Innovation has become progressively debated in public discourse of late, leading to a significant focus on the R&D Tax Incentive in the last 12 months. This week, however, a positive development was made that will no doubt be welcomed by the innovation ecosystem in Australia. To clarify, a proposed 1.5% cut to the R&D Tax Incentive under the Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 3) Bill 2015 will not ensue – the Bill before the senate has lapsed and […]
In a proposition to develop the economy away from a reliance on mining, the Australian government launched the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) last December. Now, the Turnbull government has followed through on the agenda’s proposal to offer tax incentives to entrepreneurs and start-ups. The Bill, coined the Tax Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives for Innovation) Bill, was announced in March 2016 and aims to amend the tax laws to provide generous tax incentives for innovative start-ups and investors. In specific, […]
Today Tax Laws Amendment (Research and Development) Bill 2013 officially passed both houses of Parliament and is now awaiting royal assent. The bill initially proposed to deny access to the R&D Tax Incentive for companies with income exceeding $20 billion. Treasury anticipated this measure would provide $1.1 billion in savings over the forward estimates and $350 million in FY15. The initial proposal was anticipated to affect less than 25 corporate groups. Amendments to the bill were recently approved by the House of Representatives […]
Large businesses have a new friend in the Greens who are set to block the Abbot government’s plan to slash R&D tax breaks by $1.1 billion. The unlikely allies have made nice in the face of the potential loss of millions of dollars to Australian businesses. The ALP have also jumped on the band wagon in support of the Greens, who are lobbying minor party senators to oppose the savings measure. Labor’s amendment would allow small to medium businesses to […]