Writers get off L.A. tax hook *

A long-awaited business tax reform plan pushed by Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti is due to be voted on in the City Council Wednesday, with good prospects of passage. They say it would eliminate all city business taxes for 60% of the people and companies that pay now, lower the tax rate for everyone else by 15%, and simplify the complex layers of instructions. Attention freelancers: Remember those threatening letters demanding the city's cut if you filed a Schedule C on your state tax return? The reform package eliminates the city tax for writers and artists who take in under $300,000 a year. It apparently faces a final hurdle in the council's budget committee this afternoon before winning approval tomorrow.

* Update: It passed, as expected.