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You are here: Home Practical Reflections The R&D Tax Incentive ScheduleThe R&D Tax Incentive Schedule in Your Company Tax Return: What It Is and Why It Matters

The R&D Tax Incentive is a powerful program for innovative companies, but claiming it correctly requires a two-part approach. First, you register your R&D activities with DISR (formerly AusIndustry). The second, and equally crucial, step is preparing the R&D Tax Incentive Schedule for the ATO.

As a Registered R&D Tax Agent, our job is to make this financial and compliance side of your claim seamless. We handle the preparation of this schedule, giving you peace of mind that your claim is robust and defensible.

What is the R&D Tax Incentive schedule?
Think of the R&D schedule as the financial blueprint of your R&D claim. It is a document you attach to your company's annual tax return that details your eligible R&D expenditure. This schedule is where you formally claim your tax offset and link it to the activities you have already registered with DISR.

The schedule includes your Registration Number, which you receive from DISR, and breaks down your costs into categories like:

Wages for engineers, developers, or technicians.
Contractor and consultant costs.
Materials and assets used in R&D.
Other R&D-related overheads.
Associate payments.
Physical prototype costs and revenue (Feedstock).

This is the document the ATO uses to verify your financial claim against the technical activities you registered. Getting it right is essential for a smooth, low-risk claim.

How we prepare your R&D schedule.
Our process is designed to be straightforward and clear. We handle the entire preparation of the R&D schedule, ensuring it is accurate and compliant.

Here's a simplified overview of how it works:

Gathering the figures. We work with you to meticulously gather all eligible financial information for your R&D projects.
Structuring the claim. We then structure your claim by completing the R&D schedule, which includes parts for notional deductions, clawback adjustments (if any), and your aggregated turnover. This step determines if you are eligible for a refundable or non-refundable tax offset.
Seamless handover. Once the schedule is complete, we provide it to your accountant for easy inclusion in your company's tax return. Our goal is to make this process seamless for you and your accountant.

Why we do the work.
The R&D Tax Incentive schedule can be complex, and getting it wrong can lead to audits or missed opportunities. As a specialist R&D Tax Agent, our focus is on robust, compliant, and defensible claims. We ensure every detail is accurate, giving you confidence and peace of mind.

Our commitment is to guide you through the process, providing expert advice so you can focus on what your operations.

Key official resource.

ATO: Research and development tax incentive schedule instructions 2025