
for the R&D Tax Credit
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Qualify for the
R&D Tax Credit

PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
R&D Tax Credits for the Life Sciences Industry
Refunds are available for companies performing research within the Life Sciences Industry. The research credit provides dollar-for-dollar cash savings each year for companies performing activities related to the development of new or improved products and processes. These benefits could provide much needed cash to hire additional employees, increase R&D, expand production facilities, etc.
Many companies involved with the life sciences are unaware that their efforts within designing and developing their products can yield a large amount of research credits. Examples of R&D activities related to the industry as well as potentially qualifying job titles are listed below.
Examples of Qualifying R&D Activities
- Automation of internal processes by developing and implementing new hardware and software systems
- Design and manufacturing of prototype medical devices, drug delivery systems, or pharmaceutical packaging apparatuses
- Development and testing of new pharmaceuticals, therapies, biologics, or other medical compounds
- Improving existing products to increase shelf life, reduce side effects, or prolonged duration of therapeutic activity
- Production of clinical trial lots and initial scale-up of manufacturing processes
- Support of direct research activities, such as quality testing, maintaining lab equipment, data collection, and regulatory compliance work
Potentially Qualifying R&D Job Titles
- Analytical Chemist
- Analytical Scientist
- Control System Lead
- Drug Product Engineer
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Analyst
- Lab Manager
- Lab Technician
- Mechanical Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Process Integration Manager
- Quality Assurance/Control (QA/QC) Specialist, Manager, or Director
- Research Associate, Research Scientist
- Validation Engineer
Orphan Drug Tax Credit
Companies that have qualifying activities for the ODC may also qualify for the R&D Tax credit, but both credits cannot be claimed for the same expense. Typically, the ODC often provides a more lucrative benefit than the R&D Tax Credit. Yet, companies often fail to fully maximize the ODC that they are otherwise eligible to claim due to a lack of knowledge, expertise and/or resources. » Learn More
AMT Offset
For tax years beginning after December 31, 2015, eligible small businesses (those with $50 million or less of gross receipts) may claim the research credit against AMT liability.
Up to $250,000 in Payroll Tax
Qualified start-up companies may elect to use up to $250,000 of the research credit against payroll taxes. Treasury Regulations have substantially broadened the range of taxpayers who are eligible for the credit. Start-ups to publicly traded businesses who were previously unable to realize a benefit from this lucrative tax credit should reassess their eligibility.
Estimate Your Benefits with our FREE Calculators
Use our calculators for an estimate of state and federal R&D tax credit benefits or to determine if you can offset payroll tax using the R&D tax credit. It's easy to use and free. If at any time you have questions, contact us. We are here to help you realize your maximum tax benefit.
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Research and Development Tax Credit Insights

AICPA Pens Letter Urging Congress to Defer R&D Expense Capitalization (Sec 174) Provision Until 2026
02/22/2023On February 14, 2023, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) sent a letter urging Congress to address expired and expiring tax provisions to avoid needless complexity and ambiguity. More specifically, the AICPA called on Congress to defer the Internal Revenue Code Section 174 amortization requirement for research and experimental expenditures until 2026. The … Read More

IRS Issued Additional Guidance on Section 174, Specified Research or Experimental Expenditures
12/15/2022This article has been updated from its original posting on Dec. 15, 2022. The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Revenue Procedure 2023-11 providing updated guidelines for accounting method changes for the treatment of specified research or experimental expenditures under Section 174 that changed with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 … Read More

KBKG Tax Insight: Tax Court Denies Construction Company R&D Credits
12/13/2022A summary judgment was recently granted when the government successfully argued that a construction company did not conduct qualified research activities during the tax year in question and was therefore not entitled to the $576,756 refund they were paid. In this case, the defendant was a shareholder of a civil construction company and the contested … Read More

An Introduction to the Reverse Plea to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to Extend Section 174
11/02/2022Over 150 U.S.-based businesses and trade associations recently issued a plea to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives leadership urging Congress to extend Section 174 provisions allowing taxpayers to deduct 100% of Section 174 R&E expenditure in the year they were incurred. Historically, 100% of Section 174 R&E expenditures could be 1) deducted … Read More

This Month’s Webinars
11/01/2022Looking for CPE credit? We have several sessions available this month. Click the links below to register. If you have questions or need help registering, please email [email protected] Research & Development Tax Credits 11/1/2022 | 12:00 PM PT | 1 hour | 1 CPE credit This webinar will cover the fundamentals of the Research and … Read More

Inflation Reduction Act Expands Payroll Tax Credit Benefits for Small Businesses
08/12/2022The Inflation Reduction Act provides huge opportunities for the real estate industry as well as for architects and engineers. However, the expansion of “green” tax incentives 45L and 179D is not the only tax benefits getting a boost. The newly formed law will also improve upon the R&D Tax Credit. This change will have a … Read More

KBKG Tax Insight: Changes to Recently Amended Texas Franchise Tax Regulations
06/27/2022Published on June 10, 2022, Texas Register, the Texas Comptroller proposed revisions to the recently amended Texas franchise tax regulations surrounding the Texas sales and use tax exemption and the Texas franchise R&D tax credit. These revisions soften the Internal Use Software (IUS) and Combined Group definitions after receiving overwhelming feedback surrounding the Texas franchise … Read More

KBKG Tax Insight: Reviving Missouri’s R&D Tax Credit 2023
06/20/2022It has been nearly 18 years since Missouri taxpayers have seen a state credit related to its qualified research expenditures (QREs). This may change beginning in 2023! In an effort to further stimulate Missouri’s economy, State Senator Brian Williams offered an amendment to HB 2400 sponsored by State Representative Dan Houx. This amendment attempts to … Read More

KBKG, R&D Tax Credits & 179D Incentives Firm, to Exhibit at the American Institute of Architects A’22 National Conference This Week
06/20/2022KBKG plans an educational and interactive booth experience for architect attendees at AIA’s largest annual event. CHICAGO, June 20, 2022 (Newswire.com) – Nationwide tax specialty firm KBKG is set to exhibit at the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) A’22 Conference on Architecture in Chicago from June 22-25. At the exhibit, KBKG will showcase their architect … Read More

Are You Looking To Upgrade Your R&D Credit or 179D Provider?
06/14/2022Are you looking to upgrade your R&D credit or 179D provider? As you begin to evaluate potential service providers, it’s important to remember that there are significant differences between R&D credit and 179D advisors in the marketplace. Sometimes taxpayers are not immediately aware of how those differences may impact their experience from start to finish. … Read More