In place since 1981, the federal R&D tax credit is an immediate source of cash (the ‘juice’) for businesses of all sizes. Yet more than 80% of credits are claimed by just a few of the nation’s largest companies. Startups and SMBs often miss out on this incentive, despite their significant investments in qualified innovation.

This course will address the unique challenges faced by small to mid-sized companies when trying to justify the resources required (the ‘squeeze’) to claim the often misunderstood R&D benefit. Join us for a deep dive into the types of work that qualify, as well as the various calculation methods and monetization strategies. There has never been a better time to claim the R&D credit than right now, especially for growing businesses.

Course Objectives:

• Separate fact from myth about the R&D tax credit, especially as it relates to startups and small businesses


• Identify qualified versus non-qualified activities, including the expanded pool of qualifying software projects


• Differentiate calculation methods and discuss examples


• Define important IRS documentation requirements


• Understand the options for monetizing R&D credits