Pensioners and small business will be winners in Tuesday's federal budget, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.



Mr Swan confirmed media reports that the government would be giving people who received the maximum rate of pension a free set-top box as the country moves towards a digital television network.



The scheme, costing some $309 million, would include installation and instruction on how to use them.



"Digital television is rolling out across the country, the old system is being turned off, we don't want to leave the pensioners in the dark," Mr Swan told the Nine Network on Sunday.



"So we are going to give them this very important assistance so they have the benefit of digital television."



Mr Swan also said the government would be providing a $5000 write-off on the purchase of a new motor vehicle by small business.



This would come on top of the $5000 instant asset write-off that is due to come in 2012/13, and funded by the minerals resource rent tax.



"This would be a very important measure which will help tradies in terms of their cash flow," Mr Swan said.



"Small business is very much to the forefront of our thoughts because not everybody is going to be in the fast lane (of the economy)."



This would replace the $365 million entrepreneurs tax, he said.



"That's a very narrow measure that only goes to a small number of small business. This will go to the whole 2.7 million businesses if they wish to purchase a vehicle and access this additional benefit."



AAP