Frequently asked questions.
Answered briefly and clearly. We're happy to look at whether it fits for you in a non-binding assessment.
What is the research allowance?
A tax incentive for research and development under the Research Allowance Act (FZulG) – a legal entitlement, not a grant from a limited pot. It funds up to 35 % of eligible R&D costs.
Who is eligible to apply?
In principle all companies taxable in Germany with eligible research and development – regardless of size or sector. Including young companies with losses, because the allowance is paid out.
How high is the funding?
Up to 35 % of eligible R&D costs for small and medium-sized enterprises, 25 % for large ones. The concrete amount depends on your R&D staff costs.
Can I apply retroactively?
Yes, up to four years retroactively. A timely application is what matters – together we look at which years come into question at all.
What does fundloop do – and what does my tax advisor do?
fundloop assesses your research technically and prepares it thoroughly (stage 1, BSFZ). Your tax advisor reviews the tax side on their own responsibility and files with the tax office (stage 2). No money flows between fundloop and the tax advisor.
What does “audit-ready” mean – is the funding guaranteed?
Audit-ready describes how we document, not what the outcome will be. We assign people, hours and costs to each R&D project in a traceable way and substantiate novelty and technical uncertainty against the Frascati criteria – in line with the German GoBD record-keeping principles, so the reasoning still holds years later if a tax audit asks. We cannot guarantee any particular decision by the certification body, the tax office or a tax audit. What we do ensure is that the evidence holds up.
What does fundloop cost?
We work success-based, with no setup fee. A monthly contribution keeps the application moving – it's credited back and refunded on rejection. We name the concrete rate in the assessment, tied to your actual funding amount.
How long does the process take?
The BSFZ certificate typically takes around two to three months; further time may pass until the tax office assesses and pays out. We tell you upfront what to expect.
Is my development even research?
If you develop something technically new or uncertain – a design, a prototype, a process, software – and it was unclear at the outset whether it would work, that's a strong indicator of eligible research. Whether it counts in your case is what we clarify in the assessment.
Your question not covered?
Ask us directly – non-binding and without obligation.