The liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, citing 2003 data from the non-partisan Tax Policy Center, said in a report that 436,000 tax filers with small-business income — 1.3% of the 32.8 million filers with small-business income — were subject to the top income tax rate. Another Tax Policy Center analysis concluded that "roughly
97% of small businesses would not be affected at all by increases in the top two tax rates."
Len Burman, who runs the Tax Policy Center, said recently: "The vast majority of small businesses would not be affected by the Obama tax increases" because they are not in the top two tax brackets. He added, "Most small-business owners have relatively modest incomes."
The McCain campaign cites IRS income data, which it says shows "56.8% of total small-business income is earned by businesses in the top two rates." In other words, a small number of wealthy businesses account for most of the income.
Fact check of second McCain/Obama debate