Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) (OTCQB: BGDFF) has announced the distribution of $643,183 in junior minerals exploration incentive (JMEI) tax credits to eligible investors, following submission and approval of its 2025 tax return.
The JMEI scheme enables exploration companies to create refundable tax credits for distribution to eligible Australian shareholders who are entitled to refundable tax offsets or franking credits.
Credits are limited to the amount that each investor originally paid to acquire their shares multiplied by a company’s corporate tax rate and distributed relative to the total amount of new shares issued in the eligible period.
During 2024, Barton received up to $1.48 million in distributable tax credits from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
For the year ended 30 June 2025, the company spent $2.73 million on eligible ‘greenfields’ exploration and generated $643,183 in JMEI tax credits based on a 25% corporate rate and a tax loss of $2.57 million.
Tax Credit Distribution
Barton has distributed the credits to investors who were part of the company’s ++$3 million share placement++ in May, which saw the issue of 4.28 million new shares priced at $0.70 each.
Those eligible received a credit of $0.15 for each $0.70 share purchased, reflecting an effective additional investment return of 21.4% for each dollar invested.
Barton managing director Alexander Scanlon said the tax credits represented a significant benefit for investors.
“The JMEI along with the federal government’s tax incentive has enabled us to conduct a wide range of large-scale research and development programs to secure vital early-stage exploration investment support and confirm multiple significant technical outcomes,” he said.
“We thank the ATO and the Australian federal government for their extensive support of Barton’s work at our South Australian projects.”
Advancing Gold Activities
Barton has been advancing activities at its Tunkillia, Challenger, and Tarcoola gold projects in South Australia.
The work has included 18,900 metres of ++Phase 1 upgrade drilling++ at Tunkillia’s high-value Stage 1 and Stage 2 open pits ahead of schedule and under budget.
Recent diamond drilling at the Tolmer prospect within the historic Tarcoola goldfield confirmed the ++local structural model ++that hosts Barton’s Perseverance mine.
A ++definitive feasibility study++ is currently underway for Stage 1 of the brownfields Challenger project utilising the Central Gawler mill, with the company targeting the start of works by year-end.
