SR&ED Quick Overview: Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

SR&ED (or SRED) is short for Scientific Research and Experimental Development. It is a federal tax incentive program that comes in three forms: an income tax deduction, an investment tax credit (ITC), and, in certain circumstances, a refund.
The purpose of SR&ED is to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all industries to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. Eligible businesses can get a refund of up to 64% of eligible expenses. Over $3B tax incentives are disbursed to more than 20,000 applicants through SR&ED Program annually. 

The SR&ED program is available to any business operating and carrying out R&D (Research and Development) in Canada. The qualified R&D work/project can be either basic research, applied research, or experimental development to meet the requirement of the SR&ED program. To start with, you can take a quick self-assessment to check your eligibility or get more information. 

You may claim many of the expenditures incurred for SR&ED during your fiscal year. These expenditures may include:
· Salaries and wages
· Materials
· SR&ED contracts
· Lease costs of equipment
· Overhead
· Third-party payments
· Capital expenditures 

This popular article is telling:  What Can be Claimed as Eligible Expenses for SR&ED?

To apply for SR&ED tax incentives, file the applicable prescribed forms along with an income tax return are required:
–Form T661, Scientific Research, and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Expenditures Claim 
-Form T2SCH31, Investment Tax Credit – Corporations, or Form T2038 (IND), Investment Tax Credits (Individuals)
-Supporting documentation, such as technical report

The reporting deadline for corporations is 18 months from the end of the tax year in which you incurred the expenditures.

Other support documents may be required during a review:
– Related records and documents to support financial transactions include financial statements, ledgers, journals, and vouchers, including electronic records.
– Source documents such as receipts, contracts, and general correspondence.
– Related documents and information that support the specific expenditures claimed on Form T661.

Read Documentations You Need to Prepare for the SR&ED Application for more information.

A professional advisor can make SR&ED easy and successful to claim.

Reach out to us today for a free consultation with an SR&ED specialist. Let’s Talk. 

More information to guide you file your SR&ED application. 

Generally, there are two calculation methods at your disposal and you can choose either of them to estimate and calculate your SR&ED claim:

Traditional Method:
The traditional method will require you to itemize your overhead and related expenditures.

Proxy Method:
This is a simplified method that allows you to claim around 60% of salaries and wages for employees who are directly involved in your SR&ED-qualified work.

However, most companies choose the second method to prepare and proceed with their application since it is easier to estimate and keep the record. Quickly calculate the amount that you can claim from the SR&ED project. 

Generally, all kinds of businesses could apply for SR&ED with eligible projects. But there are three types of companies that are not recommended to apply:
1. Non-CCPCs (Non-Canadian-controlled private corporations)
2. Non-profit Organizations or companies not paying taxes to the Government of Canada
3. Public Companies

You might be able to apply for the SR&ED tax credit if your business belongs to the following business sectors:
– IT
– Logistics
– Catering
– Travel
– Manufacturing
– Agriculture
– Consulting
– Marketing
– Real estate
– ……

Not sure if you are eligible? Talk to us and check your eligibility. 

Yes. SR&ED is a federal tax incentive program to support and motivate Canadian companies that conduct R&D in Canada. The SRED program comes in three forms: an income tax deduction, an investment tax credit (ITC), and, in certain circumstances, a refund. 

SR&ED (or SRED) stands for Scientific Research and Experimental Development. It is a federal tax incentive program to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all industries to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. 

Check First Time to SR&ED? Here is an Overview to understand more about SR&ED tax incentive program.

In the term of SR&ED, R stands for “Research” and D stands for “Development”.

“Scientific Research and Experimental Development” means systematic investigation or search that is conducted in a field of science or technology using experiment or analysis and that is

1. basic research, in other words, laboratory research, which is usually to gain the advancement of scientific knowledge without a specific practical application in view,

2. applied research, often uses a specific practical application to carry out the research and to fill certain knowledge gaps,

3. experimental development, usually includes creating new or improving existing, materials, devices, products, or processes to solve technical uncertainties.

