Research allowance: amount & funding rates
The research allowance (Forschungszulage) amounts to 25% of eligible R&D expenses, and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 35%. From 2026 the assessment base is up to €12M per financial year – so for SMEs up to €4,200,000 of funding per year is possible.
The funding rates: 25% and 35%
The research allowance has two funding rates. The standard rate is 25% of the eligible expenses. Small and medium-sized enterprises – SMEs as defined by the EU (fewer than 250 employees plus revenue up to €50M or a balance sheet total up to €43M) – receive an increased rate of 35%. The rate is applied to the assessment base, i.e. to the sum of the eligible R&D costs – not to revenue or profit.
How much at most? The cap
The amount is capped: from 2026, expenses of up to €12M per financial year and group of affiliated companies are eligible. This gives the maximum funding:
| Max. assessment base / year | €12M |
|---|---|
| Max. funding / year (standard, 25%) | €3,000,000 |
| Max. funding / year (SME, 35%) | €4,200,000 |
Funding rates & limits over time
Which rules apply depends on the timing of the expenses. Earlier years can still be activated retroactively – on the terms in force at the time:
| Expense period | Rate | SME rate | Max. assessment base | Overhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aufwendungszeitpunkt 01.07.2020 – 27.03.2024 | 25 % | 25 % | €4M | – |
| Aufwendungszeitpunkt 28.03.2024 – 31.12.2025 | 25 % | 35 % | €10M | – |
| Aufwendungszeitpunkt ab 01.01.2026 | 25 % | 35 % | €12M | 20 % |
What determines the specific amount
Within these rates, the amount is determined above all by your eligible expenses: R&D staff costs, 70 % of contract research within the EEA, the owner work of shareholders (100 €/h) and – for projects from 2026 – an overhead flat rate of 20%. Which costs count in detail is set out under requirements; the new features from 2026 are explained in the article What changes in 2026?.
Calculate your amount
Estimate your individual order of magnitude without obligation in the research allowance calculator – in under two minutes, with no sign-up. Three fully worked cases are shown in the example calculation.
Frequently asked questions about the amount
How high is the research allowance as a percentage?
The standard funding rate is 25% of the eligible expenses. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs as defined by the EU) receive 35%. The rate applies to the assessment base, not to revenue.
What is the maximum research allowance?
From 2026 the maximum assessment base is €12M per financial year and group of affiliated companies. At 35%, that means up to €4,200,000 of funding per year for SMEs.
What determines the amount of the research allowance?
Three factors: the amount of your eligible R&D expenses, your SME status (25% or 35%) and the timing of the expenses, which determines the rate and cap. You can estimate the specific order of magnitude in the flat-rate calculator.
Is the research allowance paid out or offset?
Both are possible: the allowance is credited against the assessed tax, and any excess amount is paid out. Companies with no tax liability – such as startups in a loss-making year – therefore receive it in full as a refund.