The peak business group in South Australia has urged the inclusion of payroll tax discounts in the state’s upcoming budget. According to Business SA, regional companies should be given a 50 percent discount to ease costs and help them compete. It said that payroll tax was a significant hindrance to growing and operating a small business, and while payroll tax thresholds were adjusted in 2019, businesses with a turnover of over $1.7m still paid the same rate they did in 2009. Business SA proposed that a business would qualify for the discount if its principal place of business was in a regional area, and at least 85 percent of its staff lived and worked in the area. It estimated the discounts could help over 700 regional enterprises. SA’s budget will be handed down next month.