Industry concerns prevalent in R tax credit submission
The only publically released submission so far on the proposed R tax credit scheme will worry the Government as it highlights some industry concerns about whether the tax credit system
will boost R investment, National’s Research, Science and Innovation Spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar says.
“The Government will be concerned that NZTech – an organisation that represents over 800 technology organisations in New
Zealand – has raised a number of concerns it has with the Government’s proposed tax credit scheme.
“Among NZTech’s many concerns is R tax credits will not benefit high growth firms that run at losses during periods of rapid investment in R
“Because tax credits do not offer any cash flow relief to start-ups who are yet to return a profit, there are serious
questions as to whether R tax credits will do anything to lift R spending given the importance that start-up firms play in driving R spending in New Zealand.
“NZTech’s submission raises further concerns on the high level of uncertainty during the transition period away from
growth grants. Members also have issues around what will be classifiable as R expenditure and the fact that a tax credit rate of only 12.5 per cent will offer significantly less material benefit
than growth grants which will therefore reduce the incentive to invest.
“In light of the concerns raised by NZTech in their submission on the Government’s proposed R tax credit scheme – which is the only publically released submission to date – we encourage the Government to
publically release all submissions.
“Without such transparency, the public will be left in the dark as to whether abolishing the growth grant scheme, which
has a proven track record of lifting R spending, is actually supported by industry players that undertake R”