US R&D Tax Credit Preparation Services
Author: Jess Doocey | Published: March 13, 2026
Answer Capsule: How does Swanson Reed prepare US R&D tax claims?
Swanson Reed’s USA division provides specialized, end-to-end Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit Preparation. We help US businesses identify eligible technical activities and quantify qualified expenses (wages, supplies, contract research). Our experts maximize returns across three main avenues: traditional Federal R&D Tax Credits (Form 6765), the Payroll Tax Offset for qualified small businesses and startups, and State-level R&D credits for every US state that offers an R&D incentive program. We ensure full IRS compliance and comprehensive technical documentation for every claim.
Key Takeaways
- Federal Claims: We prepare robust, audit-ready Federal R&D claims (Form 6765) to reduce your corporate income tax liability.
- Payroll Tax Offset: We help early-stage startups apply up to $500,000 of their R&D credit against their Medicare payroll taxes, providing immediate cash flow even if not yet profitable.
- Multi-State Capabilities: We calculate and file state-specific R&D credits for all participating states (e.g., California, Texas, New York, Georgia) simultaneously with your federal claim.
Our R&D Preparation Matrix
| Incentive Category | Benefit Application | Target Entity |
|---|---|---|
| Federal R&D Tax Credit | Offsets federal income tax liability (Form 6765) | Established, profitable corporations and pass-through entities |
| Payroll Tax Offset | Offsets employer portion of Medicare/Social Security taxes | Qualified Small Businesses (QSBs) under 5 years of gross receipts |
| State R&D Credits | Offsets state franchise or income tax liability | Companies performing qualified research within specific state borders |
Comprehensive US Claim Preparation
Preparing a compliant and optimized R&D tax credit claim requires a deep understanding of the IRC Section 41 four-part test, as well as complex payroll and state tax laws. Swanson Reed manages the entire lifecycle of your claim.
1. Federal R&D Tax Credit Preparation
The federal R&D tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in a company’s tax liability. Our engineers and tax CPAs conduct thorough technical interviews with your subject matter experts to identify all qualified research activities (QRAs). We then trace these activities to qualified research expenses (QREs)—including W-2 wages, contractor costs, and supplies—to maximize your benefit under either the Regular Research Credit (RRC) or Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) methods. We deliver an audit-ready technical report that substantiates your claim to the IRS.
2. The Startup Payroll Tax Offset
Pre-revenue and early-stage startups often assume they cannot benefit from tax credits because they aren’t paying income tax. Under the PATH Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, Qualified Small Businesses (QSBs)—defined as having less than $5 million in gross receipts for the claim year and no gross receipts prior to the previous five years—can apply up to $500,000 of their federal R&D credit against their payroll taxes. Swanson Reed prepares the necessary documentation (Form 8974) to help you monetize your innovation immediately, extending your runway.
3. Multi-State R&D Tax Credits
More than 35 states offer their own version of the R&D tax credit. Depending on where your employees are located and where the research takes place, you may be eligible to double-dip by claiming both the federal and state credits. Swanson Reed prepares state-specific claims for every US state that offers an R&D tax incentive. Whether you are navigating California’s permanent R&D credit, the Texas franchise tax offset, or refundable credits in states like New York or Georgia, our team ensures precise jurisdictional compliance.
