// service_02 / rd.tax.credit
Your R&D Investment
Documented for the Credit
Technology companies spend real money on qualifying research and development — and the IRC §41 credit exists precisely for that. Synthfin works with your engineering and product teams to identify qualifying activities, calculate creditable expenditures, and build the contemporaneous documentation that supports the credit on your return.
← Back to Home Talk to Us// service.promise
What this engagement delivers
The R&D tax credit is one of the more valuable credits available to technology companies — and also one of the more documentation-intensive. The IRS expects contemporaneous records, a clear four-part test analysis for each qualifying activity, and a credible calculation of qualified research expenditures. When that documentation isn't in place, the credit becomes difficult to defend on examination.
When this engagement is complete, you have a credit supported by a complete documentation package — one that holds up under review and gives your tax preparer a clear basis for the claim.
Qualifying projects and activities identified through structured interviews with your technical team
Four-part test analysis documented for each activity claimed
Qualified research expenditures calculated from wages, contractor costs, and supply expenses
Contemporaneous documentation package prepared and organized for your tax return and any future examination
// identified.challenge
Where R&D credit claims run into difficulty
problem_01
Activities identified too broadly
Not every development activity qualifies. Routine bug fixes, post-release maintenance, and work that doesn't involve technological uncertainty generally don't meet the four-part test. Overclaiming without documentation creates examination exposure that can exceed the value of the credit itself.
problem_02
Documentation assembled after the fact
The IRS expects contemporaneous records — documentation created at or near the time the qualifying work was performed. Records assembled months later in response to a tax filing, or years later in response to an audit, carry less weight and are harder to defend.
problem_03
QRE calculation gaps
The qualified research expenditure calculation requires allocating wages, contractor costs, and supply expenses to qualifying vs. non-qualifying activities. Without a consistent methodology for this allocation, the credit number is difficult to support on examination — even when the underlying activities genuinely qualify.
// our.approach
How we handle it
activity_identification
Structured technical interviews
We work directly with your engineering and product teams to identify qualifying projects and activities. These interviews are structured around the four-part test — technological in nature, elimination of uncertainty, process of experimentation, qualified purpose — so the output maps directly to the credit requirements.
qre_calculation
QRE calculation and allocation
We calculate qualified research expenditures from your payroll data, contractor agreements, and supply records — applying a consistent allocation methodology that separates qualifying from non-qualifying time and costs. The calculation is documented at the activity and employee level.
documentation_package
Contemporaneous documentation
The documentation package we prepare includes project-level descriptions, four-part test analysis for each activity, employee interview summaries, time allocation support, and the QRE calculation workbook. This is organized for your tax preparer and structured to respond to examination requests without additional reconstruction.
tax_coordination
Coordination with your tax preparer
We hand off the completed documentation package to your CPA or tax preparer with a summary memo explaining the credit calculation and methodology. We're available to answer their questions and to provide additional support if the return or credit is examined.
// what.to.expect
How the engagement runs
phase_01
Scoping
We review your product roadmap, project history, and org structure to identify which teams and projects are candidates for the credit. This shapes the interview schedule and the scope of QRE documentation.
phase_02
Technical interviews
We conduct structured interviews with engineers, product managers, and technical leads. Sessions are focused, usually thirty to sixty minutes per person, and coordinated around your team's schedules to minimize disruption.
phase_03
Calculation and documentation
We build the QRE calculation from your payroll and contractor data, apply the allocation methodology, and prepare the full documentation package. Drafts are reviewed with your team before finalization.
phase_04
Delivery and handoff
The completed package — QRE workbook, project descriptions, interview summaries, and methodology memo — is delivered to you and your tax preparer with a walkthrough call to address any questions before filing.
// service.investment
Service pricing
service_02
R&D Tax Credit Documentation
$4,000 USD
Fixed-fee engagement covering the full documentation cycle for one tax year — from activity identification through QRE calculation to final documentation package delivery.
Structured technical interviews with engineering and product team members
Four-part test analysis documented for each qualifying activity
QRE calculation workbook covering wages, contractor costs, and supply expenses
Project descriptions and employee interview summaries as contemporaneous support
Methodology memo summarizing credit basis for your tax preparer
Availability to support your tax preparer's questions prior to filing
// pricing.note
The fixed fee covers a standard engagement. Companies with a high volume of qualifying projects, multiple legal entities, or complex contractor arrangements may require additional scope, which we'll identify and agree on upfront. We don't adjust the fee after work has begun without a written change in scope.
// designed.for
This service fits well if you are a
— Technology company investing in product development, process improvement, or experimentation
— Business that has been claiming the credit without formal documentation behind it
— Company approaching the credit for the first time and wanting a clean starting point
— Team whose existing credit study needs to be rebuilt or updated
// methodology.framework
The standard we work to
IRC §41 — Four-Part Test
Technological in nature
The activity must fundamentally rely on principles of physical, biological, computer, or engineering science
Elimination of uncertainty
The activity must be intended to discover information to eliminate technical uncertainty about capability or method
Process of experimentation
The activity must involve evaluation of alternatives through modeling, simulation, systematic trial, or similar processes
Qualified purpose
The activity must be for a new or improved business component — function, performance, reliability, or quality
// recent.work
April 2026
Delivered an IRC §41 documentation package covering three qualifying development projects for a product-led growth company, including full four-part test analysis and QRE calculation from payroll and contractor records.
March 2026
Completed a credit study for a developer tooling company claiming the credit for the first time — interviews with six engineers, documentation of nine qualifying projects, and a methodology memo prepared for their external CPA.
// typical.timeline
Most engagements run four to six weeks from kickoff to final delivery, depending on the number of technical interviews required and the availability of payroll and contractor data. We work around your team's schedules.
// our.commitment
How we approach the relationship
conservative_claims
We document what qualifies — not everything possible
Our goal is a defensible credit, not the largest possible number. If an activity doesn't clearly meet the four-part test, we'll tell you — and explain why — rather than stretch the claim and create examination exposure.
examiner_ready
The package is built for examination
Everything we prepare is organized as if an examiner might request it. That means no gaps in the documentation trail, no conclusions without support, and no numbers that can't be traced back to source records.
initial_conversation
Start with a conversation
If you're not sure whether your activities qualify or whether the credit makes sense for your situation, reach out. We can give you a read on your activities before you commit to an engagement — no obligation attached to that conversation.
// next.steps
Getting started is straightforward
step_01
Send a message
Describe your development activities, your team size, and the tax year you're looking to document. That context helps us give you a useful response quickly.
step_02
Qualification review
We'll have a call to assess your activities against the four-part test criteria and give you an honest view of what's likely to qualify before any engagement begins.
step_03
Written scope and kickoff
We'll send a written scope confirming the fee, deliverables, and interview schedule. Once agreed, we coordinate directly with your technical team to get started.
// take.action
Your development work may already qualify. Let's find out.
If your engineering team is building new features, improving performance, or working through technical problems without a clear solution in sight, the credit is worth a closer look. Reach out and we'll help you figure out whether it applies.
Get in Touch// explore.other.services
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