SR&EDucation
Practical SR&ED guides, checklists, and how-tos for Canadian founders and operators.
Start with eligibility, then documentation, then T661 narrative prep.
Featured
EligibilityWhat Actually Makes Software Work SR&ED-Eligible?
Most software companies doing real R&D leave SR&ED credits on the table because they don't recognize their own qualifying work. Here's the eligibility distinction that matters.
All guides
DocumentationThe Evidence Habit: What to Save Before Year-End
SR&ED claims are significantly easier to defend when you've been saving the right artefacts throughout the year. A practical pre-year-end checklist for Canadian tech companies.
Why Payroll Is Usually the Biggest SR&ED Lever
For most Canadian technology companies, SR&ED wages drive the bulk of the investment tax credit. Understanding how time allocation works changes how you think about what to claim.
Founder-Friendly SR&ED Filing Deadlines
The SR&ED filing deadline is 12 months after the T2 filing due date — not your fiscal year-end. Here's what that means for your claim timeline, and what happens if you miss it.
AI Projects and SR&ED: What Changed, What Didn't
AI and ML work can qualify for SR&ED — but not all of it. The CRA's eligibility test hasn't changed. Here's what that means for model training, fine-tuning, and architecture decisions.
How to Talk About Uncertainty Without Overclaiming
The language you use in a T661 narrative matters. Overstating uncertainty reads as speculative. Understating it undersells the challenge. Here's how to write about technical uncertainty in CRA-ready language.
Preparing a T661 Narrative Your CPA Can Actually Work With
A T661 project narrative covers technological advancement, systematic investigation, and the technical context that made new knowledge necessary. Here's how each part should read — and what CPAs typically flag.
The SR&ED Investment Tax Credit: What the Numbers Actually Look Like
SR&ED provides two incentives: a tax deduction and a refundable ITC. For eligible CCPCs, the 35% enhanced rate can mean real cash back even with no tax owing. Here's how the math works — with clear disclaimers.
Why Every CEO Needs AI on Their Side for Tax, Legal, and Compliance
CEOs are accountable for tax, legal, and compliance — even when they delegate. AI-enabled tools can close the gap between what you sign and what you understand. Here's why that matters and how smart founders are using it.
Eligible vs. Non-Eligible SR&ED Work: A Founder's Checklist
Not every hour your engineering team spends qualifies for SR&ED. Here's a practical checklist to separate qualifying R&D from routine development, maintenance, and commercial work.
CRA Audit Readiness: What Triggers a Review and How to Prepare
CRA reviews a percentage of SR&ED claims every year. Understanding what triggers scrutiny and how to prepare your documentation can mean the difference between approval and reduction.
Common SR&ED Mistakes That Cost Founders Their Credits
The most expensive SR&ED mistakes aren't complex legal errors. They're simple, avoidable missteps that founders make because no one warned them. Here's what to watch for.
SR&ED for Hardware and Engineering Teams
Hardware R&D is often more obviously SR&ED-eligible than software work — prototypes, testing iterations, and physical experimentation leave clear evidence trails. Here's how engineering teams can structure their claims.
The Founder's Guide to SR&ED Documentation Templates
Good SR&ED documentation isn't about volume — it's about structure. Here are templates and frameworks for time tracking, project logs, and evidence organization that scale from seed to Series B.
Startup SR&ED: When to Claim, When to Wait
Pre-revenue startups often wonder whether SR&ED claims are worth the effort. The answer depends on your burn rate, your R&D intensity, and whether you can use the refundable ITC as operating capital.
Writing Technical Narratives That CRA Reviewers Actually Read
CRA reviewers read hundreds of T661 narratives. The ones that get approved are specific, structured, and evidence-backed. Here's how to write narratives that communicate clearly under time pressure.
How Much Would the NHL's Puck-Tracking Engineers Claim in SR&ED?
The NHL's puck-tracking system captures thousands of data points per game. Most fans think it's magic. It's actually a decade of painstaking R&D by Canadian companies like Sportlogiq and Stathletes — and it probably qualifies for millions in tax credits.
