How the R&D credit applies to Sarasota businesses
A specialist firm finds the work that qualifies and documents it so it holds up. Sarasota County companies that design and build things, from medical devices and boats to software and custom engineering, often qualify without realizing it.
The R&D credit is federal and claimed on the federal return. Many Sarasota County companies are S corporations or LLCs, so the credit passes through to the owners and your CPA files it with the return. We run the screening and build the study, and you stay with your CPA.
Work we often see in Sarasota County
Medical device and life sciences: device design, prototyping, testing and process development
Marine and boat building: hull and layout design, new materials and custom builds
Software and technology: new features, automation and data systems
Engineering and architecture: new designs, simulation and custom technical solutions
Work that often qualifies
Designing and testing a new device or component
Trying a new hull layout, material or build method
Developing new software features or internal automation
Engineering a custom solution for a client project
Improving a production process and recording the trials
Work that usually does not
Routine production to an existing design
Maintenance and repairs with a known fix
Work a client fully funds and owns, with no risk to you
Costs that count
Wages for the people doing the work, supplies used in testing and a share of outside contractor costs can count when they tie to a qualifying project. We match each cost to a project so your CPA has a file that holds up if the IRS asks.
What to bring to a screening
A list of products and projects from the last few years
Who worked on them and about how much time they spent
Drawings, test results, tickets or build notes
Payroll and supply totals for those projects
Based in Sarasota, we work with businesses across Sarasota County and the Gulf Coast, and with businesses elsewhere in Florida and the United States.
Find out what your work has earned
Free 5 to 10 minute screening. See which of your projects can earn a credit.
Why us
Why businesses choose Strategic Incentive
We are a Sarasota firm that pairs R&D credit specialists with a practicing CPA, so every study is built for the return it feeds.
A CPA partner behind every study
A practicing CPA is part of our team, so the work is built for the return it feeds.
Project-level documentation
Each qualifying project is documented on its own, not covered by boilerplate.
An audit-ready file
Your CPA gets the calculations, narratives and records in one organized package.
How it works
How a study works
Four steps from the first screening to a filed, audit-ready claim.
1
Free screening
A 5 to 10 minute screening based on the IRS four-part test. We review your answers and estimate whether a credit is likely.
2
Discovery interview
A guided conversation and a questionnaire built for your business document each qualifying project.
3
Calculation
We calculate the credit and prepare Form 6765 support, project narratives and employee time allocations.
4
CPA hand-off
We work with your CPA or tax preparer and hand over an audit-ready package. If the IRS asks questions, we respond.
FAQ
Common questions
Straight answers before you start a screening.