News & Insights

R&D Tax Incentive
Resources

The latest news, policy updates, and practical guidance on the Australian R&D Tax Incentive program — from the AHL Advisory team.

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Reference Guides

Understanding the R&D Tax Incentive

Eligibility Criteria

A concise guide to understanding whether your company and activities qualify for the R&D Tax Incentive — including entity thresholds, core and supporting activity definitions, and the experimental activities test.

Key Deadlines

R&D registration must be lodged with AusIndustry within 10 months of your income year end. Missing this deadline means losing your entitlement entirely — plan well ahead.

Claimable Expenditure

Eligible R&D expenditure includes staff costs, contractor costs, overheads, and feedstock. Understanding what can and cannot be included is critical to maximising and defending your claim.

Record Keeping

The ATO and AusIndustry expect contemporaneous records demonstrating the experimental nature of your activities. Good governance from the start makes lodgement — and audit defence — far simpler.

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News & updates

Federal Budget

The R&D Tax Incentive Just Got a Serious Overhaul

The 2026–27 Federal Budget delivers the most significant restructure of the R&DTI in years, with major changes to thresholds and ATO oversight.

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12 May 2026  ·  AHL Advisory
Policy Update

Australia's R&D Tax Incentive Is About to Change

The Australian Government is considering its most significant overhaul of the R&D Tax Incentive program in over a decade — what you need to know.

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17 March 2026  ·  AHL Advisory
Podcast

Podcast: R&D Tax Talk #1 — Transparency Reporting

Discover AHL Advisory's new podcast series, breaking down the nuances of the R&D Tax Incentive. Episode 1 covers the ATO's new transparency reporting initiative.

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24 December 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
Year in Review

R&D Tax Incentive 2024: Year in Review

2024 brought significant changes to Australia's R&D Tax Incentive program — compliance reviews, transparency measures, court rulings, and best practices.

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15 December 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
R&D Activities

Definition of Core R&D Activities

The definition of R&D is very different under the R&D Tax Incentive to what most people think. This article outlines what regulators consider to be Core R&D Activities.

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21 February 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
ATO Ruling

Simplified Guide to TR 2021/5: The 'At Risk' Provision

A plain-English guide to Taxation Ruling TR 2021/5, shedding light on the 'at risk' rule and simplifying the complexities of the ruling for R&D claimants.

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31 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
ATO Alert

Understanding Taxpayer Alert TA 2023/5 — Overseas R&D

ATO's Taxpayer Alert TA 2023/5 addresses concerns on overseas R&D activities for foreign entities, emphasising risks in claiming tax offsets.

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10 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
AusIndustry

What's an Advance Finding for R&D Activities?

An Advance Finding is a formal decision by AusIndustry certifying the eligibility of planned R&D activities before you register and lodge your claim.

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3 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
Eligibility

Assess if Your R&D Activities Are Eligible

Companies need to self-assess their R&D activities against the legislative requirements. This post provides a practical checklist to guide you through the process.

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2 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
Compliance

Clawback: Don't Get Caught Out

The R&D tax offset you claim in one year can be clawed back in a later year if certain events occur — including government recoupments and feedstock adjustments.

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2 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
Compliance

How to Best Navigate Payments to Associates

The R&D Tax Incentive allows companies to claim for payments to associates, provided they are paid in the same year. Here's how to navigate this complex area.

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1 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
Overseas R&D

Overseas R&D: Be Aware of Eligibility Rules

You can claim overseas R&D activities as part of an Australian project, but you must first obtain an Overseas Finding from AusIndustry demonstrating all four conditions are met.

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1 January 2024  ·  AHL Advisory
R&D Activities

Deciphering the Definition of R&D Activities

Research and development has a specific definition under the R&D Tax Incentive. Learn about the key concepts of Core and Supporting R&D Activities, and excluded activities.

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29 December 2023  ·  AHL Advisory
R&D Expenditure

R&D Expenditure Demystified: A Practical Guide

Unlock the benefits of the R&D Tax Incentive by understanding eligible and ineligible R&D expenditure — salaries, contractors, consumables, software, and overseas costs.

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29 December 2023  ·  AHL Advisory
R&D Consulting

The Role of an R&D Tax Consultant

An R&D tax consultant helps businesses successfully claim the R&D Tax Incentive — from assessing eligibility and managing AusIndustry registration to optimising the claim and defending it under review.

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29 December 2023  ·  AHL Advisory
Government Grants

Going Global Export Program NSW

The Going Global Export Program provides NSW SMEs with coaching, workshops, business matching and intensive support to help them break into targeted global markets.

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31 December 2023  ·  AHL Advisory

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