Billions in Government Tax Credits Go Unclaimed Every Year—Make Sure Your Business Isn’t One of Them
Most eligible businesses never claim the tax credits they qualify for simply because they don’t realize they’re eligible.
2,500+
Businesses Helped
$500M+
Credits Secured
100%
Audit Defense
15+
Years Experience
Sarah Jenkins
The Advocate Team
I'm a passionate Tax Strategist dedicated to empowering businesses to reclaim their hard-earned money. With tailored strategies and unwavering support, we help you unlock government incentives, navigate complex IRS codes, and reinvest in your business's future. Let's maximize your profitability together!
Lead Tax Strategist
Why This Matters
Unlock capital and reduce your liability with tax credits designed for innovation.
Immediate Cash Flow
Unlock hidden capital in your business expenses to reinvest immediately.
Dollar-for-Dollar Reduction
These aren't just deductions. These are tax credits that directly lower your income tax liability.
Retroactive Cash
We can help you file amended returns for open tax years going back 3-4 years for an immediate boost.
Profitability Not Required
Startups and unprofitable businesses can apply credits against payroll taxes (up to $500k/year).
What Is the R&D Tax Credit?
The Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit is a powerful federal and state tax incentive designed to reward businesses for innovation. Companies that develop or improve products, processes, software, or technology may qualify—often through activities they already perform as part of their day-to-day operations. Businesses across a wide range of industries—including agriculture, technology, manufacturing, engineering, software, healthcare, and construction—can significantly reduce their tax liability through R&D tax credits. With recent expansions to the program, more businesses than ever are eligible to claim these valuable tax savings and reinvest the capital into growth.
R&D Tax Credit Benefits
✓ Increase
Cash Flow
The R&D tax credit puts cash back into your business, creating immediate working capital for hiring, expansion, equipment upgrades, and innovation.
✓ Dollar-for-Dollar Tax Reduction
Eligible businesses can reduce federal—and in many cases state—income taxes owed through a direct, dollar-for-dollar tax credit.
✓ Claim R&D Tax Credits Retroactively
Businesses can claim R&D tax credits for open tax years going back up to 3–4 years, delivering a substantial financial boost.
✓ Lower Your Effective Tax Rate
By leveraging the R&D tax credit, companies can lower their overall tax rate and improve long-term profitability.
Your Trusted Partner in R&D Tax Credits
At S1Advisors, we combine advanced software with experienced, licensed tax professionals to make the R&D tax credit process seamless, accurate, and audit-ready. Every calculation, report, and supporting document is prepared with precision—so nothing is overlooked and nothing is left to chance.
We work closely with your payroll provider, CPA, and tax preparer, ensuring everyone is aligned and the process stays efficient from start to finish. Our team acts as an extension of yours, reducing friction and giving you confidence that your claim is handled correctly.
As a leader in research and development tax incentives, we understand that the decisions you make today can directly impact the outcome of current and future audits. That’s why our experts collaborate with trusted CPA partners to deliver claims that are fully defensible and compliant.
Beyond identifying R&D tax credit opportunities, we create a customized analysis and documentation strategy tailored to your business—designed to support eligibility, withstand scrutiny, and protect your credit year after year.
End-to-End R&D Tax Credit Services
We conduct a comprehensive R&D tax study to identify all qualifying research and development expenses your business can claim on its federal tax return. Our process ensures no eligible credits are missed and that every claim is accurate and defensible.
Our team prepares all required R&D tax credit documentation and completes the necessary filings to support your claim. We work directly with your tax preparer and payroll provider to ensure the credit is properly applied and reflected correctly on your returns.
Just as important, we provide thorough supporting documentation—a critical requirement in the event of an IRS audit. Every calculation, narrative, and report is built to meet IRS standards and protect your claim.
From identifying eligible expenses to filing the appropriate paperwork and supporting your credit through payroll, we manage the entire R&D tax credit process from start to finish. With potential savings in the thousands—or more—accuracy and compliance matter. We make sure it’s done right.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I Qualify for the R&D Tax Credit?
Most businesses qualify if they improve products, processes, software, or techniques. This includes developing new products, improving manufacturing, customizing equipment, improving efficiency, developing software, or solving technical challenges. Qualification is based on activities, not industry. Common qualifying industries include manufacturing, construction, engineering, software, agriculture, and specialty services.
2. What Activities Qualify for the R&D Tax Credit?
Qualifying activities generally involve technical problem-solving or improvement. Examples include designing or improving products, developing prototypes, improving manufacturing processes, automating operations, developing or modifying software, and testing new materials or methods. The work must involve a process of experimentation intended to improve performance, reliability, quality, or efficiency.
3. Can a Startup or Newer Company Claim R&D Tax Credits Even if It’s Not Profitable?
Yes. Startups and newer companies can still qualify. Even if your company is not profitable, the credit can be carried forward to offset future taxes. Certain startups may also apply the federal credit toward payroll taxes, creating immediate cash flow benefits.
4. How Large Could My R&D Tax Credit Be?
The credit amount depends on your qualifying expenses, such as employee wages, contractor costs, and development expenses. Many small and mid-sized businesses receive credits ranging from $10,000 to over $200,000 per year. In general, companies often receive approximately 5% to 10% of their qualifying development expenses back as tax credits.
5. Can I Claim the R&D Tax Credit Retroactively?
Yes. Businesses can claim the credit by amending prior tax returns. Generally, you can go back up to three open tax years. This allows companies to recover refunds from taxes already paid, plus establish credits that can be used in future years.
6. Does S1Advisors Provide Audit Support?
Yes. S1 Advisors provides full audit support. If the IRS or state ever has questions, we assist in responding and providing the required documentation. Our study is prepared to meet audit standards, and we stand behind the work we provide.
7. Are There State-Level R&D Tax Credits?
Yes. Many states, including California, offer their own R&D tax credits in addition to the federal credit. These credits can significantly increase your total benefit. State credits often carry forward for many years, and in California they carry forward indefinitely.
8. Why Is an R&D Study Important?
A proper R&D study is required to calculate and support the credit. It documents your qualifying activities, expenses, and methodology in a format that meets IRS requirements. This ensures your credit is maximized, properly calculated, and fully supported in case of audit.
9. What Does S1Adviors’ R&D Credit Service Include?
S1 Advisors provides a complete, end-to-end service. This includes evaluating eligibility, calculating your credit, preparing a detailed audit-ready study, preparing all required federal and state forms, and coordinating filing with our IRS Enrolled Agent. Our goal is to maximize your credit while ensuring full compliance.
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