Frequently asked questions
The basics
For founders who haven't heard of the R&D Tax Incentive
What is R&D financing?
Your R&D Tax Incentive refund is capital you've already earned. The Australian Government owes you 43.5 cents for every dollar of eligible R&D spend. The problem is they don't pay it out until October or November, months after the financial year closes.
R&D financing advances that refund before the ATO processes it. You get access to your capital now, not in ten months. When the refund arrives, it repays the facility. No monthly repayments, no equity, no personal guarantees.
R&D financing advances that refund before the ATO processes it. You get access to your capital now, not in ten months. When the refund arrives, it repays the facility. No monthly repayments, no equity, no personal guarantees.
I didn't know this existed. Am I late?
No. R&D financing is available at any point during the financial year, not just at EOFY. You can draw against your year-to-date eligible spend from as early as the first quarter. The later in the year you are, the larger your accrued refund, so the more you can access.
Is this a loan?
Technically yes. Practically, it behaves nothing like one. There are no monthly repayments. No lender sitting across the table asking about your revenue. The security is your anticipated RDTI refund, not your assets, your house, or your cap table. When the refund lands, it repays the facility in a single payment and it's done.
Who is this for?
Australian companies with eligible R&D spend under the R&D Tax Incentive program and aggregated annual turnover under $20 million. You don't need to be profitable. You don't need a VC on your cap table. You need eligible R&D spend and an active or planned RDTI registration.
What's the minimum spend to qualify?
The RDTI program requires a minimum of $20,000 in eligible R&D expenditure. As a practical guide, companies with $200,000 or more in annual eligible spend typically find the economics of R&D financing work clearly. Below that threshold, it's worth running the numbers for your specific situation.
The process
For founders who ask "what do you need from me, and how fast?"
What do you actually need from me to get started?
Not as much as you might expect. The core documents are: confirmation of your RDTI registration with AusIndustry (or evidence you're in the process of registering), a comfort letter from your R&D tax adviser confirming your eligible spend year-to-date, and your company financials. We don't need a business plan, a pitch deck, or a meeting with twelve people. Apply online, provide the documents, and we come back to you fast.
How long does the process take?
Once we have everything we need, we typically move within five to eight business days from application to funds in your account. For refinance situations or cases where timing is critical, we can move faster. The 48-hour figure you may have seen on our website refers to our turnaround on the credit decision once documents are in. Total time to funds depends on how quickly the documents come together, which is usually the founder's side of the equation.
Do I need to have already registered with AusIndustry?
You need to be conducting eligible R&D activities and have an R&D tax adviser who can provide a comfort letter confirming your eligible spend. You don't need your AusIndustry registration number in hand before applying, but the registration does need to be in progress. If you don't yet have an R&D adviser, we can connect you with one.
What does my R&D adviser need to provide?
A comfort letter confirming your year-to-date eligible R&D expenditure and their assessment of your expected RDTI refund. This is a standard document in the R&D financing process and any experienced R&D tax adviser will know what's required.
Do I need the ATO ruling back before you can fund me?
No. We fund against anticipated eligible spend, not against a processed ATO refund. The ATO ruling comes later in the process. We work with your adviser's assessment of eligibility, not a completed government process.