— THE IRS 4-PART TEST —
Do you qualify? Here's what the IRS looks for.
To claim R&D credits under IRC Section 41, your activities must pass all four parts. Most businesses are surprised how easily they do.
Not sure if your work qualifies? Our specialists review your business activities for free — no obligation.
— QUALIFYING INDUSTRIES —
Your industry almost certainly qualifies
The R&D credit applies to far more activities than most accountants realize. Here are industries we recover credits for every single day.
Software & Technology
Custom apps, platforms, algorithms, or any software your team builds.
Avg. recovery: $80K–$300K
Manufacturing
New product design, process improvements, tooling, or materials testing.
Avg. recovery: $60K–$400K
Construction
Custom engineering, LEED designs, value engineering, or new building methods.
Avg. recovery: $40K–$200K
Food & Beverage
Developing proprietary recipes, formulations, shelf-stability, or production processes.
Avg. recovery: $30K–$150K
Medical & Dental
New treatment protocols, custom devices, diagnostic tools, or clinical processes.
Avg. recovery: $50K–$250K
HVAC & Trades
Custom system design, energy solutions, or proprietary installation methods.
Avg. recovery: $25K–$120K
Architecture & Engineering
Structural design, mechanical systems, or environmental engineering work.
Avg. recovery: $40K–$180K
Agriculture
New cultivation methods, crop varieties, irrigation systems, or yield improvement.
Avg. recovery: $20K–$100K
— QUALIFYING EXPENSES —
What actually counts as a qualifying expense
Employee Wages
~60–70%Salaries and wages paid to employees who perform, supervise, or support qualifying R&D activities. This is typically the largest credit driver.
Supplies & Materials
~10–20%Raw materials, prototype components, test materials, or anything physically consumed during experimentation.
Contract Research
~10–15%65% of amounts paid to third-party contractors who perform qualifying research on your behalf — even offshore contractors may qualify.
Cloud Computing
New 2025The IRS now allows cloud computing costs (AWS, Azure, GCP) used directly in qualifying research under the IRA 2022 expansion.
Not profitable yet? You can still collect.
The PATH Act created a special rule for early-stage businesses: if your gross receipts are under $5M and you've been in business less than 5 years, you can apply your R&D credit directly against your payroll taxes — not just income taxes.
That means real cash benefit even when you're pre-profitable. Up to $500,000 per year in payroll tax offset.
Check My Startup's Eligibility →Payroll Tax Offset — Who Qualifies
38 states offer R&D credits on top of federal
Our specialists maximize both federal and state credits simultaneously — most businesses leave their state credits entirely on the table.
+ 28 more states with R&D credit programs. Ask your specialist about your state.
— THE PROCESS —
From zero to IRS refund in 60–90 days
Free 5-Minute Qualification Check
Day 1Answer a few questions about your business activities. We tell you right away if you likely qualify — no obligation, no cost.
Document Collection & Expert Study
Days 2–14Your dedicated R&D specialist collects your financials, payroll data, and activity descriptions. We build a fully IRS-defensible technical study — not an estimate.
Filing & Amendment
Days 15–30We file amended returns for up to 3 prior years and the current year. You review and approve everything before submission.
Receive Your IRS Refund
Days 60–90The IRS processes your amended returns and issues your refund. You pay a contingency fee on what we recover — nothing if we find nothing.
— WHY BRIDGE CAPITAL —
Why business owners choose us
True Contingency
You pay nothing unless we find and recover money for you. Zero retainer, zero hourly fees, zero risk.
IRS-Defensible Study
We don't estimate. Our specialists produce fully documented technical studies that withstand IRS examination — not a back-of-napkin calculation.
Maximize Every Year
We go back 3 open tax years and also apply credits to your current year. Most businesses recover 4 years of credits in one engagement.
Federal + State
We automatically identify and recover all applicable state R&D credits alongside your federal claim — most firms only do federal.
Startup-Friendly
Pre-profitable? We apply your credit against payroll taxes so you get cash benefits even before you're profitable.
Dedicated Specialist
One expert handles your entire study — not a call center. Direct contact, real updates, clear answers.
— COMMON QUESTIONS —
Questions we hear every day
Is this only for tech companies?
Absolutely not. The R&D credit applies to any business that systematically improves products, processes, software, or formulas — in virtually any industry. Restaurants, HVAC companies, construction firms, and manufacturers all qualify.
My accountant never mentioned this. Why?
Most generalist CPAs know the credit exists but don't specialize in the forensic documentation required. R&D credit recovery is a niche subspecialty — even large CPA firms refer this work to dedicated specialists.
Can startups with no taxable income benefit?
Yes. If you have under $5M in gross receipts and have been in business under 5 years, you can apply up to $500K/year in R&D credits against your payroll taxes — a direct cash benefit even before profitability.
How far back can we go?
Up to 3 open tax years plus the current year. For most businesses that means 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 in a single engagement.
Are there state credits too?
Yes — 38 states have their own R&D credit programs. We recover federal and state credits simultaneously. California pays up to 24% on top of federal; Arizona, Pennsylvania, and New York also have strong programs.
What does it cost?
Nothing unless we recover money for you. We work on contingency — you pay a percentage of what we actually recover. Zero cost, zero risk if we find nothing.
How long does it take?
Typically 60–90 days from document submission to receiving your IRS refund or payroll tax offset. The free qualification check takes about 5 minutes.