Ministry of SMEs Supports Small Business Delivery Fees Up to 300,000 Won...Eases Burden and Helps Management

Quick Payment Applications Open on the 17th
Verification Payment Applicants Can Apply in April

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will provide up to 300,000 KRW in support for delivery and courier fees to alleviate the burden on small business owners exacerbated by high inflation and high interest rates. To improve the difficulties in document verification experienced so far, the ministry plans to simplify the verification process in cooperation with delivery agencies and platforms.

On the 9th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced the 'Small Business Delivery and Courier Fee Support Project' and stated that applications and registrations will begin on the 17th. This project is part of the follow-up measures to the comprehensive support plan for small business owners and self-employed announced by the ministry last July. The ministry plans to temporarily support delivery and courier costs this year to ease the management burden on small business owners.

The eligibility criteria for this project are ▲ annual sales of less than 104 million KRW in 2023 or 2024, ▲ having delivery or courier transaction records, and ▲ being an individual or corporate business operator not closed as of the application date. Businesses primarily engaged in delivery and courier services and those excluded from small business policy funds are not eligible. The support amount is up to 300,000 KRW, and only one business per person can apply and receive support. Considering cases where past transaction records and supporting documents are not kept or are difficult to verify, the ministry plans to broadly recognize transaction records up to this year.

Especially this year, applications and registrations will be opened sequentially by dividing into 'Quick Payment' and 'Verification Payment' types. First, about 80,000 businesses included in the quick payment target group can receive support funds quickly without separate supporting documents, as the ministry has obtained cooperation from six delivery platforms and agencies to provide delivery fee data. Eligible applicants can easily apply by entering their business registration number and account number.

Quick Payment applications will be accepted from the 17th of this month, and eligibility for quick payment can be confirmed by entering the business registration number at the application stage. Even if the initial support amount is less than 300,000 KRW, if delivery fee records are confirmed by December this year without additional applications, the difference will be paid up to a cumulative maximum of 300,000 KRW.

Verification Payment applicants who are not included in the quick payment group can apply in April. Verification Payment applicants are ▲ those not included in the quick payment group who can directly provide supporting documents using all courier companies, delivery platforms, delivery agencies, quick services, errand centers, etc., or ▲ those who do not use delivery platforms or courier companies and whose small business owner representatives or employees deliver products directly to customers, making verification difficult.

Small business owners who can directly provide supporting documents should input evidence of delivery or courier usage for product sales from January 1 of last year to December 31 of this year into the system. Supporting documents include electronic tax invoices, courier waybills, delivery settlement statements, etc., that can verify the amount of delivery and courier fees used. Since small business owners who deliver directly to customers find it difficult to provide direct evidence of transaction records due to the nature of their work, the ministry plans to establish a reasonable delivery and courier fee payment plan reflecting industry opinions from related associations and groups. The ministry plans to prepare the verification method by the end of March and start accepting applications from April.

Meanwhile, applications can be made through the dedicated sites 'Small Business Delivery and Courier Fee Support' or 'Small Business 24.' To disperse traffic during the first two days after the quick payment application begins, an odd-even system based on the last digit of the business registration number will be applied. On the 17th, only odd numbers can apply, on the 18th only even numbers, and from the 19th onward, all small business owners can apply.