Good tax policy reflects business voice, enhances innovation

New Zealand’s research and development investment levels are about half of the OECD average. Photo www.geistlich-na.com
New Zealand’s research and development investment levels are about half of the OECD average. Photo www.geistlich-na.com
New research and development tax incentives announced by the Government earlier this morning are an encouraging start to help lift productivity for business in New Zealand, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).
New Zealand’s research and development (R&D) investment levels are about half of the OECD average, with investment in innovation and new technology identified as a key driver of increased productivity. New Zealand also lags OECD equivalents in its productivity from the work force.
EMA chief executive Kim Campbell says the new scheme also reflects a partnership approach between Government and business, with the original proposals being significantly modified to reflect feedback from the business community.
“Business has been listened to in regard to the help it needs to innovate, resulting in good public policy on tax incentives, says Mr Campbell.
The new R&D tax incentive scheme proposed to be introduced on April 1 next year matches the EMA’s submission on behalf of its 8500 members with a lift in the incentive and lowering of the expenditure threshold.
We are especially pleased with these aspects of the coming R&D Tax Incentive legislation:
  • A credit rate of 15 per cent, up from the earlier proposed 12.5 per cent;
  • A minimum R&D expenditure threshold of $50,000 per year;
  • A more user-friendly definition of R&D that ensures the credit can be accessed more easily across all sectors, including the technology sector;
  • Small business in particular will know in advance of conducting R&D that their application for the tax incentive has been approved, rather than waiting on the outcome of their tax claims at the end of the year.
Mr Campbell says, “These key aspects of the scheme are close to what we believe will encourage more R&D in New Zealand firms.
“As a country we suffer on the global stage from a lack of innovation in our products and services and business practices. New Zealanders have a low spend on the R&D needed for innovation, compared to other OECD members.
“The scheme will encourage new business development, more employment, higher wages and GDP growth,” Mr Campbell says.

Meanwhile, Business Central – Affiliated with the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and BusinessNZ – welcomes the new research and development tax incentives announced today.,”This is the sort of move business has been advocating to encourage more innovation, and it’s great the Government has seen the merit in what we were saying,” says Chief Executive John Milford.

“Small business, in particular, will benefit from the halving of the amount of R&D investment required before a tax credit can be claimed, from $100,000 to $50,000. Raising the rate from the proposed 12.5 per cent to 15% is also an unexpected bonus.

“These changes, plus the fact that knowing before they even start their R&D work that their application for the tax credit has been pre-approved, will no doubt encourage a lot more of them to innovate where otherwise they might not have, and that’s exactly what we need to see happen for the good of the economy.

“Taking a lot of the uncertainty out of the equation means a lot to businesses where R&D money is tight.

“These are the type of incentives that business can immediately relate to, and over time they will help to lift productivity.”