For businesses in multiple industries
looking to reduce Federal and State tax liability

R&D Tax Credit

The R&D tax credit, also known as the Research and Development tax credit, was created as a way to incentivize U.S. based research and development activity. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act in 2015 made this a permanent tax credit and extended the benefits to startup companies. The credit enables businesses of all sizes to reduce their federal income tax for qualified research expenses. These expenses must be for qualified research activities.

How To Claim the R&D Tax Credit?

A taxpayer can claim an R&D tax credit, on their timely filed tax return including extensions for a given year and a taxpayer can amend prior returns to claim the credit. For amended tax returns, this can typically be claimed for the previous 3 years.

The credit is claimed by filing IRS Form 6765, Credit for Increasing Research Activities (for the year in which the qualified expenses were paid or incurred).

Eligible Industries
  • Aerospace
  • Architecture & Engineering
  • Blockchain Development
  • Chemical
  • Construction/MEP
  • Consumer Products
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Beverage
  • Game Development
  • Manufacturing
  • Metal Fabrication
  • Mortgage & Banking
  • Oil and Gas
  • Pharma
  • Plastics/Injection Molding
  • Software Development
  • Tool & Die
Qualifying Expenditures for the Tax Credit
  • Salary & Wages
  • Supply Costs
  • Computer Rental or Lease
  • Contract Research
Examples of Qualified Research Activities
Qualified Research Activities include but are not limited to the following:

  • Design and development of new or improved software applications
  • Development of conceptual designs and defining requirements and specifications for new or improved products
  • Development of tooling, fixtures, and dies
  • Building and testing prototypes
  • Development of production processes and equipment
  • Evaluation and testing of new materials for product development
Alternative Minimum Tax Liability
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015 included provisions that allow small and mid-sized taxpayers to offset their Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) liability with the R&D tax credit for taxable years beginning on or after Jan 1, 2016.

Previously, qualified companies could be limited by AMT and unable to utilize 100% of the R&D tax credit. Instead, any excess credits had to be carried back and then forward. However, the PATH Act makes it possible for small businesses to offset their Alternative Minimum Tax through the R&D tax credit. So for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015, there is no limitation.

Benefits

Claiming the R&D tax credit can potentially result in significant cost savings. The benefits include:

  • Increasing Cash Flow
  • Federal and State Dollar-for-Dollar Income Tax Reduction
  • Claim Credits for Open Tax Years Going Back 3-4 Years
  • Reducing Your Tax Rate
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Four Part Test

Documentation is extremely important to defending any R&D tax credit claims. This includes having a permitted purpose, technological uncertainty, the process of experimentation, and being technological in nature.

  • 1 PERMITTED PURPOSE This means the purpose of the research activity was to improve the performance, reliability, functionality, or quality of a product (or software).
  • 2 TECHNOLOGICAL UNCERTAINTY There is uncertainty relating to how the product (or software) should be developed or designed.
  • 3 PROCESS OF EXPERIMENTATION There is a trial and error period to attempt to eliminate the previously mentioned uncertainty.
  • 4 TECHNOLOGICAL IN NATURE The activity must be determined by principles of one or more of the following: Engineering, physical sciences, biological sciences, or computer science.

Calculating the R&D Tax Credit

There are two methods a taxpayer can choose from when computing the R&D tax credit: The Regular Credit (RC) Method and the Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) Method. Taxpayers can generally choose the most beneficial calculation method each year.

Both methods offer specific advantages and disadvantages. Our team at WeIncentivize can determine the best calculation method based on your specific situation.

There are four sections of IRS Form 6765 that must be evaluated:

Section A

The first section is for any business attempting to claim the R&D credit using the RC method.

Section B

This section is for businesses electing to utilize the ASC calculation method.

Section C

This section contains further documentation based on your specific business setup.

Section D

This section is required for any small business that falls under the payroll tax election.

What Is Section 174 R&E Amortization?

Section 174 of the U.S. Tax Code defines the treatment of Research & Experimental (R&E) expenditures. This section was made a part of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in 1954 and allowed for the deduction or amortization of direct and indirect R&E expenditures including:

  • Add in Direct costs!
  • Occupancy costs: Rent for office spaces or Research facilities
  • Equipment rental costs
  • Overhead utility costs (heat, light, telephone bills etc.)
  • Facilities costs and depreciation
  • Travel expenditures incurred for R&E purposes
  • Dues and publication expenses incurred for R&E purposes
  • Attorney & filing fees for a patent application

WeIncentivize assists taxpayers in identifying departments and cost center where Section 174 R&E activities are taking place.

Often our R&D Tax Studies are augmented with 174 Amortization studies to ensure compliance and to help reduce tax liability.

