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Washington Watch
October 29, 2003
One in 11 Women Involved in
Entrepreneurship Worldwide
One in 11 (8.9 percent) of women are involved in
entrepreneurial activity worldwide, according to a
study by the research program Global Entrepreneurship
Monitor (GEM). Of 37 countries studied by the GEM, the
United States rounded out the top ten, with a women
entrepreneurship activity rate of 8.1 percent.
The GEM has followed entrepreneurship rates since
1999, examining the link between the demographic
make-up of a country and the achieved level of
entrepreneurial activity. In the strong causal
relationship the GEM found, the age structure of a
population, the level of participation by women in the
entrepreneurial process, and anticipated population
growth are the critical demographic elements affecting
the rate of activity.
According to the
GEM
study, women are 50 percent less likely to start a
business than are men. Nearly one in seven men (13.9
percent) are entrepreneurs, compared to one in eleven
women.
But, in the United States, the National Women’s
Business Council reports that women-owned businesses
continue to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms.
The NASE recognizes the significant impact women
business owners have on the economy, which is why your
association formed a Women’s Advisory Council to steer
efforts to help this segment of the micro-business
community.
Learn more about the latest
activities of the Women’s Advisory Council
More on
the GEM Study
Contract Bundling Takes a Hit with New
Federal Rule
A new rule for federal agencies published last
week makes contract bundling more difficult, opening the
door to contracting opportunities for small businesses.
Contract bundling occurs when several smaller federal
contracts are combined into one larger one. The result often
leaves small businesses unable to fill the requirements of
the larger, bundled contract.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration Office
of Advocacy, every 100 bundled contracts means that 106
individual contracts are no longer available, and every $100
awarded on a bundled contract has led to a $33 decrease in
contracts to small businesses.
The final rule, supported by the SBA, requires contract
bundling reviews for task and delivery orders under multiple
award contract vehicles; agency review of proposed
acquisitions above specified thresholds for unnecessary and
unjustified contract bundling; identification of alternative
acquisition strategies for the proposed bundling of
contracts above specified thresholds, and written
justification when alternatives involving less bundling are
not used.
For more information, visit
http://www.sba.gov.
New IRS Guidelines Ease Burdens on
Taxpayers
(The IRS Taxpayer Education and Communication office
provided the following “Headliners” article in an effort to
educate micro-business owners and make it easier to fulfill
their tax obligations. For more articles, or more
information about this article, visit
http://www.irs.gov/smallbiz.)
The Internal Revenue Service today announced new facsimile
guidelines that will make it easier for taxpayers and tax
professional to correspond with the agency. The new
guidelines will expand the list of documents and information
the IRS will accept via fax.
The fax changes are aimed at reducing the burden on
taxpayers and practitioners and shortening the time it takes
to resolve tax inquiries and cases. The new guidelines
became effective October 1, 2003, and apply only to
taxpayers and their representatives who are engaged in an
ongoing contact with the IRS, such as an examination or
resolving questions about tax returns that are being
processed. The fax can only take place after a discussion
with the IRS employee who is requesting the information.
These general guidelines are applicable to all divisions and
cover operations related to income tax, employment tax,
excise tax, estate tax, gift tax, and generation skipping
tax, as well as tax exempt and employee plan determinations.
While the IRS has previously accepted forms via fax in
limited situations (such as 1120-S elections and
Powers-of-Attorney) the new guidelines permit an expanded
number of forms and other types of documentation to be
submitted by fax in the course of many return related
inquiries.
The new guidelines are available on
http://www.irs.gov under “Tax Professional.”
Do any of these issues affect you? Visit the NASE Legislative
Action Center and “Tell
Your Micro-Business Story.” This will help the NASE
understand - on a personal level - how key legislative issues
are affecting your business and your bottom line.
For more information about any of the articles in
Washington Watch, contact Maureen Petron, NASE public
affairs manager, at (202) 466-2100 or
mpetron@nase.org.
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