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The R&D Tax Credit Program

The R&D Tax Credit is our government's way of encouraging and rewarding US companies to continue innovating and building products and technologies.
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The R&D Tax Credit has recently become the #1 government-funded program for small businesses, as you don't have to wait to become profitable to start claiming the benefits!

The IRS plans to dole out $148 Billion to eligible businesses of all sizes and industries by 2026.

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Let's see how R&D Credit can help you!

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Intro to the R&D credit

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What activities qualify for the R&D tax credit?

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What Expenses Qualify for the R&D Tax Credit?

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How to monetize the R&D Tax Credit?

R&D Tax Credit Calculation Example

B2B SaaS Company
6 FT Software engineers
1 US contractor
2023 Payroll = $783,110
Contractor = $45,000
AWS costs = $7,800

R&D Tax Credit $82,240

2024 headcount increases to 10
2024 payroll = $1,321,342
Payroll Taxes = $73,470

Payroll Taxes eliminated: 100%

$250,000
Every Startup can be eligible for annually
$20 Billion
Billion will be claimed in the US this year
10%
Get ROI on every development dollar spent

Don’t just take our word for it.

Here are some stellar companies that receive millions in additional funding every year.
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What our clients say about us
“Working with TaxTaker was so easy! We now incorporate the R&D tax credit into our plan every year. We can count on TaxTaker to make it happen for us. I highly recommend the service.”
“Being a science-based company we have a lot of R&D expenses and working with TaxTaker was absolute peace of mind ensuring that we take advantage of all R&D Tax Credits available to us.”
"As a founder and CEO of a start-up, my bandwidth is limited but cash is king. I appreciate that TaxTaker makes the tax credit process simple and low maintenance. The payroll integration is a great service and the platform is quick and easy. It's great to access the credit and manage cash flow."
"A delight to work with. As a startup that needs every federal dollar possible, they've made the R&D tax credit process painless and simple to get. Plus, they found me an extra 40k with the Employee Retention Credit, which came at pivotal time in the business. They know their stuff!"
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Frequently Asked Questions

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Isn’t the R&D Credit only for companies that engage in scientific research or develop revolutionary new products?

No! One of the most common misconceptions about the R&D Credit is that it is only available to scientists in white lab coats or high-tech companies creating the next major breakthrough. In reality, the R&D Credit is available to businesses of all sizes in a wide range of industries, including architecture, engineering, software, manufacturing, food and beverage, construction and many more.

What Qualified Activities are Considered for the R&D Tax Credit?

If your company has any of the following qualified research expenditures, your business likely qualifies for the R&D Tax Credit:

  • Develops or designs new products or processes
  • Enhances existing products or processes
  • Develops or improves upon existing prototypes and software
What are QREs under the R&D Credit?

Qualified research expenses (QREs) are expenses that a business incurs in conducting qualified research under the R&D Credit. QREs include:

  • Amounts paid for supplies
  • Wages paid to employees who engage in qualified research or those who directly supervise or support these employees
  • Payroll taxes
  • Amounts paid to third parties who are under contract to perform R&D activities
Are there certain types of research activities that do NOT qualify for the R&D Credit?

Yes, there are several activities that are specifically excluded from the credit. For instance, businesses generally may not claim the R&D Credit for activities conducted outside the U.S., the routine testing of products or materials for quality control purposes, research in non-scientific disciplines such as the arts, humanities, or social sciences, and activities conducted solely with the goal of improving a product’s aesthetic appeal.

How much of my R&D costs can I recover?

You can recover up to 10% of eligible expenditures. For example, a company with $1,000,000 of eligible expenses, could receive an R&D credit of $100,000.

How do I apply for the R&D Tax Credit?

A number of factors go into claiming the credit, but the potential savings on the table make exploring the credit a worthy investment. Since the credit may be claimed for both current and prior tax years, companies should be regularly documenting their R&D activities to ensure they are positioned to claim the credit in both situations.

To claim the credit, the taxpayer must evaluate and document their research activities to establish the amount of qualified research expenses paid for each qualified research activity. While taxpayers may estimate some research expenses, they must have a factual basis for the assumptions used to create the estimates. Some examples of documentation includes:

  • Payroll records
  • General ledger expense detail
  • Project Lists
  • Project Notes
Is it worth doing R&D tax credit calculation if there's net loss and no tax due in the coming several years?

If the Company meets the qualifications of a startup (less than $5 million in gross receipts and less than 5 years old), and has W2 Wages with a related payroll expense, it is very beneficial to calculate the credit to take advantage of the payroll tax offset.

What if I Don’t Have Income Tax Liability?

The R&D Tax Credit is not refundable. If you don’t owe income tax or the credit is worth more than what you owe, you won’t receive a check from the IRS. However, most businesses will use the 20-year carryforward to apply their unused credit to future years’ taxes.

What if I Missed Claiming the R&D Tax Credit in Previous Years?

If you were eligible for the credit but didn’t know about it or didn’t take it because you thought it was too complicated, you can still go back and take it by amending your income tax return. You generally have three years to amend your return.

You will receive a refund for any extra amount you paid as a result of not claiming the credit. If the credit exceeds what you paid in income taxes, you can receive a carryforward for the remaining portion just as if you had filed on time.

What Documentation Do I Need to Claim the Credit?

You need to keep records substantiating the expenses you claimed. This generally includes financial records showing that you actually paid the money, business records showing that the expense was for a qualified purpose and other records showing the breakdown of qualified vs. non-qualified activities when a total expense was incurred for multiple business purposes.

Does Claiming the R&D Tax Credit Mean I’ll Get Audited?

Just because you took the Research and Development Tax Credit doesn’t mean you will automatically get audited, but there are still random audits of all tax returns. Keep in mind that the R&D Tax Credit is not a loophole, and the rules for what you can and can’t claim are clear in most cases. As long as you work with an experienced tax professional to determine your eligible expenses and properly document them, you shouldn’t fear claiming a credit you’re entitled to.

When do I claim the R&D credit?

The credit is claimed on a timely-filed (including extension) federal income tax return for the year in which the qualified expenses were incurred. The credit may also be claimed by amending a previously-filed return on or before the statute of limitations date to report credits related to expenses incurred during that period. The statute of limitations generally grants three years after the original deadline or filing date (whichever is earlier) to amend returns.

How does R&D Tax Credits work?

R&D tax credits are tax incentives designed to encourage the development of new or improved products, processes, or services. These tax credits help businesses offset some of the costs associated with research and development activities.

Here's a general overview of how R&D tax credits work:

  1. Eligibility: In order to be eligible for R&D tax credits, a business must be engaged in qualified research activities. For example, activities related to developing new or improved products, processes, or software can qualify.
  2. Calculating the credit: The amount of the credit is usually a percentage of the eligible R&D expenses. The tax credit can be claimed against the company's federal tax liability, and any unused credits can be carried forward to future years or even back to prior years.
  3. Documentation: It's important for businesses to keep detailed documentation of their research and development activities, to show that they qualify for the credit. Documentation can include things like research plans, project milestones, and expense reports.

What are some examples of R&D tax credit qualified activities?
How does TaxTaker compare to other R&D tax credit companies?

- At TaxTaker, we pride ourselves in our technology-backed software that helps simplify the process of claiming R&D tax credits.

- We also offer white glove service ensuring you have the best experience!

- We are big promoters of startups and love highlighting our clients. Check our our Startups You Should Know showcasing some of our valued clients. This is just one of the ways we give back to the startup community.

What is R&D Tax Credit financing?

Learn more about R&D Tax Credit Financing.

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