Take Advantage of the R&D Tax Credit with WeIncentivize

The R&D tax credit can help a wide variety of businesses offset and reduce their income tax liability, in addition to providing many other benefits. At WeIncentivize, we can help assess your company’s federal R&D tax credit opportunity and also determine any state R&D tax credit availability. Our team of experienced CPAs, attorneys, engineers, and technology experts helps companies save money and create cash flow with R&D tax credits that can then help drive overall growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the federal Research and Development Tax Credit?
The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit is a business incentive that can be used to reduce a company’s federal income tax liability. It is available to businesses that are engaged in the development of new or improved products, processes, software, techniques, or formulations. To qualify for this credit, taxpayers must have incurred expenses related to qualified research activities.
Why should I apply for the RD tax credit claim?
There are several benefits to claiming the R&D tax credit. These benefits include:

  • Increased cash flow and significant savings
  • Reducing your Federal taxable income rate
  • Federal and State dollar-for-dollar income tax reduction
  • Ability to claim the credit for open tax years going back 3 to 4 years
How is this credit claimed?
The R&D Tax Credit is claimed by filing it on a timely submitted tax return, which can include extensions. This credit can also be retroactively claimed on amended tax returns, typically for up to the previous three tax years. To report the credit, businesses need to complete IRS Form 6765, titled “Credit for Increasing Research Activities,” for the tax year in which the qualified expenses were incurred. For business entities such as Sub-S Corporations and LLCs, the credit is passed through to the shareholders, who then report it on their individual Schedule K-1 forms.
Is there a limit to the amount of the federal research credits that can be claimed?
There is no limitation on the amount of R&D tax credits that can be claimed each year.
Is the R&D Credit a refundable credit?
The credit is not refundable. Any Research & Development Credit that is not used to offset the taxpayer’s tax liability for the year in which the qualified research expenses were paid or incurred can be carried back one year. The remaining amount can be carried forward for up to twenty years.
Can the R&D Tax Credit be claimed for a prior year?
Yes, taxpayers can claim credits for prior tax years. They generally have three years from the original filing date to amend their tax returns. In some cases, the period available for amending may extend beyond three years.
How does the acquisition or disposition of a business entity affect the research credit computation?
Acquisitions or dispositions of trades or businesses must be accounted for when calculating the R&D tax credit, both for the base period and for the current year’s qualified expenditures. Consistency between these periods is mandated by IRC §41(c)(5). For instance, if a company acquires another entity during the current year, the R&D expenses of the acquired entity must be included in the current year’s R&D tax credit calculation. Similarly, the acquired entity’s prior R&D expenses will also need to be factored into the base period calculations.
Does the research credit provide a dollar-for-dollar cash savings of federal income tax?
Yes, a company calculates its R&D tax credit, and this credit is then directly applied against the company’s federal tax liability for the current tax year in which the credit is claimed. Any unused credits can be carried back one year and then carried forward for up to 20 years.
What is qualified research for the purpose of computing the R&D Credit?
The IRS has outlined a four-part test in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §41(d)(1) that taxpayers must apply to each of their business activities or components. To qualify for the R&D tax credit, all four criteria must be met. Additionally, the company conducting the research must assume the financial risk associated with the development and must also hold the rights to the research being performed.
How is the R&D Credit computed?
There are two general methods for calculating the Research Tax Credit:

  • The Regular Credit (RC) Method
  • The Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) Method.


Both of these approaches are included on IRS Form 6765, titled “Credit for Increasing Research Activities.” Taxpayers have the option to choose either method when filing a timely tax return. However, it’s crucial to understand the unique advantages and disadvantages of each approach, especially because once a method is elected, it cannot be changed on an amended return.
How do I know if the credit will benefit my company?
The first step is to evaluate your ability to utilize the R&D tax credit. Since the credit is not refundable, you need to be paying taxes to benefit from the R&D tax credit process. Once it is determined there is sufficient tax available for your company to benefit from the credit, it is time to proceed to the next step which includes determining the qualifying research expenditures and estimating your R&D tax credit.
Our company has been manufacturing the same products for several years. We do have some new products, but how is that Research & Development?
The definition of research for R&D tax credit purposes is quite broad. If you are conducting engineering activities that are new to you as a company and there is risk associated with the success of the outcome, this may qualify as R&D.

Some examples include but are not limited to:

  • Developing new products or improving existing products
  • Experimenting with new materials
  • Building and testing prototypes and models
  • Developing new or improved software applications
  • Testing new concepts
  • Developing or improving manufacturing processes.


Any company trying to improve what they do, be more competitive, reduce costs or increase market share will likely have qualifying activities.
How much time and effort will this require from the company?
Many of our clients have this concern at the outset of the project and are surprised at how little disruption the process causes. Generally, your team would spend between 10 to 20 hours, distributed among several individuals, with each person contributing approximately 15 to 45 minutes. Clients who are well-organized and assist us with upfront planning usually find that they spend even less time on the process.
Can businesses offset payroll taxes?
Yes. For 2016 and subsequent tax years, businesses can use their R&D tax credits to offset payroll tax providing they meet the following requirements:

  • Gross receipts 1 for 5 years or less, which means total revenue returns and allowances, including all amounts received for services, income from investments, bank interest, and all other incidental or outside sources.
  • Less than $5 million in gross receipts in the year the R&D credit is claimed
  • Qualifying research activities and expenditures


Note: For a company wishing to use its 2017 R&D tax credits to offset its payroll tax in 2018, it could not have had any gross receipts prior to 2013.
When do I file?
You should file at the beginning of the year. At WeIncentivize, we can help you file your claim for the R&D Tax credit in a timely manner.