BizSugar.com › Taxes › The $250,000 Small Business Tax Question

In the weeks since President Obama proposed rolling back federal income tax rates on the nation's top two marginal tax rates as part of his federal budget, the term "small business owner" has turned into a political football.

Proponents of the budget proposal claim that less than 3% of small business owners have net household income above $250,000, the threshold over which tax rates go up under Obama's plan. Budget opponents, on the other hand, claim that 15% or more of small business owners will be negatively affected, and at a time when many small companies are struggling.

What's the reality, and why is it so tough to parse?