A qualified SR&ED project should form one of the three points and you can take a quick self-assessment to check your eligibility. 

Yes. The SR&ED program provides two tax incentives: (1) a deduction to reduce the income for tax purposes; and (2) an investment tax credit. 

Yes. SR&ED refund is a taxable income. 

Generally, eligible businesses can get a refund of about 60% of eligible SR&ED expenses. But the proportion varies from provinces and is based on each specific SR&ED project.
A professional consultant could help you claim credit and get the refund at a maximum amount. Book a free consultation now. 

It varies from 60 calendar days to 180 calendar days according to your claim status.

Claims that have been approved as filed will be processed within 60 days of the date the CRA receives.

Claims that are selected for review or supporting documents will take a longer time to proceed, but usually will be completed within 180 days of the date the CRA receives. 

Yes, two benefits that can gain from the SR&ED tax incentives:

– Collect your SR&ED expenditures and deduct them against your current-year income or keep them and deduct them in a future year.
– Gain the SR&ED investment tax credit (ITC) and use it to reduce your income tax payable. And in some cases, the CRA can refund the remaining ITC. 

Yes. The SR&ED program is not only for the IT or R&D industry, it is available to any business operating and carrying out R&D in Canada that is involved in basic or applied research, or in experimental development may be eligible under the SR&ED program . The eligibility is evaluated on the project that applies for SR&ED, not on the industry or sector that the business serves.
For example, the following businesses can apply for SRED even if they are not IT or R&D industry:
– Private Schools
– Media
– Consulting companies
– Food processing companies
– Restaurants
– Convenient Stores
– Travel agents
– Property management companies
– and so on.

The following 3 popular articles is telling more:

• The Truth of 5 Common Misconceptions about SR&ED

• 3 Industries with the Most Applications for SR&ED

• How Construction Corporations Can Benefit from SR&ED

Requiti Capital has successfully helped fund over 400 businesses, covering dozens of sectors, such as logistics, catering, travel, manufacturing, agriculture, consulting, marketing, IT, real estate, etc. Check our successful stories to learn more. 

Yes, the qualification of your SR&ED application is based on your project, but the amount that you can claim may be deducted if you have applied to other fundings such as CEWS.
Our professional consulting team is ready to help you maximum your refund. Let’s talk. 

When you send in your claim, the CRA will determine if it can be processed as filed without further review. If they can process your claim as filed, they may set up an FTCAS (First-Time Claimant Advisory Service) with you or will reduce your taxes payable or, if applicable, issue a cheque to you. If the CRA cannot process your claim as filed, they may contact you to request more supporting documents or to discuss the review of your claim. 

Certain work is not eligible for benefits under the SR&ED program, including:
· market research or sales promotion.
· quality control or routine testing of materials, devices, products, or processes.
· research in social sciences or the humanities.
· prospecting, exploring or drilling for, or producing minerals, petroleum or natural gas.
· commercial production of new or improved material, device or product, or the commercial use of a new or improved process.
· style changes.
· routine data collection. 

A project does not have to succeed or be fully completed to qualify for the SR&ED tax credit. SR&ED offers support for Research and Development (R&D) from research, planning to prototype, demo, etc. The Truth of 5 Common Misconceptions about SR&ED will tell more.

Generally, the best evidence is that which was generated as the SR&ED was being carried out. Examples of technical and financial supporting evidence that could be kept are:

• Project planning documents

• Documents on the design of experiments

• Experimentation plan

• Design documents and technical drawings

• Project records, laboratory notebooks

• Design, system architecture, and source code (software development)

• Records of trial runs

• Project progress reports

• Minutes of project meetings

• Test protocols, data, results, analysis, and conclusions

• Final project report or professional publications

• Photographs, videos

• Prototypes, samples

• Scrap, scrap records

• Contracts, lease agreements

• Records of resources allocated to the project, timesheets, activity records, payroll records

• Purchase invoices and proof of payment

• Accounting records 

Yes, The SR&ED program is available to any business operating and carrying out R&D (Research and Development) in Canada. But there are other similar programs that are more fit for public companies compared with SR&ED.