The end of the world, Mayan-calendar-style, in 2012? Nah (fingers crossed).

Another global financial crisis before 2015? Well … maybe. more

Two reports this week heavily underscore the need for businesses to keep a close watch on state tax issues.

Measures of the business-friendliness of U.S. jurisdictions usually focus on straight tax rates, but Forbes breaks from the pack with a look at state tax burdens based on a simple, rough-and-ready metric: the number of private-sector workers compared to the number of government workers and needy people in each state. more

Corporate income tax rates have been on the decline in many parts of the world as countries position themselves to attract new businesses and investments. But that trend may be heading for at least a temporary halt. more

The IRS dropped a gentle hint last week that it really, really isn’t kidding about a long-planned audit campaign to examine employment tax and worker classification issues. The audits, originally scheduled to start in October of this year, are now slated for February 2010. more

Tucked into legislation aimed at extending unemployment insurance benefits is an amendment that could bring significant tax relief for businesses that have endured net operating losses (NOLs) in the recession. The proposal would let companies of all sizes carry back those losses for a refund of taxes paid in the five previous years, instead of the two years generally allowed under current law. The tax break looks a lot like one that was slated for the stimulus package earlier this year but was drastically scaled back at the last minute to apply only to businesses with revenue of $15 million a year or less (see my blog here.) more