The Productivity Commission is the Australian Government’s independent research and advisory body on economic policy and productivity. Its role is to analyse policy issues and recommend reforms that improve Australia’s productivity, living standards, and economic performance. In February 2026 it released a document titled “Annual productivity bulletin 2026” which noted that Australian market sector R&D investment, as a proportion of Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), declined by more than 40% between 1995 and 2025. This metric analysed is R&D as […]
Companies seeking to register R&D Activities conducted during the Year Ended 30 June 2025 (companies that have a Standard YE for tax) who are yet to do so should note that the Registration Deadline is 10 Months after YE, and 30 APRIL 2026. The blanket and automatic extensions granted in previous years do NOT apply any longer or for FY25 claims. Extensions of time may be available in certain situations, and extension applications lodged BEFORE the original deadline are viewed much more favorably. However recent […]
As reported in the media this week, the Senate Economics Legislation Committee discussed the administration of the R&D Tax Incentive. Swanson Reed has reviewed the discussion in detail. It involved interactions between three people, whose comments are summarised and paraphrased below: Greens Senator Barbara Pocock: Had queries around how many reviews are conducted each year; Queried whether staff conducting reviews include personnel with Science and Engineering qualifications; Asked for details of fines or penalties for incorrect claims, and indicated concerns that possible penalties […]
Some key events impacting Australia’s R&D Tax Incentive over the past 12 months during calendar year 2025 included: The release of proposed legislation to exclude gambling and tobacco companies from eligibility under the R&D Tax Incentive; The strategic examination and review of Australia’s Research and Development (R&D) system progressed and released a discussion paper on R&D Incentives that contained some significant potential changes for consideration. Swanson Reed made a submission to both the general review and the discussion paper on R&D Incentives; A new R&D Tax Incentive registration […]