Participants in the R&D Tax Incentive can expect a greater level of compliance activity soon. The ATO has published an update this month titled ‘R&D Tax Incentive: Future Focus’. The update announced a series of future-focused initiatives aimed at ensuring the integrity of the Research and Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI) program. The ATO update notes that the ATO will be collaborating with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR, or AusIndustry) as well as educating companies and R&D consultants […]
In November 2023, the ATO published information about the Top 500 program. The Top 500 program is one of several programs administered as part of the Tax Avoidance Taskforce. The objective of the Taskforce is to provide the Australian Government and the community with confidence that Australia’s largest public and private groups are paying the correct amount of tax. The Top 500 program model of engagement is designed as an invitation for Top 500 groups to be proactive in demonstrating […]
In a significant shift in administration, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has this month published information around publication of Research and Development (R&D) expenditure claimant information. This move forms part of the administration changes to the Research and Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI) program initiated on 1st July 2021, which arose out of the previous government’s major reforms to the R&D Tax Incentive which passed with bipartisan support in October 2020. The rationale behind the change is to enhance transparency and accountability. […]
The AFR has reported in late September 2023, that officials from the Australian Taxation Office visited a high profile ASX listed software development company last month as part of inquiries about whether the group inappropriately claimed R&D Tax Offsets. The article seems to suggest that the issue may relate to overclaiming of expenditure on R&D Activities conducted overseas (as opposed to whether the expenditure or activity meet the general R&D Tax Incentive criteria). Under the R&D Tax Incentive, companies […]