Here are five things to keep in mind to ensure your application is a success.
The statutory registration deadline is 30 April. That said, AusIndustry do allow extension, but only if you act before the deadline.
- Up to 14 days: Requests lodged via the portal before 30 April, with your explanation
- Up to 92 days: Longer extensions require convincing evidence and are not guaranteed. The legal maximum of days is 92 days beyond the deadline.
2. Clearly Articulate Your Technical Uncertainty
Your application must prove the knowledge gap, the hypothesis, and why the outcome could not be determined in advance.
3. Recheck Eligible R&D Expenditure
R&D claims are rarely limited to wages alone. Depending on your activities, eligible expenditure may also include:
- Contractor and consultant costs
- Materials consumed during testing
- Some business overheads
- Depreciation on assets used for R&D
4. Getting Your Application Right
AusIndustry recent application form changes have a renewed focus on compliance. Weak activity descriptions, unclear hypotheses, or copy-and-paste language are more likely to trigger questions or even an audit. A solid, well-reasoned registration now can save months (and sometimes years) of stress later. Engaging early helps to ensure adequate time to prepare a robust and defensible application aligned with AusIndustry expectations.
5. Lodge early
The registration portal often slows significantly in the final 48 hours before the deadline. System failures can occur. Submit early or lodge a 14-day extension well before 30 April, to avoid any last-minute issues.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at lina@grantready.com.au, or book a time to chat.