IN RECENT YEARS, as the downward pressure on the economy has increased, the government has launched a series of measures which have played a positive role in reducing the cost and tax burdens on enterprises. However, due to different cost structures in various industries, enterprises pay different taxes and fees, and the effects of tax reduction and fee reduction policies vary. Beijing News commented on Thursday:

Due to the high overall costs, the meager profits they make and the operational difficulties they face, small enterprises, startups especially, need more support and help.

Although micro and small enterprises can enjoy preferential policies such as tax exemptions and reductions, the profitability of startups remains limited so the corresponding preferential margins will be smaller. Most startups still have to pay value-added tax and urban construction tax, even if they do not make any profit.

Despite the government encouraging fresh graduates to start their own business in recent years, statistics indicate only 3 percent of college graduates choose to set up their own business, among which no more than 5 percent survive.

This reflects the practical difficulties faced by micro and small enterprises.

The heavy burden on micro and small enterprises has not been solved at the fundamental level. The government should focus on what else it can do to support these businesses.

It must improve the targeted accuracy of the tax reduction and fee reduction policies so they benefit small enterprises and further reduce the tax burden and fee burden on startups. Flexibility is needed to benefit different industries and different types of enterprises. At the same time, more attention needs to be paid to the coordination of various policies.