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
SR&ED Education and Resources analyzed what was published regarding annual SR&ED spend by the federal governments in the CRA’s Reports to Parliament and Departmental Performance Reports. What were the results? In prior reports, we analyzed the Read more…
Do you have the proper tools in place to capture SR&ED work? Performing work eligible for the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit is an intensive process. Having the right tools in place Read more…
Is Canadian Innovation in Decline? According to the 2017 Global Innovation Index (GII), which measures how innovative over 130 countries are, Canada has fallen from 15th place in 2016, to 18th place in 2017.1 What has Read more…
What is the difference between “learning” and “advancement” when writing for line 246 in the T661? Line 246 of Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Investment Tax Credit (ITC) applications asks “What scientific or technological Read more…
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 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…