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Thousands of small businesses are struggling because of R&D amortization (twitter.com)

400 points by IndoCanada · 943 days ago · 341 comments on HN

Article summary

The article discusses the struggles of small businesses due to changes in R&D amortization. The new law requires software development costs to be spread over 5 years, rather than being deductible in the year they occur. This change is affecting small businesses, particularly those in the software industry. The exact details of the article are not available, but the comments suggest that this change is having a significant impact on these businesses.

Main themes

  • R&D amortization
  • small business struggles
  • tax law changes
  • software industry impact
  • economic growth and R&D spend
  • tax policy and fairness

What commenters say

  • The new R&D amortization law is having a disproportionate impact on small software businesses.
  • Software development should not be treated as R&D for tax purposes.
  • The law change is a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced taxes for the top bracket.
  • The change in tax law is unfair because it requires software companies to pay taxes on revenue rather than profit.
  • Some argue that software development is a form of R&D and should be treated as such for tax purposes.
  • The distinction between research and development is not clear-cut, and software development can be considered a form of development.
  • The new law may lead to confusion and litigation over what constitutes R&D and how costs should be amortized.