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Technology

Hardware - R&D Tax Benchmark

What proportion of total business expenses do Australian hardware typically claim as R&D under the RDTI?

Typical range
20–55%
Direct (core) R&D as % of expenses
Elevated but plausible
up to 75%
Still defensible with strong evidence
Unusual - review carefully
> 88%
May still be valid; expect AusIndustry scrutiny
Supporting R&D
5–15%
Indirect / supporting activities

What drives R&D intensity in this sector

Prototype iteration, EVT/DVT cycles and test-rig builds drive intensity; production tooling is excluded.

Sector disclaimer

Pre-mass-production hardware sits 30–55%. Lower allocations after launch are expected.

ATO & AusIndustry context

Tooling and production-run costs fall outside the s355-25 core activity definition; reverse-engineering existing products is separately excluded under s355-25(2)(g).

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Educational benchmark only - not an eligibility test or tax advice. Final eligibility depends on whether your activities meet the s.355-25 / s.355-30 core and supporting R&D definitions and is determined by AusIndustry on registration.