We make parts to spec for customers. Do we still qualify?

Often, yes. If you bear the technical and financial risk of figuring out how to produce a part, that development work can qualify even when the design originates with the customer.

Do prototypes and failed runs count?

Yes. Experimentation that does not work out is still qualified research — the credit rewards the process, not just the wins.

What expenses qualify?

Wages for engineers and technicians, supplies consumed in development and testing, and a portion of contractor costs are the typical categories.

How far back can we claim?

Generally the three most recent open tax years, plus the current year going forward.

R&D TAX CREDITS · MANUFACTURING

If you improve how you make things, the IRS owes you.

Process improvements, new product development, and tooling on the shop floor are textbook R&D activities. Most manufacturers leave six figures on the table. Free study, zero cost unless we recover.

Check if you qualify — free →

$18.7B

unclaimed every year

$96K

typical recovery in manufacturing

3 yrs

back on open returns

cost unless we recover

What qualifies in Manufacturing

If any of this sounds like your day-to-day, you're likely sitting on a credit.

Developing new or improved products

Prototyping and first-article testing

Designing and refining manufacturing processes

Building custom tooling, jigs, or fixtures

Reducing scrap, cycle time, or material waste through experimentation

Automating or integrating production equipment

FREE ESTIMATE · 30 SECONDS

Estimate your R&D tax credit in Manufacturing.

Plug in your rough numbers. We'll show the federal credit range a business like yours typically lands in — then send a detailed breakdown to your inbox.

Annual payroll for technical / engineering staff

Salaries for the people who build, design, test, or engineer.

Contractor & outside dev costs / yr

Counted at 65% per IRS rules for contract research.

Supplies, cloud & software used in development / yr

Materials, prototyping supplies, compute, and dev tooling.

# of technical employees (optional)

Estimated federal R&D credit

$46,500 – $72,000

per year, based on $718,000 in qualified research expenses

Estimate only — not a guarantee. Your actual credit depends on a formal study of your activities, payroll, and tax position. This is a simplified federal estimate and excludes state credits. Bridge works on contingency: $0 unless we recover.

REAL RECOVERY

“We thought R&D meant a white lab coat. It actually meant our engineers redesigning the line to cut scrap.”

Metal fabrication shop, 60 employees

Recovered $284K over three years

Illustrative of outcomes for businesses like yours. Recoveries vary by activity, payroll, and tax position; nothing here is a guaranteed amount.

Questions manufacturing businesses ask

Yes. Developing a new or improved manufacturing process — not just a new product — is one of the most overlooked qualifying activities for manufacturers.

Find out in 5 minutes.

Free qualifier · no cost unless we recover · zero impact on your taxes. Bridge the gap.

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