Ted James, U.S. Small Business Administration

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will lower prescription drug, health care, and ener­gy costs. It will lower the defi­cit and no one making under $400,000 per year will pay a penny more in taxes.

It will also fight climate change. This is a pretty good deal for most of us dealing with our changing climate pat­terns: scorching temperatures, escalating damaging storms, new monsoon seasons and all the havoc they cause.

If we can slow climate change down, we all win.

Lower health care costs are a win, as well, for most, for both families and small businesses. If you are a sole proprietor getting your health insurance from the Affordable Care Act market­place or have employees who use it, health care costs will go down, by up to $800 per year.

Because the Biden/Harris Administration has been suc­cessful in tackling the climate crisis, the IRA will reduce energy bills, saving families (and small businesses) about $500 per year. With just these two measures, we could save about $1,300 a year.

The IRA will also lower prescription drug costs by cap­ping out of pocket expenses on prescription drugs for people on Medicare at $2,000 per year, cap insulin for Medicare patients at $35 per month and finally allow Medicare to negotiate prices.

The IRA creates new avenues for small businesses to make profits if they advance in environmental businesses — making and servicing solar panels and wind turbines, ret­rofitting buildings with energy efficient windows, doors and HVAC units, or entering the supply chain for new electric vehicles, whose components will need to be made in America.

If they want to directly join the climate fight, small busi­nesses can receive a tax credit that covers 30 percent of the cost of switching over to low-cost solar power — lowering operat­ing costs and protecting against the volatile energy prices.

Additionally, small business­es can deduct up to $1.00 per square foot of their business for making high energy efficien­cy upgrades. The per square foot deduction is boosted if the effi­ciency upgrades are completed by workers who are a paid a pre­vailing wage — help­ing businesses save even more money while providing good paying jobs.

The IRA extends the qualified business income deduction, the pass-through deduction, from 2025 through 2027, providing a 20 percent deduction on business income and extends the popular research and development tax credit and increases how much can be applied to payroll taxes.

The R&D credit gives busi­nesses of all sizes the opportu­nity to reduce the taxes they owe based on a formula calculated using expenses they’ve incurred to develop new products. If the new products fight climate change, it’s a double win.

Rural communities, finally, are not left behind. The IRA will help up to 280,000 farmers and ranchers apply conser­vation to approximate­ly 125 million acres of land, provide relief for distressed USDA borrowers whose agricultural operations are at risk through loan modifications or payments and provide financial assistance to farmers who have experienced past discrimination in USDA lending programs.

We need every farmer to contribute to reducing food inflation and feeding the nation and the world.

Together with his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and American Rescue Plan, President Biden’s economic plan is showing we have the courage to build a future where every American has a fair shot!

Ted James is the Region 6 South Central Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ted James, Region 6 South Central Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration