The changes, which also cover exporting insurance, credit access and compliance costs, appear to have found favour with the business, finance and manufacturing sectors.
"A good positive step" is how one Dunedin export company, Farra Engineering, greeted the announcement by Prime Minister John Key, yesterday, outlining measures to help small business weather the recession.
Chief executive John Whitaker told the Otago Daily Times, however, that while the "intent's very good" the measures should be regarded as a "first step" and the Government must not "relax in the process".
Mr Whitaker said Farra, which earns about one-third of its $20 million annual turnover from exports, had not yet felt a direct impact on its export orders as a result of the recession.
However, it had noticed the beginning of a downturn in orders among other exporters it provided with components.
"And certainly, just the general level of inquiries and phone-ringing and requests for quotes; you can certainly see it slowing down."
He believed the Government's 11 tax initiatives would not make "a huge difference", but they would increase the company's cash flow and reduce its compliance costs.
"I'm happy to see it happen.It's a good initiative."
Launching the five-part initiative, Mr Key said: "The plan is all about keeping the economy running as strongly as possible, easing the sharpest impacts of the recession and preparing our economy for future growth.
"The package as a whole is aimed at urgently improving the business environment by reducing the impact of taxes on firms' cashflows, improv-ing firms' access to credit and reducing business compliance costs," Mr Key said.
Dunedin-based tax specialist for Deloitte, Steve Thompson, said the relief package would be "well received" by businesses and it was important to note that while the measures were "touted as being targeted to small to medium enterprises", the measures in many cases would also apply to individuals and larger corporate taxpayers, which was "totally appropriate".
