Canadian-Controlled Private Corporations
CCPCs typically earn the highest refundable credit rate, making SR&ED especially valuable for Canadian-owned small and mid-sized businesses.
SR&ED Tax Credit: The Complete Guide for Canadian Businesses
The SR&ED tax credit is one of the largest sources of R&D funding available to Canadian companies. Most eligible businesses never claim it, often because they do not realize their day-to-day work qualifies. This guide covers what SR&ED is, who can claim it, and how intelicoreAI helps you turn it into real funding.
What Is SR&ED?
SR&ED (Scientific Research and Experimental Development) is a federal program that gives Canadian businesses tax deductions and investment tax credits for eligible R&D work. It is designed to reward companies for taking on technical risk, not just for building a finished product.
Work often qualifies even if the project fails, is never released, or is purely internal. Software development, process improvement, and product engineering all commonly qualify.
Who Is Eligible for SR&ED?
Other Corporations, Trusts & Partnerships
Non-CCPC corporations, individuals, trusts and partnerships can also claim SR&ED, usually at a different credit rate.
Any Industry, Not Just "Tech"
Manufacturing, agriculture, software, engineering and many other sectors regularly have eligible SR&ED work without knowing it.
What Can You Claim Under SR&ED?
Eligible expenditures typically include:
- Salaries and wages for staff doing the eligible work
- Materials consumed or transformed during experimentation
- Contractor and subcontractor costs tied to the project
- A portion of overhead, depending on the calculation method used
A well-documented claim tracks the technical uncertainty you faced, the systematic work you did to resolve it, and the results, as you go rather than after the fact.
How intelicoreAI Helps With Your SR&ED Claim
We identify eligible SR&ED work inside your existing projects, prepare the technical and financial documentation, and file the claim on your behalf. Where it makes sense, we also pair SR&ED with other programs like IRAP or Ontario's Technology Demonstration Program so you are not leaving funding on the table.
Because we work in AI and automation daily, we are often able to move faster and more cost-effectively than a traditional SR&ED consultant.
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