Spenda Limited has received a $2.54 million R&D Tax Incentive Rebate from the Australian Taxation Office, providing non-dilutive working capital to support ongoing technology development. The cash injection, received on 18 February 2026, relates to research and development activities conducted during the 2024-2025 financial year.
Spenda secures $2.54 million R&D tax rebate from ATO
The integrated business platform provider confirmed receipt of the $2.54 million rebate today, strengthening its cash position without issuing new shares. The rebate validates the company’s innovation expenditure under the federal government’s R&D Tax Incentive programme, which is designed to encourage Australian businesses to invest in technical development.
This funding mechanism provides recurring support for companies actively investing in product advancement. For Spenda (ASX: SPX), the rebate reflects the company’s commitment to building out its supply chain technology platform across software, payments, and lending solutions.
What is the R&D tax incentive?
The Australian R&D Tax Incentive is a government programme that provides tax offsets to companies conducting eligible research and development activities. Businesses with annual turnover below $20 million can access a refundable tax offset, which translates to a cash rebate for loss-making or low-tax-paying entities.
The scheme is structured to reduce the after-tax cost of R&D investment. Companies claim qualifying expenditure through their annual tax returns, with the Australian Taxation Office assessing eligibility and processing refunds.
For technology firms like Spenda, this creates visibility around ongoing innovation funding. The $2.54 million received today represents a return on prior-year R&D spend, effectively reducing the net cost of developing new platform capabilities.
How Spenda qualifies
Spenda qualifies for the R&D tax incentive through its development of an integrated supply chain platform. The company’s technology stack encompasses three core components:
- Software: SaaS solutions enabling e-invoicing, ordering, and automated reconciliation
- Payments: B2B and B2C transaction processing infrastructure
- Lending: Supply chain finance and working capital solutions
Continued R&D investment supports product competitiveness across these layers, with the rebate mechanism providing partial funding for that development activity.
What the funds mean for Spenda’s runway
Non-Dilutive Capital
$2.54 million cash received without issuing new shares
The rebate bolsters Spenda’s working capital position, providing funding that does not dilute existing shareholders. This is particularly material for growth-stage technology companies managing burn rates whilst scaling operations.
The company has not specified how the funds will be allocated, but the receipt improves near-term liquidity and supports continued platform development without the need for an equity raising.
Spenda’s integrated platform at a glance
Spenda operates an end-to-end business platform designed to streamline supply chain transactions. The company positions itself as both a software solutions provider and a payment processor, generating layered revenue streams from SaaS, both B2B and B2C payments and B2B supply chain finance.
| Revenue Stream | Description |
|---|---|
| SaaS | Software subscription fees for platform access |
| B2B Payments | Business-to-business transaction processing |
| B2C Payments | Consumer-facing payment processing |
| Supply Chain Finance | Working capital and lending solutions for trading partners |
The platform integrates data from multiple software systems, creating a standardised operating environment that improves operational efficiency for businesses across the supply chain. Spenda’s ability to analyse payment flows throughout these networks enables the company to offer customised financing solutions.
Today’s rebate reflects ongoing R&D commitment to advancing this integrated technology stack. The federal government’s support for research and development provides recurring funding for companies investing in technical innovation, with the $2.54 million received by Spenda validating its innovation agenda for the 2024-2025 financial year.
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