SMEs fear fresh tax pressure despite purchasing power package
Business organisations see support measures, but warn of uncertainty and postponed investment.
The government presents the 2027 budget as a package intended to support purchasing power and economic growth. Business organisations, however, say that tax changes and shifting policy give small businesses little certainty.
The debate revolves around two different measures. The government mainly talks about households’ purchasing power and the burden on businesses, while business organisations look at the room companies have left for investment, staff and growth. As a result, both sides can assess the same budget differently.
According to the government, a number of tax arrangements for businesses will remain stable. At the same time, the wider budget package contains measures that indirectly affect companies, such as changes to social security contributions, energy policy and rules concerning staff. The government says it wants to strengthen earning capacity through investment, reduced regulatory burdens and more efficient permit procedures.
A survey by VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland of nearly 3,500 business owners shows that almost half expect to postpone investment. The companies surveyed cite shifting government policy as an important reason. The study measures business owners’ expectations and behaviour, not their purchasing power directly.
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported business confidence of minus 5.3 in the third quarter of 2026. That was better than in the previous quarter, but remained negative for the nineteenth consecutive quarter. The figures concern developments in and expectations for the economic climate. They do not mean that every small business is making a loss or that every business owner is worse off.
For small businesses, predictability is particularly important. A tax arrangement may look favourable on paper, but provide little help if staff, energy or financing become more expensive. The budget plans still have to pass through parliament. The eventual impact will therefore depend on the legislation adopted, its implementation and economic conditions in 2027.
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The figures and policy claims are linked to public government and business sources. Distinguishing between purchasing power and business confidence prevents different indicators from being presented as the same thing.
- confirmed Almost half of business owners expect to postpone investment. — Confirmed by the PrinsjesdagPeiling survey by VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland. source
- confirmed Business confidence stood at minus 5.3 in the third quarter of 2026. — Statistics Netherlands publication on the Netherlands Business Survey. source
- confirmed The government wants to strengthen economic growth through investment, reforms and fewer bottlenecks. — Description of the budget plans on Rijksoverheid.nl. source
Editor's note
There is no single official measure of purchasing power for SMEs as a whole. The article therefore distinguishes between household purchasing power, business confidence and expected investment.Sources
- Prinsjesdag 2026: welvaart opnieuw verdienen — Rijksoverheid
- Bedrijven stellen investeringen uit — VNO-NCW Midden
- Conjunctuurenquête Nederland, derde kwartaal 2026 — CBS
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