Start-ups are notorious for their scrappy tactics and innovative growth techniques. However, many start-ups may not be aware of the tax credits and incentives available to them. Certain tax credits can be the difference of thousands of dollars saved each year in taxes. According to Josh Alballero, tax expert and founder of IOOGO, “The R&D tax credit is one of the greatest tax credits available to start-ups and small businesses.” 

The R&D credit, is officially known as the “Credit for Increasing Research Activities” this credit is available to start-ups in any industry, and in many cases, you do not even need to have a research and development department to qualify for the credit! Many start-ups miss out on this incredible incentive because they assume they won’t qualify, however, if you’re in the process of creating a new product or service, there is a good chance your business is an ideal candidate. 

According to Alballero, there are two major benefits of the R&D credit. 

1. This credit can give you resources you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. One of the most important stages when bringing a new product or process to the market is the research and development stage. Some start-ups won’t spend enough time on this stage due to a lack of resources, staff, or funding. This credit can put much-needed money back in your pocket to allow you to focus on this crucial phase of building your business. 
2. The R&D credit covers a variety of expenses. This credit may be applied to costs you’d never considered, wages, supplies, consultant fees, contractor fee, prototyping, tooling/ supply expenses, packaging, surveys, studies, software costs, equipment, and more! The stipulations of this credit allow businesses to apply up to $250,000 of their research expenses against their payroll tax or income tax for up to five years. This means that businesses could expect to get back around 10 – 15% of what they spent on R&D. 

Calculating R&D credit can be quite complicated and in most cases, business owners should consult the expertise of a tax professional or accounting firm. The IRS will look closely at any business’s R&D credit, so it is important that you follow the proper protocol. The tax experts at IOOGO specialize in R&D credit matters and can ensure you’re following federal regulations and taking full advantage of the credits available to you. In order to file for the R&D credit, a business will be required to file Form 6765 with their tax return. This filing process should not be costly and business owners should be wary of any accounting or tax firm that attempts to charge them thousands of dollars for this filing process or even a percentage of the savings in payroll taxes, which is an illegal process. 

To learn more about the R&D credit or to schedule a consultation with an IOOGO tax expert, visit www.ioogo.com.