R&D tax incentive - Exant Advisory | Experience. New Thinking.

Experience. New Thinking.

Unlock value, drive growth and stay ahead with Exant's strategic R&D tax advice

The R&D Tax Incentive is Australia’s flagship initiative for fostering innovation, designed to reward businesses that invest in research and development.

Jointly administered by AusIndustry (on behalf of Innovation Australia) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), this program delivers a compelling tax offset, increasing the after-tax returns on your R&D spend and empowering businesses to take bold steps towards new discoveries.

Why experience matters: Our approach to R&D Tax

With legislation and compliance requirements evolving, our R&D team brings a blend of deep experience and new thinking to help you maximise your claim, mitigate audit risks, and embed R&D strategy into your business growth. We keep abreast of regulatory changes and industry best practices, ensuring you benefit from the most up-to-date advice and innovative claim strategies.

Ready to unlock the potential of the R&D Tax Incentive? Connect with our R&D experts today and turn your innovation into measurable returns.

How we support your R&D journey

We partner with businesses of all sizes—from ambitious start-ups to established corporates—delivering pragmatic solutions shaped by years of experience and a commitment to new thinking.

Strategic R&D planning and risk assessment
Identifying and substantiating eligible activities
Managing and documenting your R&D process
Overseas advanced finding applications
R&D audit readiness and support
End-to-end application support and lodgement

Whether you’re navigating your first claim or enhancing your ongoing R&D program, our specialists empower you to capture the full value of your innovation.

How the R&D Tax Incentive works

Whether you’re a start-up, scale-up, or established enterprise, the R&D Tax Incentive offers tailored benefits designed to fuel your innovation pipeline:

Companies with turnover under $20 million: Refundable offset equal to the corporate tax rate plus an 18.5% premium (effective 43.5%).
Companies with turnover of $20 million or more: Non-refundable offset equal to the company tax rate plus an incremental premium based on R&D intensity:
Up to 2% R&D intensity: company tax rate + 8.5% premium.
Above 2% R&D intensity: company tax rate + 16.5% premium.
Expenditure above $150 million: Offset is capped at the company tax rate.

Importantly, even small businesses that haven’t paid tax may be eligible for a cash refund, providing an invaluable boost to early-stage innovation.

Smarter applications: R&D Tax Incentive portal

Embracing digital transformation, the R&D Tax Incentive now features an updated online application process. Companies register their eligible R&D activities through the dedicated customer portal—streamlining submissions and offering greater transparency. Applicants must be authorised to access the portal.

What activities qualify?

To claim the incentive, your R&D activities must be registered with AusIndustry, with each year’s activities requiring a fresh application within 10 months of your income year’s end. Activities are categorised as:

Core R&D Activities: Experimental work where outcomes aren’t predetermined, following a systematic, scientific approach from hypothesis through to evaluation, all for generating new knowledge (including new or improved products, materials, processes, or services).
Supporting Activities: Conducted for the dominant purpose of backing core R&D efforts.

Robust record-keeping is essential to prove eligibility and withstand any future audits.

Contact us today to discover how our expert GST and indirect tax services can support your business objectives.

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