The government unveiled tax measures Thursday aimed at encouraging companies to spend their cash piles on startups and other investments, and stimulate a slowing economy, while also helping firms to compete with China's advances in 5G technology.

The annual tax revision for fiscal 2020, formally decided by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition ally Komeito, focused on steps to encourage firms to spend their internal reserves of over ¥460 trillion ($4.23 trillion), lawmakers said.

For years companies have been sitting on a record cash pile as they remain wary about boosting wages and investment.