Who Can Qualify for R&D Tax Incentives in Canada?
Who Can Qualify for R&D Tax Incentives in Canada
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The Canadian government has a tax incentive called the SRED (Scientific Research and Experimental Development) tax credit program. It provides tax credits and refunds to companies large and small that undertake research within Canada. The Canadian government gave out over $4.5 billion last year in tax credits so it is concept that they are really serious about.
There are some great things about this R&D tax incentive:
1. You do not have to be a large company to qualify for the tax credits.
2. It is a tax credit so that means that you can put it against any company tax that is due and get cash back if you have not paid enough tax.
3. The tax can be back dated by three years or carried forward for twenty years. This is very advantageous in tax planning.
4. Several provinces of Canada also offer extra tax incentives for local R&D activities.
5. The R&D definition is such that you may even be undertaking R&D development without realizing it.
Let us look at what kind of companies qualify for the tax first. You can be a large corporation, a multi national or even a small company or partnership. Providing you are undertaking R&D work within Canada you are probably going to qualify.
The amount of tax that you can gain is impressive. A Canadian controlled private corporation can gain up to 35% of the first $2m investment and then up to 20% of the rest. Other companies, proprietorships, partnerships and even trusts can earn up to 20% of their research costs in tax credits.
The definition of R&D is also quite wide and involves such activities as:
Developing a new product, device or material.
Making significant enhancements to a product, device or material.
Creating or improving a new manufacturing process.
Creating or improving a major new way of working.
Lessening the environmental impact of your business, manufacturing processes or products.
You company undertakes some technological advancement.
The Canadian Revenue Authority (CRA) state that "Work must advance the understanding of scientific relations or technologies, address scientific or technological uncertainty, and incorporate a systematic investigation by qualified personnel." Their list of activities that qualify for SRED tax credits includes experimental development, applied research, basic research and support work.
They also have a number of activities that do not qualify and these are usually "business as usual" activities that you would expect a company to undertake such as product production or manufacturing, market research, sales promotions and testing. They also disregard style changes and minor changes to products.
Prospecting for minerals, gases or petroleum is not counted as R&D for these tax purposes. Research in the humanities and social sciences field is similarly disregarded.
The SRED tax program is very generous and wide ranging and the Canadian government is very keen to encourage research and development from even the smallest business.
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