AxscopeEmpowering Innovation
HOMESR&ED Tax Credit

Recover up to 64%of your R&D spend.

SR&ED is Canada's largest R&D incentive — a federal refundable tax credit (35% for CCPCs) plus a provincial top-up that varies by province (10% in BC, up to 30%+ in Quebec). We've recovered $20M+ for over 110 clients coast to coast across software, hardware, biotech, and manufacturing.

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What is SR&ED

Canada's biggest R&D incentive — designed for technical work.

Launched in 1988, the Scientific Research & Experimental Development program rewards companies for systematically investigating technical uncertainty — whether that's a new SaaS algorithm, a manufacturing process improvement, or a clinical trial protocol.

Any Canadian company performing eligible technical work can claim, every fiscal year, with no cap. For CCPCs, the credit is refundable — meaning cash back, even with zero revenue.

1. Uncertainty

You face a technical problem with no obvious solution from common knowledge.

2. Hypothesis

You formulate a hypothesis about how to overcome the uncertainty.

3. Experimentation

You systematically test, iterate, and refine — generating new knowledge.

4. Documentation

You record what worked, what didn't, and why — exactly what we help structure.

Eligible Expenditures

Four categories of spending count.

We map every line item against CRA criteria and apply the proxy method to maximize your refund pool.

100%
+ 55% proxy overhead

R&D Salaries

Wages for engineers, developers, scientists, and technical staff performing SR&ED work in BC. Time-tracked allocation supported.

80%
Of eligible spend

Subcontractors

Canadian arm's-length contractors performing eligible R&D on your behalf. We help structure contracts to maximize claim.

100%
Of eligible spend

Materials

Materials consumed or transformed during experimentation — prototypes, test units, lab supplies, raw inputs.

80%
Of eligible spend

Third-Party R&D

Research performed by universities, research institutes, or other entities on your behalf under qualifying contracts.

Who Qualifies

If you're solving hard technical problems — you likely qualify.

SR&ED isn't just for labs. Software, manufacturing, even agriculture and tourism tech all qualify.

Software & SaaS
Hardware & Electronics
Biotech & Pharma
Manufacturing
Agritech & Farms
Clean Energy
Medical Devices
Digital Media
Typical Timeline

File this quarter. Get funded next.

01Weeks 1–4

Discovery & Technical Review

We map your projects, interview your tech leads, and identify all qualifying activities.

02Weeks 5–8

Preparation & Filing

We draft the technical narrative + financial schedules and file with CRA on your behalf.

03Weeks 9–20

Review & Refund

CRA processes the claim. For CCPCs, refunds typically arrive within 8-12 weeks of filing.

Want a real-time estimate?

Try our SR&ED ITC Calculator — adjust 4 sliders, see estimated federal + BC refund instantly.

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Frequently Asked

Questions, answered.

The most common things prospective clients ask before their first call.

What kind of work qualifies as SR&ED?
Any systematic investigation aimed at technological advancement — software engineering, hardware development, process improvement, materials research, biotech experimentation, and more. The key test is technical uncertainty: if a competent professional couldn't reasonably predict the outcome from existing knowledge, it likely qualifies.
How much can I expect to get back?
It depends on your province. The federal ITC is 35% refundable for CCPCs Canada-wide. Provincial top-ups vary — BC adds 10%, Ontario ~8%, Quebec 14-30%, Alberta 8%, and so on. For a BC-based CCPC, combined federal + provincial — with the proxy overhead method — typically returns ~45-50% of total eligible spend, often quoted as “up to 64%” when measured against direct salary cost only. Run the SR&ED Calculator for a real-time BC estimate.
Does my company need to be in BC?
No — SR&ED is a federal program available across Canada. The provincial top-up varies by province (BC pays 10%, Ontario 8%, Quebec 14-30%, etc.). We file for Canadian companies coast to coast and coordinate with your provincial program.
Can a pre-revenue startup claim SR&ED?
Yes — and this is one of the most powerful uses of the program. As long as your company is a Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC), the federal credit is fully refundable, meaning you receive a cash refund even with zero revenue. Many of our SaaS and biotech clients use SR&ED as non-dilutive funding alongside seed equity.
How long does the application take?
From kick-off to filing: typically 4-8 weeks depending on the complexity of your projects and how organized your records are. After filing, the CRA usually responds within 2-3 months. Refundable credit-eligible claims are reviewed faster than non-refundable.
What if CRA reviews or audits my claim?
We defend it at no extra cost. Every claim we prepare is written to withstand CRA technical and financial review — and when reviews happen, we represent you through every round of questions, site visits, and appeals. Our defense success rate is over 99%.
What documentation do I need to keep?
Contemporaneous records: git commits, design docs, meeting notes, test logs, time tracking, contractor invoices, and emails describing hypotheses and outcomes. We provide a documentation checklist in our first call and can audit your current record-keeping for gaps.
How does Axscope charge?
Our SR&ED pricing has two components: a retainer at signing (covers the technical work — interviews, drafting the narrative, financial schedules, filing, and audit defense) and a commission on the final refund (payable when the refund hits your account). We walk through the specific amounts on the discovery call once we understand your projects.

File your next SR&ED claim with us.

Free 30-min discovery call. Transparent retainer-based pricing thereafter — full breakdown before any work begins.

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