Changes to the definition of eligible activities; uncertainties around the definition of new terms, such as dominant purpose; and recent decisions handed down in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) regarding substantiation have all contributed to additional uncertainty for taxpayers during the transition to the new R&D Tax Incentive. In the AAT, a number of decisions have been handed down, deciding against taxpayers on the basis that the documents provided were insufficient or inappropriate for substantiating the R&D claims. While the […]
The recent AAT decision, Vision Intelligence Pty Ltd and Innovation Australia [2013] AATA 527 was a taxation appeals case that related to a taxpayer’s calculation of expenditure items within its R&D tax claim submission and the possible penalties the ATO may impose on that taxpayer for recklessness in the calculation. This case is relevant to companies that wish to reassess their ‘risk profile’ and ‘reasonable care’ position with respect to the R&D Tax Incentive. Background Vision Intelligence (or the Applicant) engaged a management […]
Last week, AusIndustry released version 5 of the R&D activities form. The application now requires more information from the Applicant regarding the nature of core and supporting activities alongside additional administrative information. Whilst the new requirements will require more time and input to complete, Swanson Reed views the changes as positive since Applicants must explicitly assert how their activities are eligible under the legislation. Swanson Reed recommends that all applicants spend sufficient time addressing the requirements of the expanded application […]
The recent AAT decision, Mount Owen Pty Ltd and Innovation Australia [2013] AATA 573 was a well resourced AAT case that related to the R&D activities conducted by a large coal producer. It is relevant to companies that conduct R&D activities in a production environment. It is important to note that although the case references the Applicant as Hunter Valley Coal Corporation Pty Ltd, a then subsidiary of BHP Ltd, BHP had sold this company to another mining company and had no […]