R&D funding

R&D funding, ahead of your tax incentive refund.

Access 70 to 85% of your expected refund before the ATO pays. Suits a company registered for the R&D Tax Incentive that wants to keep R&D moving while the ATO processes its claim.

You don’t pay to compare.

No credit file impact · No cost to compare · No obligation

R&D funding at a glance

Amount: $50,000 to $5,000,000, at 70 to 85% of your expected claim
Term: A 3 to 12 month bridge, until the ATO settles your claim
Security: Often non-recourse: secured against the R&D claim itself
Time to funds: Varies by lender
How you pay: From your refund when the ATO settles your claim

Indicative, and subject to lender assessment. Your options are typically ready within 24 hours of receiving your documents.

Is it right for you?

When R&D funding fits, and when it doesn’t.

Often fits

Companies registered for the R&D Tax Incentive
At least one prior claim, and revenue of $1M+ a year
Keeping R&D moving while the ATO processes your claim
Funding secured against the claim, not your property

Usually not

A first R&D claim, as most lenders want a prior claim
Ongoing working capital, where a line of credit may fit

Business funding, compared on real data, in three steps.

How It Works

Compared

An R&D advance or waiting for the ATO?

An R&D advance or waiting for the ATO
	An R&D advance	Waiting for the ATO
When you have the cash	Before the ATO settles your claim	Only when the ATO settles your claim
Security	Often non-recourse, secured against the claim	No cash available until the claim settles
Lender access	Specialist R&D funders compared side by side	A single fixed ATO payment cycle
Cash flow	Funds released to keep R&D moving	A funding gap while your claim is reviewed

What it costs

How you pay, and what it costs.

Facility fee: Charged pro rata over the bridge period; a premium over standard term loans
Rate: Shown for each option in your report, with the APR beside it
If the ATO reduces your claim: With non-recourse funding, you may not owe the difference
If the ATO delays your claim: The term may extend and accrue additional cost

Who qualifies

What lenders look for.

Typical criteria, and subject to lender assessment.

Registration: Registered for the R&D Tax Incentive with AusIndustry
Claim history: At least one prior R&D claim lodged
Revenue: $1M+ a year
Activities: Eligible R&D in Australia; some lenders also ask your R&D tax advisor to confirm the claim

R&D advance calculator

Bridge the gap until the ATO pays out.

Once your claim is lodged or in preparation, specialist lenders advance most of the expected refund up front. When the ATO settles, the balance, less the facility fee, comes to you. Adjust the slider for an indicative breakdown.

Rates shown are simple p.a.; your report shows the APR.
Results are approximate. Not an offer of credit.

Expected R&D Tax Incentive claim value$550,000

$50k$5M

Funded now: $412,500
Facility fee: $28,875
Paid when the ATO settles your claim: $108,625

Illustrative only, based on a 75% advance rate, a 14% p.a. facility fee, and a 6-month bridge period. Your Compare Report shows the exact advance rate, fee, and term each lender offers your business.

Questions about R&D funding.

What is R&D funding?

R&D funding (also called R&D Tax Incentive financing) allows you to borrow against your expected R&D tax offset from the ATO before your claim is settled. Specialist lenders advance 70 to 85% of your estimated refund, giving you cash flow to keep R&D moving while the ATO processes your claim.

How much can I borrow against my R&D Tax Incentive?

Most R&D funding providers advance 70 to 85% of your estimated R&D tax offset. The exact amount depends on your claim history, the quality of your R&D documentation, and the lender’s assessment of your claim. Your Compare Report shows what each lender offers.

What does R&D funding cost?

Costs depend on the lender, your claim size, and risk profile, and run higher than traditional lending. R&D funding is specialised and often non-recourse, meaning if the ATO reduces your claim, you may not owe the difference. Your report shows each option’s rate with the APR beside it.

What happens if the ATO queries or delays my claim?

If the ATO queries or delays processing your claim, the term of the advance may extend and accrue additional cost.

How do we get paid?

Comparing costs you nothing. Not comparing can cost you plenty.

The headline rate rarely tells the whole story. Fees, charges and loan terms can add far more to what you repay. That’s why your Compare Report shows every cost we can identify side by side.

In most cases, the lender pays us, and only if you decide to proceed with their product offer. For more complex deals, or where the lender pays us little or nothing, we may charge a fee for our service. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s shown on your Compare Report and we’ll walk you through it before you decide.

No obligation to proceed, ever.

How We’re Paid →

Guides

How to compare a business loanWhat to check beyond the rate, including the true APR.

Products

See your options, side by side.