A second local company in two days is declaring a special dividend for shareholders ahead of expected federal tax increases.

Directors of Advant-e Corp. declared Wednesday the payment of 2 cents per share special cash dividend, payable Dec. 28, 2012 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 18, 2012. That payout will total some $1.3 million, the company said.

On Tuesday, Shelby County RV producer Thor approved its own special cash dividend of $1.50 per share. Thor directors also approved an acceleration of the payment of Thor’s regular quarterly dividend of 18 cents per share from next month to this month.

Many publicly traded companies are approving early or “special” dividend payments ahead of the so-called “fiscal cliff,” when federal taxes on dividends are expected to rise. The move has been made already by “dozens” of companies, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Dillard’s Inc. and others, the Wall Street Journal said.

Advant-e also said that as of Dec. 11, it has repurchased 4.3 million shares at a cost of $1.1 million at an average cost of about 26 cents per share. As a result, $900,000 remains available for the purchase of shares on the open market or in privately negotiated deals, the company said.

Advant-e, with its wholly owned subsidiaries Edict Systems, Inc. and Merkur Group, Inc. is a provider of Internet-based hosted Electronic Data Interchange and electronic document management software and services.