Republican efforts to pass a comprehensive bill by July 4 face delays due to parliamentary rulings and procedural issues, with the Senate and House working through debates, amendments, and potential modifications, while Democrats challenge several GOP tax provisions and policy measures.
Democrats plan to challenge multiple GOP tax provisions in upcoming Senate debates, aiming to remove certain measures that don't meet budget rules, while negotiations continue on other legislative issues including Medicaid funding and government agency budgets amid internal GOP disagreements and procedural delays.
Senate Finance is set to reveal modifications to the House-passed megabill, with key provisions like Medicaid and tax policies still under negotiation, including debates over the SALT deduction cap and business tax incentives, as senators aim to pass the bill before July 4.
The Senate Finance Committee is intensifying negotiations on the GOP megabill, with key meetings at the White House to discuss tax components, while House GOP plans to pass a $9.4 billion spending rescission package, amidst political debates and upcoming special elections. Meanwhile, Democrats are vying for leadership positions and responding to internal and external challenges.
MercadoLibre, the e-commerce giant of Latin America, reported a stable fourth-quarter net profit of $165 million, impacted by one-off tax provisions in Brazil totaling $351 million, which analysts had anticipated. Excluding the one-offs, the net profit would have been $383 million. The company posted a 42% year-on-year increase in quarterly net revenues to $4.26 billion, with sales in Brazil rising 35%. However, its quarterly operating margin without one-offs stood at 13.4%, compared with 18.2% in the third quarter, leading to questions about its ability to maintain growth with profitability.
Inflation will impact Social Security benefits and income-tax provisions for 2024, with the Social Security Administration expected to announce a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of around 3 to 3.5% for next year. Additionally, various federal tax provisions will be adjusted to prevent bracket creep caused by inflation. Tax collections have been rising with inflation, reaching a record high of $4.9 trillion in the fiscal year that ended in September 2022. Furthermore, the IRS has implemented a new policy to end unannounced visits by revenue officers, aiming to enhance safety and reduce confusion for taxpayers and IRS employees.