R&D Tax Credit Estimator | Engineered Tax Services

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R&D Tax Credit Estimator

Tell us about your company

This decides how you can use the credit, including whether it can offset payroll taxes.

Industry

Entity type

Tax year you are claiming

Gross receipts for that year

Enter your total revenue. An estimate is fine.

First year with any revenue

Companies with 5 or fewer years of revenue can use the payroll offset.

Choose a year, or pick "Not sure".

Company name (optional)

Who works on research and development?

Add each role or team, their total W-2 wages, and roughly how much of their time goes to designing, building, testing or improving. A best estimate is fine.

Qualified wages$0

What else did you spend on R&D?

U.S. costs only. Leave a field blank if it doesn't apply.

Supplies and prototypes

Materials used up in testing or building prototypes.

U.S. contract research

Outside engineers, labs or consultants. Enter the full amount; 65% counts.

Cloud and computer rental

For design and testing. Equipment you buy does not count.

Total qualified research expenses$0

Add at least one research cost here or on the wages step.

Your research history

The credit rewards spending above half of your average for the last three years.

Did you do this kind of work in each of the last 3 years?

Yes, every year No, or not every year

Answer yes even if you never claimed the credit.

Enter all three years, or choose "No, or not every year".

Take a slightly smaller credit to keep your full deduction

Include open prior yearsAdds a simple estimate for years you can still claim on an amended return.

Does your work qualify?

The IRS uses a four-part test. Check each statement that describes your projects. It won't change the estimate, but it helps us review your claim.

Permitted purposeYou create or improve a product, process, software, formula or technique so it works better, costs less or is more reliable.

Technical uncertaintyAt the start, you didn't know if it could be done, how to do it, or what the right design was.

Process of experimentationYou tested alternatives through modeling, simulation, prototypes or trial and error.

Technological in natureThe work relies on engineering, physics, chemistry, biology or computer science.

Your estimated federal R&D credit

Qualified research expenses
Credit before §280C
§280C reduction
Net credit this year

Total opportunity

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Discuss this estimate with Engineered Tax Services: 1-888-393-0045 or info@engineeredtaxservices.com

A planning estimate of the federal credit under IRC §41 using the Alternative Simplified Credit, assuming a calendar tax year. Excludes state credits and credit limits. Not tax advice; a full study and documentation are required.