Are R&D Tax Credits Available in Michigan?

No. Companies in the State of Michigan may claim a Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit against the Michigan business tax for Qualified Research Expenses ("QREs"). The amount of the credit is 1.9% of the taxpayer's QREs in Michigan.

This credit, combined with the investment tax credit and the compensation credit, cannot exceed 65% of the total Michigan business tax liability before the surcharge.

Get More Information About the R&D Tax Credit

The R&D Tax Credit, first enacted in 1981, has been one of the most valuable credits leveraged by companies. Every year, the R&D credit yields billions of dollars in federal and state benefits to companies engaged in qualifying research. This credit provides much-needed cash to hire additional employees, increase R&D, expand facilities, and more. Thousands of companies take advantage of the credit across several industries. » Learn More

Four-Part Test

Qualified research activities are defined by the four-part test outlined below

Technological in Nature
Activities must fundamentally rely on the principles of physical or biological science, engineering, or computer science.

Permitted Purpose
Activities must be performed in an attempt to improve the functionality, performance, reliability, or quality of a new or existing business component.

Eliminate Uncertainty
Activities intended to discover information that could eliminate technical uncertainty concerning the development or improvement of a product.

Experimentation
All activities must include a process of experimentation including testing, modeling, simulating, and systematic trial and error.