Think You’ve Been Approved? Think Again.
You’re registered for the R&D Tax Incentive, but registration isn’t the final step. AusIndustry and the ATO can still review your claim, and they’re on the lookout for any reason to reclaim your rebate.
6 months ago
I reached out to Ben with a completed MVP Ventures grant application two days before the submission deadline, looking for an experienced set of eyes rather than a full rewrite. Ben responded within the hour and turned around a detailed, structured review scoring the application against the actual merit criteria with specific, actionable feedback on each section.
The feedback was honest, direct and genuinely useful. Ben identified exactly the right areas to strengthen and gave me clear guidance on how to improve them rather than vague suggestions. He clearly knows this program well and understands what assessors are looking for.
For a founder doing this solo under time pressure, that kind of fast, knowledgeable and no-nonsense feedback was exactly what I needed. Highly recommend!
7 months ago
I have found Ben to be very knowledgeable in his field, direct and honest in relation to the process of R&D.
Instantly making us feel that we were in the right place for direction and help in this process, and the business model he employs, 15min triage assessment ensures that we are not wasting our time, as he can readily see if we can potentially qualify for the application or not, which we found him to be very frank, and helpful.
I would recommend that you give Bulletpoint the opportunity to review and assist with your needs, as Ben was what they advertised, and we look forward to the process and assistance from him and his team.
6 months ago
Ben is very much what you see is what you get. Extremely knowledgeable and a true expert in what he does. I appreciate the care and attention he takes with his clients. Could not reccomend enough.
7 months ago
Bulletpoint is a must-stop shop for anyone thinking of or currently claiming R&D. Not only do they provide guidance on how to do it right first time, which saved us from submitting our own first draft that would have likely resulted in future issues, the ongoing strategic advice is invaluable. It has been a pleasure to work with them over the last two years so far.
3 months ago
As an accountant in practice it's great to have a reliable & trustworthy R&D specialist to refer my clients to, Ben and the Bulletpoint team do a great job, thanks!
Avoid Costly Mistakes Before It’s Too Late.
Download Your Free R&D Tax Audit Checklist
You may feel confident in your claim—until an audit arrives. We’ve seen businesses face compliance reviews over small, preventable mistakes. From timesheet gaps to ineligible activities, every detail matters. That’s why we’ve created the Free R&D Tax Audit Checklist to help you:
- Ensure your rebate is secure against potential audits.
- Identify common red flags—and learn how to avoid them.
- Follow a clear, step-by-step guide to meet ATO and AusIndustry’s strict requirements.
What’s the Real Risk?
Here’s the truth—compliance officers aren’t there to support your innovation. Their job is to find non-compliant claims and save taxpayer dollars. When they review your claim, they dig into the details—timesheets, associate payments, core activities—and they’re looking for anything out of place. Get ahead of the review and protect your rebate from being clawed back.
What’s Inside the Checklist?
This isn’t just another generic R&D guide. Created by experts who have been through countless audits, this checklist reveals:
- What AusIndustry looks for – Are your R&D activities truly experimental? Learn to articulate technical uncertainty and experimentation.
- What the ATO investigates – Are your expenses legitimate? Ensure your timesheets, financial records, and cost allocations stand up to scrutiny.
- How to avoid red flags – Understand what triggers audits, like vague descriptions or inflated expenses.
- Record-keeping essentials – Document your R&D journey properly to satisfy even the most stringent reviewers.
With an R&D rebate you can reinvest and hire more developers.
Get your product to market faster!
The Proven Audit Checklist to Maximize Your R&D Tax Rebate
Get the Checklist →
Why Act Now
With years of experience navigating audits, we’ve seen businesses come to us too late, once the audit is already underway. Small, preventable errors often lead to penalties. Don’t wait until the dreaded letter arrives—use our Free R&D Tax Audit Checklist to prepare your claim and keep it safe.
Real-World Success
We’ve helped businesses like yours secure their claims against scrutiny. Take the example of a client who faced an AusIndustry review for a seemingly ineligible R&D project. By reframing their claim to focus on technical challenges and experimentation, we turned a potential disaster into a compliant, approved submission.
Download the Checklist Now
Our Free R&D Tax Audit Checklist covers everything from identifying red flags to improving documentation practices. Avoid the pitfalls and secure your rebate with confidence.
Need More Help?
Got questions about your R&D claim? Let’s chat—we’re here to make things simple for you.
- Call us at 1300 658 508
- Schedule a meeting
- Message us
Ben Cusack. Founder of Bulletpoint and Australia’s highest rated grants consultant
1,000+ successful R&D applications
Some recent feedback from clients who I have helped get an R&D grant
“It was an easy experience, they kept in touch and let me know how the process was working.
I was kept very well informed which was really great.
The general level of knowledge of my business by Bulletpoint was impressive. We have gained access to grants we wouldn’t otherwise have known about, with minimal input from our end.”
Scott Williams
Managing Director
“We have already highly recommended Bulletpoint. We most appreciated their proficiency, frequency and helpfulness around communication, and getting the result that we needed.
I continually say to people I have had a positive experience with Ben and the Team, and we will use them again.
The obvious knowledge and understanding of the subject matter was impressive, and this had two benefits to us. The first being it helped us navigate through what we were trying to get through, so we could provide the right information.
