The Portland Metro Chamber has joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and organizations across the country in urging Congress to preserve the state and local business tax (B-SALT) deduction as lawmakers consider making the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.
Why This Matters to Portland Businesses
As Congress debates extending provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, some policymakers have proposed capping or limiting the B-SALT deduction. This would effectively create a backdoor tax increase on businesses of all sizes, with potential impacts exceeding $600 billion nationwide.
For businesses in the Portland metro area, state and local business taxes are necessary operating expenses, not optional costs. Limiting the deductibility of these mandatory expenses would place an additional burden on our local businesses at a time when economic stability and growth remain essential priorities.
The Coalition’s Position
The coalition letter, which our Chamber has signed, emphasizes that limiting the B-SALT deduction would:
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- Create a substantial tax increase for businesses of all sizes
- Impact employers in every state, including Oregon
- Potentially drain over $600 billion from American businesses over a decade
- Undermine the pro-growth elements of the tax code that Congress aims to preserve
Our Commitment
The Portland Metro Chamber remains committed to advocating for policies that support business growth, job creation, and economic prosperity in our region. By joining this nationwide effort, we’re ensuring Portland’s business community has a voice in this critical federal tax policy discussion.
We will continue to monitor this issue closely and provide updates to our members as the legislative process advances.
For more information about the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, please contact our Policy Team.