What Shopify's $1.5B R&D Budget Teaches Canadian Founders About SR&ED
Shopify spent $1.54 billion on R&D in 2024. Their Ottawa headquarters employs 2,000+ engineers. Here's how Canada's most famous tech company structures R&D — and what smaller founders can copy.
Why Your Pathology Lab's AI Software Is SR&ED-Eligible (And Your Lab Manager Doesn't Know It)
Canadian digital pathology companies like Pathcore and Ibex Medical Analytics build AI that reads tissue slides. The R&D behind that software qualifies for SR&ED — but most medical research teams never file.
The MaRS Discovery District Founder's SR&ED Playbook: From First Filing to $2M in Credits
MaRS is Canada's largest urban innovation hub, housing 150+ startups. Founders at Wattpad, Drop, and League all went through MaRS. Here's how MaRS-stage companies structure their first SR&ED claim.
What Arctic Wolf's $4.3B Valuation Teaches Canadian Founders About Security R&D
Arctic Wolf is a Waterloo-born cybersecurity unicorn valued at $4.3B. Their security operations platform required genuine R&D. Here's how Canadian cybersecurity companies structure SR&ED claims that CRA approves.
How CarbonCure Turned Concrete Chemistry into $400M (And SR&ED Helped)
CarbonCure injects captured CO2 into concrete. The technology required years of R&D. Here's how Canadian cleantech companies use SR&ED to fund the hardest problems.
The Y Combinator Canadian Founder's SR&ED Blind Spot
Shopify, Clearco, and dozens of Canadian companies went through Y Combinator. Most never filed SR&ED. Here's why YC alumni are uniquely positioned to claim — and why most don't.
CRA Approved $3.1 Billion in SR&ED Last Year. Here's What That Means for Your Claim.
Canada's SR&ED program is one of the world's largest R&D tax incentives. But most of that $3.1B goes to a small subset of claimants. Here's the data — and how to join the winning group.
10 SR&ED Facts That Will Make You File Tomorrow
Canadian tech companies leave an estimated $400 million in unclaimed SR&ED credits on the table every year. The average approved claim reportedly returns approximately $155,000. If you're not filing, you're essentially lighting money on fire.
Sole Proprietors: SR&ED Is Easier Than Your Accountant Thinks
You don't need a corporation, a CPA, or a 50-page technical narrative. Here's how solo entrepreneurs and sole proprietors file SR&ED claims using guided software — and get their money back in 90 days.
Why I Built sredy — and Everything Else That Happened Along the Way
The SR&ED system was broken for founders. An AI obsession helped me fix it. Here's the real story — including the tool I accidentally built for lead generation, the baseball game I made with my kids, and why curiosity keeps compounding.
If NASA's Interstellar Scientists Filed SR&ED, How Much Would They Claim?
The James Webb Space Telescope cost $10 billion. But what if Canada's SR&ED rules applied to interstellar science? Here's the $47 million thought experiment that explains how SR&ED actually works.
SR&ED for Smart People Who Think They're Too Dumb to File
'I don't do real R&D.' 'My work isn't innovative enough.' 'SR&ED is for rocket scientists.' These are the three myths that cost Canadian founders millions. Here's why they're all wrong.
A Startup That Filed SR&ED in Week 3 — and Got $31,000 Back
Most founders wait 12 months. One Kitchener-area team filed in week 3 of their fiscal year. Here's the documentation habit that made it possible — and the $31,000 that extended their runway.
Your Competitor's SR&ED Claim Just Gave Them 6 Extra Months of Runway
Two identical startups. One files SR&ED. One doesn't. After 18 months, the one that filed has 6 months more runway, 2 extra hires, and no bridge round. Here's the math.
The Biggest SR&ED Claims in Canadian History — And What Founders Can Learn
From Bombardier's $2.4B monster to BlackBerry's $500M annual filings, here's what the largest SR&ED claims in Canadian history reveal about eligibility, documentation, and scale.
The Complete SR&ED Filing Playbook: Old Way vs. sredy.io
A step-by-step before-and-after guide comparing the traditional consultant-driven SR&ED process with the sredy.io guided software workflow. Time, cost, quality, and stress — compared at every stage.