Margins Tax & Manufacturing Roundtable

Description

A Direct Conversation with Representative April Berg and Senator Tina Orwall

Washington’s business tax system could be changing—and the businesses that will be impacted need to be part of the conversation before decisions are made.

The Kent Chamber of Commerce and Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce invite manufacturers, employers, business owners, financial and tax professionals, and community leaders to participate in an important Margins Tax & Manufacturing Roundtable with Representative April Berg and Senator Tina Orwall.

This is not a traditional presentation. This is a working conversation.

State leaders are exploring potential changes to Washington’s business tax structure, including discussion around a Margins Tax and how it could compare with or potentially change the state’s current Business & Occupation (B&O) tax system.

We want businesses at the table to share what those changes could mean in the real world.

Participants will have an opportunity to speak directly with policymakers about issues including:

• Cost of goods sold and operating expenses
• Payroll and employee compensation
• Tax predictability
• Administrative and compliance burdens
• Capital investments and equipment
• Business expansion and job creation
• Protections for small and growing businesses
• Washington’s overall business competitiveness
• Potential unintended consequences of a new tax structure

Why Your Voice Matters

Tax policy affects more than a balance sheet. It influences decisions about hiring, wages, equipment, facilities, expansion, investment, pricing, and whether businesses can continue to grow in Washington.

As lawmakers consider how Washington can create a more equitable and sustainable business tax system, they need to hear directly from the employers who will operate under it.

Some of the questions we will explore include:

Would a Margins Tax make it easier or harder to operate and grow a business in Washington?

How should expenses such as goods sold and employee compensation be treated?

What protections should exist for small businesses and companies operating on narrow margins?

How can Washington improve tax fairness while maintaining predictability and competitiveness?

What would businesses need in order to confidently invest, hire, and expand?

If Washington changes its business tax structure, what should a responsible transition look like?

This is an opportunity to help policymakers understand what businesses are experiencing now—and what they need from Washington’s future tax system.

Come prepared to ask questions, share your experiences, identify concerns, discuss potential solutions, and help shape the conversation before proposals are finalized.