD & CORRUPTION that exists in the current system would be a good place to start, right? I wonder WHY Congress doesn't want to address this issue? I guess that FRAUD & CORRUPTION are mainstays in our country, huh?
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john campbell Aug 12, 2009 6:36 PM GMT This needs to get fixed. I don't care if everyone pays taxes on healthcare, or no one does, but to only make small entrepreneurs and freelancers pay the tax is obviously bad policy.
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gerrrg Aug 12, 2009 11:19 AM GMT Congress just needs to extend the HSA/FSA rules to everyone, and get rid of the use-it-or-lose-it rule. It's not about winners and losers, it's about what's right.
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emenot Aug 12, 2009 6:54 AM GMT I will support this Health Care Reform if it would provide tax relief of self employed and only available for U.S. citizen and legal aliens! No exceptions!!!
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Jim Aug 12, 2009 3:52 AM GMT This would be a useful first step. Another one would be to demand the IRS crack down on employers who deliberately hire people who are obviously employees and misclassify them as contract workers in order to avoid issues like benefits and having to pay matching social security and medicare tax. This would make many 'self employed' people eligible for coverage, and even if they had to buy it themselves, the reduction in the amount of additional taxes they pay due to the misclassification might make it affordable for them. And penalties levied against employers caught violating the law would offset a portion of the costs, as well.
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Squeezebox Aug 11, 2009 5:21 PM GMT The prsident has said he wants to help small businesses. These are the smallest busineeses of all, and cutting this tax would definitely help them.
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