Our Fees for R&D Tax Credit Services
Author: Jess Doocey | Published: March 13, 2026
Answer Capsule: How does Swanson Reed structure its fees?
Swanson Reed operates on a foundation of absolute pricing transparency and strict professional independence. To maintain complete objectivity and adhere to the highest ethical standards of tax practice, we do not charge success-based or contingency fees. Instead, our Fees for Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit services are structured around predictable, value-driven models. We primarily utilize Fixed-Fee Engagements that provide our clients with absolute budgetary certainty before any work begins, as well as Phased Engagements for complex, multi-jurisdictional claims. We ensure there are no hidden costs and that comprehensive audit defense support is clearly defined in every contract.
Key Takeaways
- No Contingency Fees: We do not take a percentage of your tax credit. This ensures our technical assessments remain 100% objective, independent, and compliant with professional tax preparer standards.
- Predictable Fixed Pricing: Choose a fixed-fee model for complete budgetary predictability. You will know your exact investment upfront.
- No Hidden Costs: All scopes of work, including technical interviews, financial tracing, report generation, and audit defense parameters, are clearly defined before the engagement begins.
Fee Structure Options
| Engagement Model | How It Works | Strategic Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-Fee Engagement | A flat, pre-agreed rate based on the estimated hours, technical complexity, and project scope. | Provides absolute budget certainty and ensures compliance with strict corporate governance rules. |
| Phased / Hybrid Model | A structured fee broken down by project milestones (e.g., scoping, technical writing, financial calculation). | Allows companies to manage cash flow while undertaking complex, multi-year R&D claims. |
| Hourly Consulting | Standard hourly rates for specific, ad-hoc advisory services, audit defense, or tax controversy representation. | Ideal for highly specific inquiries, IDR responses, or limited-scope consulting needs. |
Transparent Pricing and Professional Independence
Navigating the complexities of the tax code should not mean navigating complex invoices. Swanson Reed is committed to providing tier-one tax advisory services with commercial terms that protect both your bottom line and your compliance profile.
1. Our Stance Against Contingency Fees
Many boutique R&D firms charge “success fees,” taking a percentage of the final credit identified. Swanson Reed explicitly refuses this model. We believe that tying a tax professional’s compensation to the size of a client’s tax return creates an inherent conflict of interest. By eliminating contingency fees, we guarantee that our engineers and tax CPAs remain entirely objective. This ensures your claim is maximized legally and ethically, reducing your risk profile and ensuring strict adherence to IRS guidelines and professional independence standards.
2. Fixed-Fee Engagements
Following a preliminary (and complimentary) scoping discussion to understand your business activities, Swanson Reed will provide a firm, upfront fixed-fee quote. This fee covers the entire claim lifecycle: from the initial technical interviews with your subject matter experts, to the complex financial tracing of QREs, to the delivery of the final, audit-ready substantiation report. You will know exactly what your investment is before any work begins, allowing for seamless corporate budgeting.
3. Incorporating Audit Defense
The true value of an R&D tax credit is only realized if it can withstand scrutiny from the IRS or state tax authorities. Because we stand behind our objective, fixed-fee technical substantiation, comprehensive audit defense parameters are always established upfront in our engagement letters. Audit representation can be integrated into your baseline fee or structured separately under clearly defined terms, ensuring you are never caught off-guard by defense costs in the event of an examination.
