RDLTC Deadline for FY25: 30 April Is Closer Than You Think
The R&D Loss Tax Credit deadline for FY2025 is 30 April 2026. Here's what NZ startups need to know — and how we're helping clients recover over $500k in tax loss credits across FY25 and FY26.
The RDLTC filing deadline for FY2025 is 30 April 2026. If your company is in a tax loss position and performed R&D during the year ended 31 March 2025, this is your window to claim a 28% cash refund on eligible R&D losses. Miss it, and IRD has no discretion to accept late filings — the credit is gone.
What Is the RDLTC Deadline?
The R&D Loss Tax Credit must be filed within 30 days of your IR4 income tax return due date. For most companies with a standard 31 March balance date, the IR4 is due 31 March 2026, making the RDLTC deadline 30 April 2026.
This is a hard deadline. Unlike the RDTI (which has more flexibility around timing), the RDLTC legislation explicitly states that late applications cannot be accepted. There is no extension process and no room for IRD to exercise discretion.
What We're Doing Right Now for Our Clients
We're currently working with clients who are re-filing their FY25 RDLTC claims. In some cases, companies filed their IR4 without realising they were eligible for the RDLTC, or their original claim didn't capture the full scope of eligible R&D expenditure. We're helping them amend and re-submit before the 30 April deadline to ensure they receive the full credit they're entitled to.
Once the FY25 claims are locked in, we move straight into FY26 RDLTC preparation. For companies with a 31 March 2026 balance date, the FY26 year is just closing now. By getting ahead of the documentation and expenditure analysis while the work is fresh, we can file the FY26 claim as soon as the IR4 is ready — rather than scrambling months later.
In one case, this back-to-back approach across FY25 and FY26 is recovering the client over $500,000 in R&D Loss Tax Credits. That's real cash returned to a growing NZ company, funded by work they were already doing.
Why Companies Miss This Deadline
The most common reasons we see:
They don't know the RDLTC exists. Many startups have heard of the RDTI but not the RDLTC. If your accountant hasn't raised it, you may be leaving significant money on the table — especially if you're pre-revenue or in a tax loss position.
They assume their accountant has it covered. The RDLTC requires R&D-specific documentation — technical narratives, expenditure breakdowns by activity, and evidence of technological uncertainty. Most general practice accountants don't prepare this, and the filing window is tight.
They leave it too late. Preparing an RDLTC claim requires your IR4 to be filed first. If your accounts aren't finalised until late March, you have days — not weeks — to prepare and lodge the RDLTC. Starting early is essential.
How to Check If You're Eligible
You may be eligible for the RDLTC if:
- Your company has a tax loss for the relevant year
- You performed eligible R&D activities in New Zealand
- Your R&D spend was at least $50,000
- You can demonstrate technological uncertainty in your R&D work
The credit is calculated at 28% of your eligible R&D expenditure, subject to caps based on your total tax losses, R&D intensity, and wage bill. For early-stage companies burning cash on product development, this can be a substantial cash injection.
Don't Wait — Act Before 30 April
If you think your company might be eligible for the FY25 RDLTC, the time to act is now. Even if your IR4 is already filed, we can assess your eligibility, prepare the R&D documentation, and lodge the claim before the deadline.
And if you're already thinking about FY26 — good. We'll have your claim ready to file the moment your accounts are finalised, so you're not racing the clock again next year.
Get in touch with our team to find out what you could recover.