About SR&ED

The Canadian Government encourages and supports business owners who develop technical advancement and scientific knowledge by way of the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program. Through the SR&ED program, companies receive R&D refunds for expenses incurred through in-house experimentation and research.

Revenue Canada defines work that qualifies for SR&ED tax credit as follows:

To qualify for the SR&ED program, work must advance the understanding of scientific relations or technologies, address scientific or technological uncertainty, and incorporate a systematic investigation by qualified personnel.

Work that qualifies for SR&ED tax credits includes:

• experimental development to achieve technological advancement to create new materials, devices, products, or processes, or improve existing ones;
• applied research to advance scientific knowledge with a specific practical application in view;
• basic research to advance scientific knowledge without a specific practical application in view; and
• support work in engineering, design, operations research, mathematical analysis, computer programming, data collection, testing, or psychological research, but only if the work is commensurate with, and directly supports, the eligible experimental development, or applied or basic research.

For a more comprehensive overview of the Canadian Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program, please follow the link to the CRA website detailing the numerous aspects of the program.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/txcrdt/sred-rsde/bts-eng.html