Martyn Ryan
CEO
“We would absolutely recommend Bulletpoint. I’ve dealt with Ben and the lady that helped us last year, and find them both to extremely good and helpful, and find the treating of the client very good. Ben is an exceptional people person, he really understands how to speak to people, and how to get the best out of them, which I found really impressive.
John Rezga
General Manager
Get your share of this business changing incentive
GET A REBATE OF UP TO 43.5%
Right advice
Most companies I meet don’t know how to relate what they do in terms of the Government defined R&D Tax legislation.
The other problem is some companies claim too many ineligible costs and risk an audit.
Experience
As well as being a registered tax agent, I have degrees in Engineering and Science.
I bring a scientific approach to ensure that you can maximise the eligibility of your R&D activities.
Make it easier
I know that you would prefer to be working on your business rather than filling out forms.
My approach is to simplify the process and minimise the burden on you.
I want you to keep innovating.
How I do it
I work with your technical team to determine your eligible R&D activities.
I work with your finance team to determine your eligible R&D expenses.
I work with your accountant to prepare your Income Tax Return.
I also help our clients get more than just the R&D grant!
Bulletpoint helped Harry & Larry’s secure a grant of $1.2M. Based in Brunswick, Harry & Larry’s manufacture a range of specialty ice creams. The grant will see 30 new jobs created and investment in a factory expansion with custom engineered production lines, including the latest freezing technology, to make a range of gourmet ice creams and desserts in complex shapes and layers.
Bulletpoint helped the Greater Shepparton City Council secure a grant of $7.2 M. The project will include construction of five new football fields, a new synthetic hockey pitch and athletics track, and eight new netball courts, together with upgrades to existing multipurpose fields. New lighting, pavilions and improved spectator amenities feature in most elements of the project.
Bulletpoint helped Green Bear secure a grant of $500,000. Based in Tottenham, Victoria, Greenbear is a processor of waste and recycled materials. They received funding to build a fully-automated waste sorting line for residential Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste more feasibly and efficiently than current disposal methods.
Bulletoint helped SoftIron secure a grant of $1.5M to open its first manufacturing facility in Australia. The facility will build “clean” computer servers for customers that want to be sure there is no unknown code in their data centres. The project will further bolster Australia’s data infrastructure resilience by locally manufacturing our world-leading data centre solutions.
Bulletpoint helped Ovira to secure a grant of $400,000 to launch their new medtech device in the USA. Ovira was founded by Alice Williams, a 27-year old endometriosis sufferer who was inspired to create the new device after years of searching for a pain-management option for her own endometriosis. When she couldn’t find a solution that was drug-free or didn’t involve invasive procedures, she looked for an alternative.
Bulletpoint helped Cottage Cheese Farm secure a grant of $765,000. Based in Glenroy, Victoria, Cottage Cheese Farm is a specialty cheese manufacturer making mainly Haloumi, Ricotta and Mozzarella cheeses. They received funding to assist with construction of a $6M purpose built cheese and yoghurt manufacturing facility. The project will allow them to expand current operations and introduction of new product lines.
You’re Not Approved, Just Registered—Here’s What’s Next
This straightforward guide unpacks the often misunderstood world of the R&D Tax Incentive. If you’ve been resting easy thinking, “I’m approved!”—it’s time for a reality check. In this guide, we explain why being registered doesn’t mean you’re safe from scrutiny and how AusIndustry and the ATO will comb through every detail of your claim.
Download My Top 10 Consultant Tips Clear. Simple. Insightful.
“I emailed Ben as we had a simple query in relation to R&D lodgements for a pre and post consolidation entity and needed confirmation from a R&D specialist.
Ben had assisted us with another client previously and we had found his advice useful.
He was able to provide us with a solution within a few hours of the email”
Amy Huynh
Senior Accountant – Greenfield
“I have first come in contact with Ben when trying to understand differences between some government grants. Two quick emails resolved my query. I am now registered for R&D grants!
Thanks Ben!
I continue reading your emails to stay on top of any new opportunities.”
Stan Zajac
Software Architect – Lake Corp
“We have worked with Bulletpoint for the last 4 years.
Ben and his Team are fantastic.
They have been great help in getting us the R&D tax incentive rebate each year and enabling our business to grow internationally.
Highly recommend.”
Brad Hayden
Director – Audition Magic
But... I have been 'successful' in the past with my R&D claims
I hear this a lot. You haven’t been successful in the past, you just havent been audited. Nearly 10,000 applications are not reviewed by AusIndustry annually. But they can review it in the future. The 2022 R&D Form makes it harder for non-scientifically minded people to describe what they did as eligible R&D. But it makes it easier for AusIndustry to find non-conforming or ineligible applications
Ben Cusack
Founder of Bulletpoint
I started Bulletpoint because I enjoy working with start ups and watching them grow.
I love seeing all the new technology and innovations that people are bringing to market.
My skill is translating what you do into something that the Government wants to invest in.
Some of my best start up clients don’t need me anymore.
They have leveraged grants to grow in the early stages and are now making serious money.
How good would that be!
How do I help businesses?
I tell you plain and simply what grants are available to you at no cost. Most of the time I tell potential clients not to bother applying for grants. But some clients, I wait for the right moment!
No Bullshitting!
If I recommend a grant to you, I also tell you all the reasons why you would and wouldn’t get it. So you can make an informed decision.
Need help getting it?
If you need help with the writing of the grant then I can make the process much easier and increase your chances of getting funded.
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