Even if a flat tax rate would impact payments in 2012, 48 percent of business owners say they would not prefer one while 27 percent say they would prefer one and another 25 percent say they are indifferent, according to a recent survey by the Small Business Authority.

The survey also shows that 57 percent of respondents say they would rather pay the same tax amount and would be willing to receive the same or fewer government services instead of paying a more in tax and receiving more government services. Another 55 percent of respondents say they do not completely understand all aspects of their tax returns.

"Once again, we find interesting dynamics in our SB Authority Market Sentiment Survey," says Barry Sloane, chairman, president and CEO of The Small Business Authority. "It is clear from the results of our poll that the majority of business owners, despite wanting tax simplification, would prefer not to have a flat tax and give up all their deductions. The fear of the unknown, which is what their effective rate would be versus tax simplification, is not a tradeoff that they are prepared to make at this point in time. It was also interesting to note that business owners clearly do not believe they are getting a good return on their tax dollars as the majority prefers to have the same tax contribution for fewer services than a greater tax contribution for greater potential government spending.