InnovationAus has cited a new ABS report finding that business expenditure on R&D (BERD) was $18.17 billion in 2019-20, slightly below the $18.32 billion that businesses spent in 2011-12 at today’s prices. The article included comments from recently appointed Industry Minister, Christian Porter, noting that: “The increase in business expenditure on research and development of 4.2 per cent to more than $18 billion during 2019-20 is encouraging to see, especially given it includes a significant period of time affected by […]
In the May federal budget, the Australian Government announced that it will introduce a patent box for eligible income associated with new patents in the medical and biotechnology sectors. The patent box will apply to companies for income years commencing on or after 1 July 2022, and for new Australian patents since budget night. The aim of such a policy is to encourage companies to base their medical and biotechnology R&D activity in Australia and to retain associated patent […]
Australia’s R&D tax incentive program is dually administered by two government agencies: AusIndustry (on behalf of Industry Innovation and Science Australia): registers R&D activities disclosed in applications lodged with the agency. AusIndustry has authority to make findings on eligibility of activities. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO): administers R&D tax offset entitlements disclosed in company income tax returns lodged with the agency. The ATO reviews compliance matters such as substantiation of expenditure and structural tax issues such as on whose behalf […]
In the belated federal Budget handed down in October 2020 (delayed due to COVID), reforms to the R&D Tax Incentive were a centrepiece. Leading up to the 2020 budget, the government was proposing substantial changes to the R&D Tax Incentive which were aimed at reducing the cost of the programme, but that had not yet been legislated as law. When the 2020 budget was announced, the government largely backed away from the unworkable changes in its R&D Tax Incentive reform […]