Small start-ups still have time to take advantage of a potentially major tax credit—even if you already filed your taxes for this year.
Large companies that rely on the hard sciences or use technology to create or improve products or processes may already know they can reduce federal taxes using the Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit. The IRS has now issued interim guidance explaining how qualified small businesses can also take advantage of a new option enabling them to apply part or all of their research credit against their payroll tax liability, instead of their income tax liability.
So even if you’ve already filed your taxes, you still have time to file for an R&D credit and potentially save on your tax bill.
Before 2016, taxpayers could only take the research and development tax credit against their income tax liability. IRS Notice 2017-23 provides guidance on a new provision included in the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes (PATH) Act.
The option for the new payroll tax credit may especially benefit your start-up if it has little or no income tax liability.
Apply Part or All of Your Research Tax Credit Against Your Payroll Tax Liability
To qualify to use all or a portion of your research and development tax credit against your payroll tax liability, your qualified small business must have gross receipts of less than $5 million and have had no gross receipts prior to 2012. This new option will be available for the first time to any qualified small business filing its 2016 federal income tax return this tax season. Those who already filed still have time to choose this option.
Your qualified small business with qualifying research expenses can choose to apply up to $250,000 of its research credit against its payroll tax liability. You choose this option by filling out Form 6765, “Credit for Increasing Research Activities,” Section D and attaching it to a timely filed business income tax return.
Extra Time To Claim the R&D Tax Credit This Year
Under a special rule for tax year 2016, a qualified small business that has filed yet failed to choose this option (and still wants to) can file an amended return to make the election by Dec. 31, 2017 (see Section 4.02 for further guidance).
After choosing this option, your qualified small business claims the payroll tax credit by filling out Form 8974, “Qualified Small Business Payroll Tax Credit for Increasing Research Activities.” This form must be attached to your payroll tax return, such as Form 941, “Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return.”
Learn More About the R&D Tax Credit for Start-ups and Small Businesses
Correct assessment and filing are key factors in claiming the research and development tax credit. The right professional can help you make the most of this new opportunity. For more information on our R&D tax credit services, contact us.
