Best SR&ED Software for Canadian Businesses — 2025 Guide
SR&ED software replaces the traditional consultant model: instead of paying 15–30% of your refund to a firm, you prepare the claim yourself with a guided platform and hand it to your accountant. Here’s a plain-English breakdown of what SR&ED software does, what to look for, and how the options compare.
What SR&ED software does
SR&ED claim preparation involves three outputs: a T661 project narrative (describing the technical work), financial schedules (wages, contractors, materials), and supporting evidence documentation. A consultant handles all of this through interviews with your team. Software replaces the interview with a structured questionnaire built around CRA’s own eligibility criteria — and generates the same outputs.
Good SR&ED software guides you through technological uncertainty, systematic investigation, and technological advancement — the three elements CRA evaluates in every T661 narrative.
Categories of SR&ED software
SR&ED software falls into two broad categories: claim preparation software (used at filing time, generates T661-aligned narratives, financial schedules, and evidence index) and documentation tracking software (used throughout the year, tracks time, integrates with Jira/GitHub, builds your evidence record). Most founders need both — see using Jira and GitHub for SR&ED evidence for the documentation side.
Key features to look for
- CRA-aligned questionnaire — questions must map to T661 requirements: technological uncertainty, systematic investigation, and advancement. Generic prompts produce generic narratives.
- Multi-project support — CRA’s T661 allows multiple projects per fiscal year. The software should support separate narratives and financial allocations per project.
- Financial schedule generation — wages, contractor fees (up to 80% eligible), materials, and overhead (proxy method) must all be captured correctly.
- Evidence index output — a structured list of your supporting documentation, mapped to each project, is the most underrated output. It tells CRA exactly what you have.
- Accountant-ready export — the output package should be in a format a CPA can review without reformatting. PDF or structured document exports matter.
- Flat-fee pricing — percentage-based pricing compounds the more successful your R&D is. A flat fee aligns the software’s incentives with yours.
SR&ED software vs. consultant: the cost comparison
Five-year cost at $150,000 average annual credit
Consultant at 25% contingency: $37,500/year × 5 = $187,500 in fees. SREDY.IO at $299 flat: $299/year × 5 = $1,495 in fees. Difference: $186,005 stays in your company with flat-fee software.
For a detailed breakdown of when software makes sense vs. when a consultant adds more value, see the SR&ED software vs. consultant comparison.
What SREDY.IO produces
- T661-aligned project narratives — one per eligible project, structured around CRA’s three eligibility criteria
- Financial schedules for eligible wages, contractor fees, materials, and overhead (proxy method)
- An evidence index documenting the supporting records for each project
- A CRA readiness assessment identifying claim strengths and any documentation gaps
- An accountant-ready handoff package — formatted for CPA review before T2 filing
The core Self-Serve package is CAD $299 per fiscal year claim. You can view a complete sample output to see exactly what your accountant receives.
Common questions
What does SR&ED software actually do?
SR&ED software guides you through the claim preparation process: identifying eligible projects, structuring technical narratives to CRA’s T661 requirements, capturing financial expenditures, and generating a complete package for your accountant to file.
Is SR&ED software approved by CRA?
CRA does not certify or endorse any specific software. What CRA evaluates is the accuracy and completeness of the T661 and Schedule 31 filed with your T2. Any preparation method is just a means to that end.
How much does SR&ED preparation software cost?
SREDY.IO charges a flat CAD $299 per claim for the self-serve package. Traditional consultants charge 15–30% of your refund on contingency — on a $200,000 credit that’s $30,000–$60,000.
Do I still need an accountant if I use SR&ED software?
Yes. The software prepares the documentation. Your CPA reviews the figures and files the T661 and Schedule 31 with your T2 corporate return. The professional filing step always belongs with your accountant.
Can SR&ED software handle multi-project claims?
Yes. SREDY.IO supports multiple eligible projects per fiscal year, each documented with its own T661-aligned narrative and financial allocation.
Related SR&ED guides
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