R&D Tax Incentive Application

Learn more about the R&D Tax Incentive application process

Learn more about the R&D Tax Incentive Application process

Dual Agency

The R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI) is administered with a dual agency approach including AusIndustry and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

AusIndustry acts on behalf of Industry Innovation and Science Australia. AusIndustry handles the qualitative side of the RDTI while the ATO reviews the quantitative portion of your R&D application.
 
To claim your RDTI, first you lodge an application with AusIndustry via its online portal. When lodging activities with AusIndustry, you will need to provide the following information:
 
  • Confirmation that you:
    • Are an eligible R&D entity
    • Carried out eligible activities
    • Will register your R&D activities before lodging your claim with the ATO
    • Have eligible notional deductions of at least $20,000
  • Disclosing whether or not your entity is controlled by any exempt entities
  • Disclosing your aggregated turnover, net income, and export sales for the financial period
  • Disclosing your total full time employees and R&D full time employees for the financial period
  • Project description of eligible R&D activities
Approximately two weeks after lodging your application with AusIndustry, you will receive a Notice of Registration from AusIndustry containing your innovation number. This innovation number is disclosed in the Research and Development schedule of your tax lodgement. Within the schedule, you will disclose a breakdown of your eligible R&D spend by category and any necessary clawback amounts.
 
If you are owed a refund, you can expect to receive it within 30 days of lodging your tax return with the ATO.
 

All applications must be submitted to AusIndustry via the R&D Tax Incentive customer portal.

R&D Portal

R&D applications are submitted to AusIndustry for registration before the tax incentive can be claimed with the ATO via tax lodgements. All applications are submitted to AusIndustry via the R&D Tax Incentive customer portal.


All interactions with the R&D Tax Incentive program are managed in the portal, including:
 
  • Submitting R&D application for approval
  • Managing R&D applications
  • Submitting Advance and Overseas Findings applications
  • Requesting to withdraw or vary submitted application
  • Applying for an extensive of time
  • Checking the status of submitted R&D applications
To set up access to your business’ portal, first you need to identify who are the company’s principal authority. To be a principal authority, an individual needs to be an associate on the ABR as either a director, shareholder, company secretary, or parent company. Once set up as an associate in the ABR, the status flows through to the ATO Portal and feeds into your Relationship Authority Manager (RAM).

For new companies, principal authorities may need to link their MyGovID to the business’ RAM. Linking a personal MyGovID to a business RAM can be done in one of two ways:
 
  1. If your MyGovID has a Strong identify strength, you can link it to a business’ RAM online. First, log into the RAM. Then select Link my business; you will be redirected and prompted to add your personal postal or residential address as held by the ATO. Once entered, click Continue. Select the business you want to link and click Continue. You will be prompted to add your business address and click Send email to receive a verification code. Enter the verification code and select Verify and Continue. Review the summary and when satisfied the information is correct, click Submit.
     
  2. If you cannot link your MyGovID to the business’ RAM online, you can call 1300 287 539 and select option 3 to complete a proof of identify check. Once identify checks are confirmed, you will receive an email with an authorisation code and summary of the authorisation request. Log into the RAM to accept the request and complete the link.

HOW TO SETUP MYGOV ID?

myGovID is different to myGov. Find out how to setup your myGovID.

VISIT MYGOV ID
Once your MyGovID is linked to the business’ RAM, you will be able to access the R&D portal. If you are using a R&D consultant to prepare your application, you can grant them access to your portal. To grant them access you will need to log into the portal and on the Manage your application dashboard, select Manage Access. Select Add new authorisation under the Business authorisation heading. Input the ABN of the consultant you want to authorise and set the relation to tax professional. Enter the start and end dates for the authorisation period.

Note – the start date cannot be backdated, so it is important to verify that it is accurate. Finally, click Add authorisation.
 

R&D Application Timing

Your application has to be lodged with AusIndustry within ten months of the end of your company’s financial year. As the majority of Australian companies follow the 30 June year end, their AusIndustry applications have to be lodged by 30 April of the following year.  Companies that follow a calendar year end (31 December) have to lodge their application with AusIndustry by 31 October.
 
Your research and development schedule is lodged with your annual tax return with the ATO, which is due 15 May for the majority of companies following a 30 June year end.
 
 

SELF-ASSESS YOUR ELIGIBILITY

To learn more how to self-assess your R&D activities against the legislative requirements.

VISIT BUSINESS.GOV.AU

Downloadable R&D resources 

The R&D Tax Incentive downloadable resources contain information on a range of R&D topics to help you understand the R&D program.

Industry Specific Papers

We can assess your R&D Eligibility

icons8-phone-message-100.pngAzure Group has a proven track record of successful R&D Grant claims. Our team of R&D Specialists have extensive experience in preparing and supporting R&D applications across a wide range of industries inclucing manufacturing, software, health, agriculture, etc.

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Get the latest R&D insights and guidance

The R&D Tax Incentive articles contain information on a range of topics to help you understand the R&D program.

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