If you own a small business, you may have just dodged a bullet you didn't even know about. Last week, a federal judge in Texas issued a temporary restraining order against a new requirement that small companies identify their owners to the federal government. Since many small businesses remain unaware of the intrusive rule, this is a welcome reprieve for people who face nasty civil and criminal penalties for failing to comply. Don't get too comfortable yet, though: The feds plan to appeal, which means you should probably still get your paperwork in order, just in case.
