Argent Minerals Limited has disclosed a liability in the company’s 2019 annual report for “R&D Claims repayable” of approximately $1.4M. This liability is in respect of R&D Tax Offsets for the FY16 and FY17 periods that AusIndustry have found relate to ineligible activities. The report notes that: the finding was received in January 2019, and that an independent review is being conducted of the finding. Independent reviews are available to companies under the current compliance continuum where activities are found […]
During a presentation to the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia National Small Business Summit, tax commissioner Chris Jordan has commented that there is a structural problem with the operation of the R&D Tax Incentive, particularly surrounding the self assessment regime whereby the ATO may undertake reviews following a previous registration of R&D Activities and receipt of funds. In comments published by the Sydney Morning Herald, Chris Jordan was critical of the R&D “industry” that has emerged in professional […]
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman have announced that they will deliver the findings of an investigation into the processes for compliance reviews of companies registering activities under the R&D Tax Incentive. The announcement has noted that certainty of eligibility is essential if the R&D Tax Incentive is to fulfill the purpose of the legislation, which is to incentivise small businesses to invest in R&D. The need for this investigation highlights that R&D claims continue to be under […]
Within comments posted by the AFR, Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox has called on the government to abandon proposed reforms to the R&D Tax Incentive, as well as provide increased investment in direct R&D Programmes. Innes Willox made specific reference to the ‘Intensity Threshold’ test within proposed R&D Reforms as a harmful measure. If introduced, the ‘Intensity Threshold’ would act to reduce the relative R&D Tax saving for companies spending a lower proportion of their total business expenditure on […]