The Main-Biz Association (Korea Association of Management Innovation Small and Medium Enterprises) said the government's "2026 tax reform plan" could broaden the foundation for growth of innovation-driven small and midsize companies and inject vitality into regional economies and corporate competitiveness. It added, however, that for tax benefits to be effective on the ground, accessibility and user convenience must be improved, and follow-up measures tailored to corporate growth stages and industry-specific characteristics should be pursued in parallel.
The association issued a statement on the 10th, saying, "The 2026 tax reform plan released by the government includes various support directions to strengthen the foundation for innovation-driven growth and to boost regional economies and enhance corporate competitiveness," and added, "We expect it will help establish a sustained growth base for innovation-driven small and midsize companies."
The association assessed as key outcomes the expanded support for research and development (R&D), stronger tax benefits to foster innovation and venture corporations, and increased incentives targeting corporations outside the greater Seoul area.
Amid ongoing internal and external management uncertainties, investment decisions by small and midsize companies are often swayed by financing conditions and the burden of taxes. The association said tax support for R&D and for facility and business investment could lead to discovering new growth engines for corporations and expanding their competitiveness.
However, it noted that merely establishing support programs may have limits in delivering outcomes that corporations can feel on the ground.
The association said, "For tax support policies to translate into tangible outcomes on the ground, the effectiveness of program operations must be enhanced so that corporations can use the programs more easily," adding, "Supplementary measures that fully consider corporate size, growth stage, and industry-specific characteristics must be implemented together."
It added, "We will do our utmost to actively convey on-site opinions of innovation-driven small and midsize companies and to contribute to national economic development by expanding corporate investment and creating quality jobs."