Family-owned businesses in struggling regional towns fear they may be targeted by a new $40,000 New South Wales (NSW) Government stamp duty burden.
Five major business lobby groups said they believed a Cabinet decision was to be made this week on property stamp duty changes.
Acting on Office of State Revenue advice, the lobby groups claim the Government is looking at widening the stamp duty net to cover businesses which have property as one of their assets.
At present, these businesses are immune from duty if the property comprises less than 80 per cent of the business's value.
Australian Retailers Association tenancy services director Michael Lonie said he had been told this amount was going to be dropped to 50 per cent.
The tax would apply to companies with total worth of more than $1 million when they're sold.
