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R&D Tax Incentive Advisory Services
How we help you claim the R&D Tax Incentive
Our team of specialists understand the Australian tax incentive system and have extensive experience in successfully preparing applications and obtaining R&D benefits for clients. The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive is a major driver of innovation in Australia, but many companies find accessing tax incentives difficult and time consuming.
Avant Group supports businesses across the full R&D Tax Incentive lifecycle. Our services include:
- Eligibility assessment
- Compliance support
- Technical documentation including background research
- Tax and accounting services to assess eligible expenses
- Audit management
Avant Group features one of the largest R&D Tax Incentive advisory practices in Australia and we never charge for ATO or Department of Innovation, Science and Research (DISR) audits on claims we prepare, saving businesses thousands of dollars.
Our team brings together expertise spanning legal, tax, accounting and bookkeeping, alongside deep technical capability across science and engineering. This integrated skillset enables us to navigate complex regulatory, financial and technical advice on complex R&D claims.
Our R&D Tax Incentive Advisory Services
R&D Eligibility Review
We review your projects alongside your technical team and assess whether they are novel, generate new knowledge, not routine in nature and have technical uncertainty. This is also supported by a formal technical investigation report which we provide you with. If required, we also prepare and submit Advanced Finding applications to support your claim from the outset.
R&D Compliance Management
We support your R&D projects to be audit-ready and aligned with regulatory standards through ongoing reviews of activities and expenditure – helping you stay prepared at every stage of the project lifecycle.
You’ll receive ongoing feedback and practical recommendations to strengthen compliance. In the event of an audit, our team provides full support – at no additional cost.
R&D and Technical Project Documentation
We help you maintain clear, compliant, and audit-ready R&D records through structured templates, tracking tools, technical documentation, timekeeping systems, and expenditure registers. We also prepare end-of-year reviews and claim-ready evidence packs to support reporting, governance, and R&D Tax Incentive claims.
R&D Project Management
For complex and large-scale projects, via Avant Research, we can also provide end-to-end management of your R&D projects, from initial review and onsite inspections to annual compliance checks and claim preparation.
Our experienced team brings deep technical expertise across science, engineering, software, and manufacturing to ensure your projects are well-managed, documented, and ready for lodgement.
Audit Services
We act decisively on your behalf in ATO and DISR R&D audits and reviews, managing the process end-to-end to protect your claim. This includes audit readiness reviews, evidence strategy, technical and financial substantiation, regulator engagement, and response management through to resolution. Our focus is on clearly defending eligibility, demonstrating technical uncertainty and risk, and minimising adjustment, disruption, and exposure.
Meet our R&D Team
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Patrick Hwang Manager (R&D) Patrick Hwang is Manager, R&D, at Avant Group. He leads R&D Tax Incentive claims for clients across Australia and brings legal training through his Juris Doctor. Patrick supports businesses through the firm’s R&D Tax Incentive advisory services. He holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts, History and Philosophy, from The University of Melbourne. |
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Matt Cassar Manager (R&D/Competitive Grants) Matt Cassar is Manager, R&D and Competitive Grants, at Avant Group. He works across R&D Tax Incentive, competitive grants, funding strategy and project management. Matt supports clients with tailored grant, incentive and funding solutions that align with business strategy and growth objectives. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Advanced Global Challenges, Honours, majoring in Psychology, from Monash University. |
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Kate Whitehead Founder & Managing Director Kate Whitehead is Founder and Managing Director of Avant Group, overseeing the firm’s grants consulting team. She is Chairman of the Export Chamber of Australia Incorporated (ECAI), Vice President of the Fight Cancer Foundation, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Kate brings senior leadership across grants strategy, export grants and corporate governance. She holds a Masters in Marketing and a Post Graduate Diploma of Business Management from Melbourne Business School, formal qualifications in Mechanical Engineering from Swinburne University in addition to postgraduate qualifications in Taxation and Law. She also holds Registered Tax Agent status. |
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Ann-Marie Byrne R&D Project Associate Ann-Marie Byrne is an R&D Project Associate at Avant Group, supporting clients through the preparation and management of the R&D Tax Incentive. She works across claim preparation and government support programs, with a strong focus on detail and organisation. Ann-Marie helps businesses articulate innovative projects clearly as part of the funding process. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Business and Law, from Technological University Dublin. |
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Angus Octigan Grants Associate Angus Octigan is a Grants Associate at Avant Group, working on government grants and funding advisory for Australian businesses. His background spans manufacturing and creative writing, combining practical industry knowledge with strong communication skills. Angus prepares clear grant applications and funding strategies that support business growth and innovation. He holds a Bachelor of Creative Writing from RMIT University. |
Why Choose Avant Group?
- One of Australia’s largest R&D Tax Incentive advisory firms
- 14+ years’ experience and independent
- Audit support included at no extra cost: We never charge for an audit on R&D Tax Incentive claims we have prepared. If your claim is audited by DISR or the ATO, we support you through the entire process at no extra charge, saving businesses thousands of dollars
- Accredited and technically skilled: Our multidisciplinary team includes registered tax agents and experts across law, accounting, engineering, manufacturing, defence, and science, giving us deep, practical insight into your R&D activities. For sensitive projects – a select number of Avant personnel also hold appropriate Australian Security Clearances.
Book your obligation-free R&D assessment
R&D Tax Incentive questions our clients ask
Why engage an R&D Tax Incentive advisor?
The R&D Tax Incentive is governed by complex legislation administered jointly by the ATO and DISR. Inadequately supported or noncompliant claims may result in repayment of benefits and penalties, with potentially significant financial exposure. Ongoing legislative change also requires careful management to maintain eligibility and compliance.
Can’t I just claim the R&D Tax Incentive through my accountant?
While many accounting firms support the financial and tax aspects of a claim, the program also requires specialist technical assessment to determine project eligibility and substantiate R&D activities.
Accountants and CPAs are not typically trained to assess technical risk, formulate R&D hypotheses, or prepare the scientific and engineering evidence required to support eligibility – particularly in the context of regulatory review or audit. Assessing R&D eligibility and maintaining compliance across the full project lifecycle is a specialist capability. As a result, accounting practices across Australia partner with Avant Group and refer clients to us for independent technical assessment, documentation, and R&D Tax Incentive claim support.
Can I submit an R&D Tax Incentive claim myself?
The R&D Tax Incentive can be submitted without advisory support, however this is highly discouraged. Compliance errors are common in R&D Tax Incentive claims, which can lead to businesses being forced to pay serious financial penalties if found to be non-compliant. Typical compliance errors when conducting R&D include not describing an eligible experiment, providing an insufficient hypothesis, or supplying a claim with inappropriate technical detail i.e. too much, too little or too confusing.
The above typical errors can render a claim at a potential high risk of noncompliance with R&D law, resulting in a high risk for the claim if an audit takes place.
How do I know if my project is eligible for the R&D Tax Incentive?
For a project to be eligible for the R&D Tax Incentive it must carry both technical and financial risk for an organisation, be undertaken for the purpose of generating new knowledge and have an unknown outcome. A company must also apply a scientific methodology to a project and structure its documents and supporting evidence accordingly.
Avant Group also offers obligation-free R&D Tax Incentive project assessments, which you can book here.
Latest R&D Tax Insights
- 2026-2027 Federal Budget — Avant Group
- What records should I keep for an R&D claim?
- Can software development qualify for the R&D Tax Incentive?
Talk to an R&D Tax Incentive advisor
Speak with our R&D team about how we can help your business claim the R&D Tax Incentive with confidence.