So is it going to be...

A gross receipts tax? From the Trib

The gross-receipts tax would be an alternative to the state's current corporate income tax, which many large businesses do not pay. Confidants of the governor said the plan would impose a sliding scale of tax rates--with a maximum of almost 2 percent--based on the type of business and the amount of gross receipts. The sources, who asked not to be identified because they did not want to pre-empt Blagojevich's formal announcement, said small businesses would be exempt from the tax, as would food and drug transactions.

So I would suggest you call and hire your lobbyist now. Since it will be based on type of business and the amount of gross receipts you don't want to be the guy holding the chair.

And/or will it be as Crains is reporting

A spokeswoman for the governor confirmed Friday that a tax based on some portion of payroll of most companies that do not now offer health insurance to their workers will be included in the new budget proposal.....

Sources familiar with the governor's plan say the new payroll tax would technically be levied on all companies, but companies would receive full, dollar-for-dollar credit for expenditures they already make for worker health insurance. Also exempt would be companies with 10 or fewer employees each, insiders say.

Some questions from the man, what if you offer only some of your staff health insurance but not others? What are the requirements for 'offering' insurance. I can see a business opportunity here offering insurance plans to small businesses that cover virtually nothing, cost a decent penny that they can offer their employees at cost that no-one will take advantage of, but it will be 'offering insurance'. Also if you have 12 employees but 10 are under 18 do they still count?

Lots of questions more to come over at OneMan's Thoughts.


OneMan