Engineering Research & Development Tax Credit Study

The R&D tax credit (officially “Credit for Increasing Research Activities”) is a dollar-for-dollar reduction to your tax liability and can amount to large savings, not just this year, but retroactively as well. Despite being a huge benefit to engineering companies around the country, the credit it is often overlooked by both big and small companies. From pre-bid meetings over the project specs and concepts to AutoCAD and prototypes, there are qualified activities throughout the engineering process. Our R&D credit specialists stay current with relevant IRS whitepapers, regulations, and case law. This accounting and legal knowledge coupled with extensive experience working with a variety of engineering firms gives us the expertise to assist any engineering company with their R&D tax credit claim. 

Example of qualified activities

If an electrical engineer ($100,000 in 2020 wages) spent the entirety of 2020 developing the electrical system designs of a new product in AutoCAD, the tax credit for their development efforts could amount to $10,000. Furthermore, if the employee assisted with the development of a working prototype and the raw materials associated with the prototype amounted to $50,000 you could be eligible for an additional $5,000 in tax benefit, or a combined $15,000.

 

All employees involved in the development efforts associated with the purpose of improving the manufacturing process or developing the prototype are eligible for the credit. From meetings with potential customers to discuss the specifications and requirements of the product to testing the materials used in the prototype, a variety of activities and expenses associated with the development efforts can be taken via the R&D tax credit.