Welcome to the most comprehensive website on the Canadian Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program.
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. Each year, the SR&ED program provides over $3 billion in tax incentives to over 20,000 claimants. Of these, about 75% are small businesses.
Many businesses confuse innovation with SR&ED – but the policies that govern SR&ED are very strict. If you believe SR&ED and innovation are the same, you may be in for a surprise!
Don’t make a costly mistake – learn more about the SR&ED program.
(…also known as the most comprehensive, interactive resource and guide to SR&ED.)
This interactive guide contains detailed information and step-by-step instructions to help you navigate the complex world of the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit—an incredibly generous incentive program that gives out upwards of $3.1 billion per year to innovative Canadian companies.
Let’s be honest: This is a challenging tax credit. We have everything you need to know about the SR&ED Tax Incentive Program.
How can the SR&ED program improve your bottom line? Use our online calculator to determine how much you could receive in tax credits.
Need a little support navigating the SR&ED program? We can help with our Comprehensive Guide to SR&ED. Last Update: June 2018
What are assistance and contract payments, what is the difference between assistance and contract payments, and how do these affect the distribution of SR&ED? When SR&ED work is completed with the help of outside parties Read more…
Does accidental SR&ED exist? Would a new process, or product discovered entirely by accident qualify for the SR&ED tax incentive program? Throughout the years, new innovations or inventions have been created sometimes as the result Read more…
Things to look out for when completing the T661 form for SR&ED: If you have used a third-party claim preparer to help file your SR&ED claim, ensure you provide all the information that is requested. Read more…
Properly tracking time spent by employees on SR&ED and non-SR&ED work is essential for any successful SR&ED claim; however, what method is most successful for time tracking? Ensuring your SR&ED claim is supported by contemporaneous documentation Read more…
What have government policy changes meant for SR&ED documentation? We have previously discussed how to keep contemporaneous documentation in our posts titled “Why do I need contemporaneous documentation for SR&ED?” and “SR&ED supporting documentation – Read more…
Can fees incurred during the preparation of an SR&ED claim (including SR&ED consultant fees) be included in the claim’s expenditures? SR&ED consultants are often necessary third parties when filing an SR&ED claim, as the process Read more…
What is a “specified employee” in SR&ED, and how does the understanding of this term impact an SR&ED claim? Small businesses account for just under 98 percent of all firms in Canada,1 and a 2005 Read more…
Technology-based companies may have a hard time discerning between their technology and the knowledge base that enables their technology – after all, a company’s knowledge base is technical in nature. However, a business needs to Read more…
DIY SR&ED: Money-saver or potential disaster? Preparing an SR&ED tax incentive claim without the assistance of a consultant may appeal to many claimants. There are many RTAs (Research and Technology Advisors at the CRA) that Read more…