Documentation gaps
Canopy has identified 5 areas where supporting documentation is missing or incomplete. Addressing these before lodgement may strengthen the claim position.
5 gaps identified · estimated claim impact: moderate
Gaps are identified automatically and reviewed by your Canopy specialist as part of claim preparation.
Cost allocation incomplete for engineering salaries
Why it matters
Without clearer time allocation records, the estimated R&D-linked salary expenditure of $312,000 may be difficult to support. Salary costs are typically the largest component of an R&D claim and require documented evidence of the proportion of time spent on eligible activities.
Recommended action
Confirm team involvement percentages by project and document them in a timesheet or equivalent record. Each project team member should verify their estimated R&D involvement.
Weak technical uncertainty framing for Project 3
Why it matters
The Manufacturing Process Optimisation work may appear to be routine process improvement rather than R&D unless the technical problem is clearly explained. R&D eligibility requires demonstrating what could not be known or determined in advance — this is not yet documented for Project 3.
Recommended action
Your Canopy specialist will draft a clear technical uncertainty statement that explains what outcome was unknown at the start of the project and why existing knowledge was insufficient to determine it.
Missing model comparison report for Project 2
Why it matters
The experimentation history for the Automated Defect Detection Model is harder to evidence without a structured comparison between model versions. Your Canopy specialist will demonstrate a systematic approach to experimentation — not just a final result.
Recommended action
Upload or create a summary of model performance tests across versions, including the metrics used to evaluate each approach and why prior approaches were insufficient.
Prototype material invoices need tagging
Why it matters
Finance evidence needs to be linked to the relevant R&D project and activity period. Untagged invoices for prototype materials ($46,000 detected) are difficult to attribute to specific projects during claim preparation.
Recommended action
Tag each prototype material invoice by project and date range. Confirm that the materials were used specifically for R&D activities rather than general production.
Slack discussions not linked to project objective
Why it matters
Canopy has detected useful decision history in Slack threads — including discussions about technical uncertainty and failed approaches — that are not yet connected to the relevant project evidence trail. This context could strengthen the claim narrative.
Recommended action
Link relevant Slack threads to the corresponding project and label them with the evidence type (e.g. decision history, technical discussion). This can be done within the Canopy evidence library.
Your Canopy specialist is reviewing these gaps.
We will work through each gap with you, strengthen your evidence trail, and prepare a claim-ready package before lodgement.
Gaps update automatically as new evidence is connected. Your Canopy specialist will confirm all positions during claim preparation.