Latest Version of R&D Tax Credit Guidelines now available
The latest version of the R&D Tax Credit Guidelines (“the guidelines”) have now been published by the Revenue Commissioners (“Revenue”) today, Wednesday 6th March 2019. The updated guidelines, now incorporated directly within the Tax and Duty Manual (Part 29-02-03), can be accessed here.
Although not legislation, the guidelines provide useful insights into Revenue’s present thinking on key issues pertaining to the R&D Tax Credit.
Appendix 4 of the document contains a list of all the updates that have been made. We recommend that you take the time to carefully review all the changes to assess the impact, if any, on your claims and your claim process.
To assist with your review, we highlight below what we see as some of the more significant changes:
1. Supporting Documentation
The importance of retaining contemporaneous documentation to support that the Science Test and the Accounting Test have been complied with has always been highlighted within the guidelines. However, in the latest version, guidance on this point has been significantly expanded and a “suggested file layout for R&D Tax Credit claims” added as an Appendix 3. As stated in the notes to the Appendix:
“This suggested file layout is based on Revenue’s experience reviewing R&D tax credit claims. It is a basic guide to the contemporaneous documentation that Revenue would expect to see: documentation that should be retained when completing activities in respect of which it is intended to make a claim under S.766 and S.766A TCA 1997 and Part 9 Chapter 5 TCA 1997. There is no requirement to keep the documentation in this format. The format is illustrative and is provided as guidance for those who wish it. Not all questions will be applicable to all industries, all companies or all projects. As each R&D project is by definition unique, further supplementary/clarifying information may be requested.”
It is important to note that this file does not have to be submitted to Revenue when making the R&D Tax Credit claim. However, we recommend that all companies familiarise themselves with the contents of Appendix 3 as it is likely to effectively become a checklist used by Revenue when auditing claims.
Some points to note in relation to this new suggested file layout:
“Extensive search on the internet resulted in no known solution, it is imperative to print and retain the results of the internet search as these results for that period cannot be recreated at a later date”;
“Researched competitors in the field”; and
“Retain details of journal searches”
“Identifying which step on the TRL scale the R&D process is operating, may be beneficial, when identifying if it is eligible as qualifying R&D expenditure under S.766 TCA 1997:
Since first being introduced by NASA in the 1980s as a means of measuring how far a technology was from being space ready, the intervening years has seen the adoption of the TRL scale (or variants thereof) by many sectors. More recently, the TRL scale has been used by the European Union in implementing its innovation policy.
However, in our experience, the formal use of a standardised TRL scale by R&D performing companies is not ubiquitous. Also, there is little precedent available regarding the application of the TRL scale to R&D Tax Credit claims. As stated in the Frascati Manual 2015:
“Different TRL models have been developed to help assess the maturity of the technological elements of such programmes, but remain largely untested in other domains”; and
“Because of the multiplicity of TRL classification systems and their generic description, it is not possible to provide a concrete and generally applicable mapping of TRLs – or more specifically the work conducted in order to bring the programme to a higher readiness level – to the types of R&D (basic research, applied research and experimental development”).
We would have liked to have seen more detailed guidance on the application of the TRL scale to R&D Tax Credit claims.
2. Materials used for R&D that may subsequently be sold (Section 4.7)
The guidance in Section 4.7 relating to materials used for R&D that may subsequently be sold has also been expanded upon and new examples provided.
We highlight in bold below the new wording added to the section:
"Materials used in qualifying research and development activities may be of further commercial value after their research use has concluded. In those cases, it must be determined if those materials were utilised wholly and exclusively in the carrying on by the company of qualifying research and development activities.
Where it is reasonable to consider that there will be a saleable product, then the lower of cost, or net realisable value of any materials or other saleable product which remain after the R&D activity should be deducted from the expenditure claimed.”
Examples No. 14, No. 15. and No. 16 are new and seek to provide the reader with practical examples as to the application of the guidance contained in the section.
Given the significant sums that can be involved and the potential impact on the R&D Tax Credit, it is crucial that the cost of materials is treated correctly in R&D Tax Credit claims. The fact that Revenue have expanded guidance and provided new examples on this issue suggests that they may have some concerns regarding certain current practices in this area.
3. Innovation
In the “New Materials / products / systems” section of the guidelines (see Section 3.6), Revenue has always highlighted that new materials, products and systems do not qualify for the R&D Tax Credit purely on the basis that they are new and/or that “science or technology has been used in its creation”.
In the guidelines published today, Revenue has expanded on this point to confirm that “in many cases these projects will be innovative rather than qualifying R&D”. In the footnote to the relevant page, readers are directed to a definition of “innovation” that has recently being added to S488 of the Taxes Acts.
Of course, many innovative projects will include R&D (as defined for tax credit purposes). However, arguing the case for project eligibility entirely based on a material, product or system being new or innovative is not recommended. It is important to be able to show that all criteria set out in the legislation have been fully complied with. Given the updated guidance in this section and the fact that “innovation” is now explicitly referenced, it is likely that this will continue to be an area of interest for Revenue in audits and other interventions going forward.
4. Subcontracting R&D Activity
Section 6 of the guidelines has been updated and now states that:
“It is important to note that the outsourced activity must constitute qualifying R&D activity of the company which appointed the sub-contractor, and not necessarily R&D of the subcontractor”
This contrasts with the wording used in the previous version of the guidelines which stated:
“It is important to note that the outsourced activity must constitute qualifying R&D activity in its own right”.
