Fiscal Cliff: Tax Talks Bring Uncertainty for Small Businesses

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- With all the tax talk coming out of Washington D.C., small businesses aren't sure how to proceed.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses man in Missouri, Brad Jones, says all the uncertainty coming from D.C. is not good for business.

"I think it's kinda a 'beats the heck out of me what's going to happen with my taxes,' and 'what's going to happen with my health care,' and, like I said, that has lead to a continuation of the hunker down mentality of our small business owners."

Jones says raising taxes on individuals making $250,000 won't just take a bite out of wealthy Americans.

"You know, they think they're getting at the big bad corporations because it's called the corporate income tax. But, when you jack around with the individual income tax, you're messing around with small businesses and lots and lots of them."

Jones says the state legislature needs to change the state's tax structure to become more friendly to small business. He says too many companies in western Missouri are going across the border to Kansas, a state with a less restrictive tax structure for businesses.

Jones says business groups will focus on trying to win some business tax breaks when the legislature reconvenes in January.