Revenue has issued guidance stating that it will not seek to challenge a claim for the R&D tax credit under the science test in the following situations:

• Where an IDA or Enterprise Ireland R&D grant has been approved for the project;
• The amount of the R&D tax credit claimed for an accounting period of not less than 12 months is €50,000 or less;
• The company is a micro or small sized enterprise; and
• The project is undertaken in a qualifying scientific or technological field.

Revenue has taken the above position in order to minimise the burden of engaging experts to verify the science test in R&D. Small companies should be encouraged to submit R&D credit claims. Revenue eBrief No. 17/2017 (on here) contains further details and the Revenue Tax & Duty Manual has been updated to reflect this positon.