How it works

From eligibility check to cash in your account

A clear, step-by-step breakdown for both companies claiming R&D and accounting firms partnering with us.

01

Free eligibility check

Take our 2-minute quiz or book a 20-minute call. We'll assess your R&D activities against the AusIndustry criteria and give you an honest verdict — including a rough estimate of your potential offset.

✓ Eligibility assessment✓ Estimated offset range✓ No obligation

This is genuinely free. No sign-up, no email wall, no sales pressure.

02

$500 deposit & strategy session

Once you're in, we schedule a 45-minute deep dive. We go through your R&D activities in detail — what you were trying to achieve, what was technically uncertain, what you tested, what worked and what didn't. This scopes the full claim.

✓ 45-min detailed interview✓ Activity mapping✓ Expenditure scope✓ Claim structure plan

The $500 deposit is credited against your final success fee — it's not an extra cost.

03

We write your project descriptions

We write the project descriptions (PDs) — the technical narrative that AusIndustry reviewers assess. We also work through your financials to identify every eligible expenditure: salaries, contractors, cloud costs, consumables, depreciation.

✓ Full PD writing✓ Eligible expenditure mapping✓ Contractor classification✓ Supporting activity identification

You'll review every PD before anything is submitted. We iterate until it's exactly right.

04

Your review & sign-off

We send you the complete application package: all project descriptions, expenditure schedule, and a plain-English summary. You approve or request changes. Nothing goes further without your explicit sign-off.

✓ Full application package✓ Review meeting if needed✓ Unlimited revisions

Most clients find very little to change — we've already interviewed you thoroughly.

05

You lodge on AusIndustry, your accountant handles the ATO

You (as company director) log into the AusIndustry Business Portal using your myGovID and submit the application we've prepared — we walk you through it step by step. Your registered tax agent then includes the R&D Tax Offset Schedule when lodging your income tax return.

✓ We prepare 100% of the application✓ You submit via AusIndustry portal (we guide you)✓ Your tax agent lodges the ATO schedule

Deadline: 10 months after your financial year end — April 30 for June 30 FY companies.

// Who does what

Clear separation of responsibilities

RDKit handles
✓ R&D activity descriptions
✓ Financial analysis & expenditure mapping
✓ Full AusIndustry application preparation
✓ Guiding you through portal submission
Company director handles
✓ Submitting the AusIndustry portal application (using myGovID)
✓ Reviewing & approving project descriptions
✓ Providing R&D activity details in our interview
Tax agent handles
✓ Lodging the income tax return
✓ Including the R&D Tax Offset Schedule (which we prepare)
✓ Any ATO correspondence post-lodgement
// Your timeline

Done in a week. Or whenever suits you.

There’s no fixed deadline we impose on you. Some clients want it done fast — we’ve completed claims in under a week when that’s the priority. Others prefer to move at a more comfortable pace over a few weeks. Either way, we adapt to you completely. The steps below are the same — only the timing changes.

⚡ Fast track
Under a week
You’re available, responsive, and ready to move. We clear everything else and get it done.
🗓 Your pace
A few weeks
Life gets in the way — that’s fine. We’re here when you are. No pressure, no chasing.
Step 1

Eligibility check & scoping call

Free assessment. You’ll know whether you have a strong claim and get a rough offset estimate — all in one call. Book it whenever you’re ready.

Step 2

Strategy session & deposit

45-minute deep-dive interview. We scope the full claim and agree on approach. Pay the $500 deposit and work begins the same day — or whenever you schedule it.

Step 3

PD drafting & expenditure mapping

We write your project descriptions and map eligible expenditure. Turnaround on our end is fast — you’ll have a first draft to review as soon as you send us what we need.

Step 4

Review & sign-off

You review the full package at your own pace. One round of feedback or ten — we revise until it’s right. Nothing moves forward without your explicit sign-off.

Step 5

AusIndustry portal & ATO schedule

You submit via the AusIndustry portal — we walk you through it live. Your tax agent includes the R&D schedule with your return. Ready to go whenever you are.

Done

Offset pays out

For refundable claims (under $20M turnover), the cash arrives within weeks of your tax return being processed by the ATO.

// Pricing

Simple. Transparent. Aligned.

// Starter
First-time claimants
$500
deposit + 5% of offset (min. $2,500 total fee)
  • ✓ Free eligibility check
  • ✓ 45-min strategy session
  • ✓ Project description writing
  • ✓ Financial & expenditure analysis
  • ✓ Full AusIndustry application prep
  • ✓ $500 deposit credited to final fee
Get started
Most popular
// Growth
Returning clients
4%
of offset (min. $2,000, no deposit required)
  • ✓ Everything in Starter
  • ✓ No upfront deposit
  • ✓ Annual review included
  • ✓ Priority turnaround
  • ✓ Direct line to Kay
  • ✓ Loyalty rate discount
Get started

Accounting firm? See partner pricing →

// Common questions

Frequently asked

How long does the whole process take?
Shorter than you think — and entirely in your hands. Here's the honest answer: we have no waiting list, no internal review queues, and no account manager hand-offs slowing things down. The moment you book your strategy session, we start. The moment you send us your information, we write. The moment you approve, we're ready to submit. Some clients go from first call to AusIndustry submission in under a week. Others take a few weeks because life gets in the way — and that's fine too. The pace is yours. We just make sure we're never the bottleneck.
What if we haven't kept great records?
More common than you'd think. We can work with whatever you have — git commit histories, meeting notes, Jira tickets, invoices — and help reconstruct a credible contemporaneous record. The sooner you start keeping records, the better, but imperfect records aren't a dealbreaker.
Do we need to be profitable to claim?
No. If your turnover is under $20M, the offset is refundable — meaning even if you're in a tax loss position, you receive the offset as a direct cash payment. It's one of the most valuable features of the R&DTI for early-stage companies.
What does our accountant need to do?
Your accountant lodges the R&D Tax Offset Schedule as part of your income tax return. We prepare all the R&D-specific documentation and the schedule itself. Most accountants find very little extra work on their end.
Who actually lodges the AusIndustry application?
You do — as the company director, via your myGovID on the AusIndustry Business Portal. We prepare 100% of the application content and walk you through submitting it. This keeps the process legally clean and you in control.
What if AusIndustry comes back with questions?
We help you respond. We'll draft responses to any AusIndustry queries and work with you to provide any additional documentation needed. Our thorough preparation means this rarely happens.
Can we claim activities from previous years?
You can't retroactively claim years already lodged, but if your prior year tax return hasn't been lodged yet, it may still be possible. Get in touch and we'll assess your specific situation.