In order to enjoy a tax relief specified in art. 18d of the Act of 15.02.1992 on Corporate Income Tax (hereinafter: “the CIT Act”), a taxpayer must perform activities that meet the conditions for recognizing them as research and development activities within the meaning of art. 4a points 26-28 of the CIT Act, i.e. as creative activities which involve scientific research or development works performed in a systematic manner for the purposes of increasing the body of knowledge and using the body of knowledge to create new applications.

In order to enjoy the research and development relief, the following conditions must be met jointly:

1)   the taxpayer incurs costs for research and development activities as defined above,

2)      the costs for research and development activities constitute for the taxpayer the tax deductible expenses within the meaning of the CIT Act,

3)      the tax deductible expenses constitute eligible costs within the meaning of the CIT Act,

4)      the costs incurred by the taxpayer have not been included in the calculation of income exempted from an income tax in connection with the activities in the special economic zone on the basis of a permit or in connection with the activities specified in the decision on support referred to in art. 17 sec. 1 point 34a of the CIT Act,

5)      in the records referred to in art. 9 sec. 1b of the CIT Act the taxpayer indicates separately the costs of research and development activities,

6)    the taxpayer shall show the eligible costs subject to the deduction in the tax return,

7)    the amount of deducted eligible costs may not exceed the limits specified in the CIT Act,

8)     the eligible costs may not be reimbursed to the taxpayer in any form.

Thus, as indicated by the tax authority in the abovementioned individual interpretation of 19.03.2020, in order to enjoy the research and development relief, an analysis should be carried out which shall focus on:

1)     identifying the aspects of economic activity that may be considered as research and development activity (i.e. those activities of a taxpayer that meet the definitions indicated in art. 4a points 26-28 of the CIT Act);

2)   determining the costs of research and development activities (by identifying the costs that meet the definition of “eligible costs” referred to in art. 18d of the CIT Act);

3)     identifying documentation that justifies the right to enjoy the relief and fulfilling formal obligations (primarily in order to perform the obligation specified in art. 9 sec. 1b of the CIT Act).