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Q&A Summary - Bridge Act (Rev. 10-21-08)
Q&A Summary - Bridge Act (Rev. 10-21-08)
Q: When is a rapidly growing business in “No Man’s Land” for capital funding purposes?
A: First, when the firm’s financing needs are within the “capital funding gap” of $250,000 to $1,000,000, it is very difficult
and costly for growing, small businesses to obtain external funding. Second, when the return on assets is less than the
rate of revenue growth, the business cash flow becomes negative under accrual accounting even though the business
may be profitable and owe income taxes.
Q: Would it be possible, using gross receipts data, to manipulate the growth figures to qualify?
A: Not likely, since the current year’s gross receipts must be 10% or more above the average gross receipts for the prior 2-
year period.
Q: How much Federal income tax deferral is authorized under the proposal?
A: The aggregate tax deferral is limited to $250,000 for each business entity, or a lesser amount should the business
exceed $10 million in gross receipts in the meantime. Partners of a partnership or shareholders of an S corporation
would be limited to a combined total of $250,000 of tax deferral for each entity.
Q: How does the IRS ruling on cash accounting affect businesses eligible for the tax deferral?
A: The Bridge Act only applies to growing businesses on accrual accounting. Growth businesses need to be on accrual
accounting to obtain outside financing and to have outside audited financial statements. The IRS ruling increasing the
cash accounting gross receipts limit to $10 million generally applies only to service businesses; it does not apply to C
corporations with average annual gross receipts of more than $5 million.
Q: Are other sources of capital readily available to small, emerging growth businesses?
A: Very few, and generally only to the most promising and well-connected businesses. The lack of capital funding is most
urgent for growing, small businesses with funding needs between $250,000 to $1,000,000. Funding needs below
$250,000 generally are available from family, friends, credit cards, home equity credit, and banks (personal credit
basis). Funding needs between $250,000 and $1,000,000 may be available from so-called “angel” financiers, “factors,”
and in limited cases from SBA loan guarantees and SBICs that have met certain capital requirements. When a
business reaches a $1,000,000 funding level, it generally has a much better opportunity to attract capital funds from
traditional sources. A profitable $10,000,000 or more gross receipts level is more likely to support an asset-based loan
from banks and other financing sources.
Q: Are there venture capital or private equity sources of funds for small, emerging growth businesses?
A: Usually not. As the venture capital and private equity industries have grown, their investments generally are well above
the $1,000,000 funding level.
Q: What are the benefits of the tax deferral proposal for emerging growth businesses?
A: First, the proposal will benefit thousands of emerging growth businesses with $10,000,000 or less in gross receipts,
which will help the U. S. economy to grow and expand job opportunities, with the potential of creating up to 641,000
new jobs in the first 3 years. Second, the proposal is neutral as to the types of businesses that will benefit (businesses
are eligible, whether capital-intensive or services, if they meet the growth and sales tests). Third, the proposal is a tax
deferral, payable with interest, thus minimizing the long-term revenue cost. Fourth, the proposal will provide emerging
growth businesses a source of needed capital financing when few outside sources are readily available at an affordable
cost.