• Companies are entitled to a 15% tax credit on eligible R&D costs through the RDTI.
  • The first 5-year evaluation of the scheme has shown that businesses supported by the RDTI perform significantly more R&D as a result.
  • Although around 2000 businesses have been supported by the scheme, we believe there are many R&D-performing businesses who are yet to claim.
  • The RDTI provides free tailored support to help businesses navigate the scheme. If you are wondering whether the RDTI might be for you, get in touch.

Is my R&D eligible

At its core, eligibility comes down to one key question:

Are you trying to resolve scientific or technological uncertainty?

In a manufacturing context, this means work that goes beyond routine production or incremental tweaks. It’s not business-as-usual activity – it’s the complex, technical projects where you’re pushing into the unknown.

It’s the kind of work that requires experimentation, prototyping, testing, iteration, and systematic investigation. Success isn’t guaranteed at the outset – and that’s exactly why it qualifies.

Eligible projects typically involve creating a new product, improving an existing product, developing or refining a production process, or building new technical knowledge within your business.

In a manufacturing context, this could include:

  • Developing a new product where performance requirements are technically challenging
  • Improving an existing product’s strength, durability, efficiency, or compliance outcomes
  • Refining a production process to increase yield or reduce defects where the solution isn’t known upfront
  • Modifying or customising machinery and tooling to achieve new capability or higher throughput
  • Integrating automation into complex production environments

Take this 2-minute quiz to self-assess whether your R&D activities could meet the RDTI criteria. Quiz: Is my R&D eligible? | Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) NZ

To find out more about the eligibility criteria, return to Is my R&D eligible? It's important to note that results from the self-assessment are not binding.

Download the RDTI flyer which displays the essentials of the scheme.

The Deadline – What You Need to Know

To make an RDTI claim, the first key step is submitting your General Approval application. This is where you outline the R&D activities undertaken during the financial year and demonstrate how they meet the eligibility criteria.

For businesses with a standard 31 March balance date, the deadline to submit General Approval for the 2026 financial year is 30 June 2026.

For businesses with a different balance date, the deadline falls three months after your financial year end.

While 30 June might seem like some time away, preparing a strong General Approval application takes planning. Identifying eligible activities, documenting technical uncertainty, and ensuring you capture the full breadth of R&D happening within your business isn’t something that can be done well at the last minute.

This is not your income tax return deadline – it is a separate filing requirement. And if you miss it, you lose the opportunity to claim the RDTI for that year.

If you’re considering making a claim, the time to start preparing is now.

How Swell Can Support Your RDTI Claim

Swell is a proud AMA partner and specialist innovation funding advisor, helping New Zealand businesses access the R&D Tax Incentive.

Many manufacturers recognise the opportunity the RDTI presents but choose not to pursue it due to the time, complexity, and internal resource required. Preparing a strong claim can be disruptive – requiring input from engineering, production, and finance teams, all while maintaining day-to-day operations.

Swell exists to remove that burden.

They handle the entire claim process end-to-end, minimising internal lift and allowing your team to stay focused on core business activity while the opportunity is properly captured.

AMA members who would like to better understand their eligibility are encouraged to connect with the Swell team for an introductory discussion. A short conversation can help clarify whether the RDTI applies and what a potential claim could look like for your business.