MJA’s Tax Credit Submission

MJA’s response to the Treasury Consultation Paper – The new research and development tax incentive.

MJA Tax Credit Submission 261009

The R&D Tax Credit Issues Paper

Window For Responses Is Closing Rapidly

Submissions regarding the Treasury consultation paper, “The new research and development tax incentive”, close on Monday, October 26. 

The public consultation sessions were completed in Sydney yesterday. It seems apparent that an Exposure Draft of the legislation is already advanced and is likely to be released next month. This makes submissions vital if you are concerned by the direction taken in the Treasury paper. The time to raise your issues is NOW.

 To assist you, MJA is delighted to give you access to our draft submission.

If you would like to see it, reply to this update using our contact form and we will email a copy to you immediately. 

Our submission is consistent with the viewpoint expressed in the MJA Updates initially circulated in the wake of the consultation paper. In concluding that the proposals contained in the paper will not result in a less complex and more predictable R&D tax program, our submission makes the following points:

  • By proposing to change the definition of R&D activities, the Federal Government is seeking to restrict the breadth of R&D support at the very time that corporate Australia is being asked to lift its R&D effort in areas of vital national significance such as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the National Broadband Network
  • The Treasury’s case for reform is not made out either in terms of R&D policy or Budget revenue neutrality
  • Changing the definition of R&D activities and asking taxpayers to split claims into core and supporting activities will add the single greatest layer of complexity, uncertainty and compliance burden in the history of the program
  • Changing the definition disproportionately impacts on SMEs
  • The changes will have an immediate negative impact on BERD

In short, the Treasury proposals will result in a much more complicated program and run the risk of severely curtailing R&D support in Australia at a most inopportune time.

 We look forward to continuing to share views on this vital matter.

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About Michael Johnson Associates

Founded in 1983, Michael Johnson Associates (MJA) is Australia's leading specialist R&D tax concession firm. We work with organisations of all sizes to help them understand the benefits of a compliance approach to R&D tax concessions and grants.

We know the complex legislation, amendments and guidelines related to government programs inside out - we deal with them every day. We also write the commentary on the R&D tax incentive for the CCH Federal Tax Reporter.

Please contact us on (02) 9810 7211 or via e-mail to see how we can be of help to you.




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