Analysis
Countries that allow some research to be performed outside the country
Summary of key criteria
The below countries, featured in the 2015 Global Survey of R&D Incentives, allow some research to be performed outside the country.
Country | Explanation |
Australia | Up to 50% of the total project costs of R&D activities can be physically performed outside Australia and remain eligible for benefits if an Advanced Overseas Finding has been approved by the government. |
Austria | Activities must take place in Austria with the exception of subcontracted research. Subcontracted research must follow management and direction from an Austrian business or branch or PE in Austria. Further, the subcontractor must be based within the EU/EEA. |
Belgium | The R&D tax credit and investment deduction may be claimed for R&D work performed outside Belgium, but the claimant must retain some associated IP in Belgium to receive the tax benefit. |
Canada | Research generally must be undertaken in Canada to qualify as SR&ED, but where employees of the claimant are working outside of Canada, the amount of eligible wages for SR&ED performed outside Canada is limited to 10% of eligible wages claimed for SR&ED performed in Canada. |
China | Qualified activities must take place in China. However, less than 40% of the activity qualifying for the HNTE incentive may take place outside of China. |
Czech Republic | Not all R&D activities must occur within the Czech Republic to qualify for a super deduction, but qualified expenses must be tax deductible expenses of the Czech taxpayer. |
France | Qualified activities must take place in the EU/EEA. |
Greece | While there are no specific jurisdictional restrictions, the need to carry on research outside of Greece must be disclosed to General Secretariat of Research and Technology (GSRT) and could influence whether the GSRT issues a certificate approving R&D expenses. |
Ireland | Qualified activities must take place within Ireland or EU/EEA. However, the credit is denied when the activities take place in an EU/EEA country that grants a corresponding tax deduction for such expenditure. |
Italy | There are limited situations in which research can be performed outside the country. |
Latvia | A company may outsource R&D to Latvian or the EU/EEA scientific institutions/test laboratories provided they are publicly recognized or meet certain criteria in Latvian law. |
Malaysia | While tax incentives generally require that the R&D work be performed in Malaysia, there are exceptions. |
Netherlands | To claim the WBSO and RDA incentives, the R&D activities must take place within the EU and be performed by employees on the Dutch payroll. |
Romania | All R&D activities must take place in Romania or an EU/EEA member state. |
Singapore | Some of the super deductions can be claimed for qualified research performed outside the country. |
South Korea | Research activities may take place outside of South Korea, but any subcontracted research to university or college must be located in South Korea. |
Spain | Qualified activities must take place in Spain or an EU/EEA member states. |
United Kingdom | Research activities may take place outside the United Kingdom, but the work must be supervised by the UK company. |
See other summaries of key criteria
- Refundable research of tax credits
- Qualified research must be performed within the country
- Countries that permit qualified research activities to be performed outside the country without any restriction
- Qualified contract research allowed
- Treatment of income and expenses related to IP
- Countries offering research grants only
- Jurisdictions offering super deductions