This section of the guidelines has also been updated to confirm that where outsourced activity is undertaken by someone who could not claim the R&D Tax Credit (examples given are an individual or a non-resident third party that does not have a branch in the State), the requirement to issue written notification does not apply.
5. Employee Secondments
Section 4.4. is a new section dealing with employee secondments. It states that if an individual is seconded to a company undertaking R&D activities and the costs of that person’s employment are borne by the company undertaking the R&D activities, they will be treated as direct employee costs, provided the following conditions are met:
1) The individual undertakes their duties in Ireland, and
2) The individual must contribute specialist knowledge, to a specific R&D project being undertaken by this in-house team.
6. Penalty Application
Section 8.7. is another new section that deals with the application of penalties in situations where a R&D intervention results in a settlement. It is now stated that "penalties will apply in line with legislation and the code of practice, publication may also apply. Where the penalty chargeable is on a ‘specified amount’ for the purposes of section 1077E(11) and section 1077E(12) the amount of credit will be deemed to be a reference to an amount of tax."
If you have any queries or comments in relation to the new guidelines please do not hesitate to get in touch on (01) 4100993 or e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Latest figures show fall in Research and Development Tax Credit claims
Recently published R&D Tax Credit statistics have revealed a reduction in both the number of companies claiming the tax credit and the total amount being claimed. The number of claimant companies fell from 1,535 in 2015 to 1,506 in 2016. There was a corresponding decrease in the Total Exchequer Cost from its peak of €708m in 2015 to €670m in 2016. Table 1 below shows the Total Exchequer Cost and Number of Companies claiming the tax credit since its introduction in 2004.
Some other interesting findings include:
Table 1. R&D Tax Credit – Total Exchequer Cost/Number of Companies
Year |
Total Exchequer Cost (€m) |
Number of Companies |
2004 |
71 |
73 |
2005 |
65 |
135 |
2006 |
75 |
141 |
2007 |
166 |
479 |
2008 |
146 |
582 |
2009 |
216 |
900 |
2010 |
224 |
1,172 |
2011 |
261 |
1,409 |
2012 |
282 |
1,543 |
2013 |
421 |
1,576 |
2014 |
553 |
1,570 |
2015 |
708 |
1,535 |
2016 |
670 |
1,506 |
Table 2. Breakdown of 2016 R&D Tax Credit by size (based on employee numbers) of the claimant
Number of Employees |
Claimants |
Cost of R&D Tax Credit (€m) |
Less than 10 |
470 |
38 |
11 to 49 |
550 |
48 |
50 to 249 |
334 |
61 |
250+ |
152 |
523 |
Total |
1,506 |
670 |
Table 3. Breakdown of 2016 R&D Credit by value of credit used
Value of Credit Used |
Number of Companies |
€1 to €10,000 |
284 |
€10,001 to €100,000 |
786 |
€100,001 to €200,000 |
207 |
€200,001 to €300,000 |
71 |
€300,001 to €400,000 |
24 |
€400,001 to €500,000 |
24 |
€500,001 to €1,000,000 |
49 |
€1,000,000+ |
61 |
Total |
1,506 |
We are hiring! Come join our market leading R&D Tax Credit team.
Have you a keen interest in science and being able to explain how technology works? Are you inspired by innovation and cutting-edge technologies? Do you enjoy exploring complex ideas and translating them into simple concepts? If so, this could be the job for you.
SciMet R&D is the leading, Irish owned, independent R&D Tax Credit consultancy. Our unique offering of exceptional service and value makes us the consultancy of choice for some of Ireland’s most innovative companies. Due to the continued growth of our business, we are seeking an R&D Tax Credit Consultant (Technical) to join our Dublin based team.
In your role as an R&D Tax Credit Consultant (Technical) you will get to hear first-hand about the exciting, cutting edge projects being carried out by Irish businesses. You will work as part of the SciMet R&D team to assist these companies in identifying and describing projects that meet the definition of R&D for tax credit purposes.
We are interested in hearing from scientists and/or engineers that share our passion for science and technology and have an interest in developing a career in this niche but fast-growing area. Full R&D Tax Credit training will be provided to the successful candidate.
The Candidate:
While the role described is full-time and Dublin based, we are happy to discuss more flexible work arrangements.
If interested, please send your CV to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Low Take Up of Knowledge Development Box
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe confirmed last week that the number of Knowledge Development Box claims included on 2016 corporation tax returns to date is low. The Minister did not have full details of the claims made to date but did state that based on preliminary analysis "it is likely that the cost to the Exchequer will be significantly below the €50 million estimated in Budget 2016".
SciMet R&D is the leading, Irish owned, independent R&D Tax Credit consultancy. The company was founded on a simple principle – to consistently deliver exceptional service and value to R&D performing companies in claiming their full and proper R&D Tax Credit entitlement.
We achieve this by delivering the perfect blend of science, technology, tax and accounting expertise. The R&D Tax Credit is unique in that it combines a science test with an accounting test. SciMet R&D is unique in the Irish market in the value we bring to our clients in meeting both tests.
At SciMet R&D we are truly passionate about science and technology. It motivates us to be able to play a part in the exciting research and development being carried out by our clients. Our tailor-made R&D Tax Credit services deliver efficiencies, robustness and cost effectiveness that facilitate our clients in doing what they do best – innovate.