No. Eligibility depends on recognised startup status, the nature of innovation, incorporation timing and compliance with the relevant conditions. The first step is a readiness review before any benefit is claimed or presented as available.

Keep development plans, sprint notes, payroll or contractor records, invoices, technical documentation, management approvals and links between expenditure and the product being developed. The evidence should explain what was built, why it mattered and how the cost was incurred.

Not in the same broad way many founders understand the US R&D credit. Indian startups should instead review Startup India recognition, Section 80-IAC and other available schemes with careful documentation.

Exports can affect invoicing, GST treatment, foreign remittance evidence, income recognition and cross-border reporting. The business should make sure contracts, bank receipts and filings tell the same story.

Check recognition status, eligibility period, innovation evidence, ownership conditions, turnover limits, documentation quality and whether the claim aligns with the company’s filings and books.