SR&ED specialists · since 2011
We take the time to understand your work, identify every supportable opportunity, and prepare a rigorous, defensible claim. From initial assessment through claim acceptance.
01 Why Scientis
A strong SR&ED claim depends on more than completing the right forms. We take the time to understand your work, identify the full scope of eligible activity and build a clear, supportable claim around it.
We work directly with your technical team to understand the challenges encountered, the work performed and the advancements pursued, then develop a clear narrative aligned with the CRA's eligibility requirements.
We identify eligible salaries, contractor costs, materials and other expenditures, then prepare accurate financial schedules that capture the full value of your claim without reaching beyond what can be supported.
We help you recognize eligible work earlier, improve contemporaneous documentation and build stronger supporting records, making each year's claim more efficient and defensible.
We prepare every claim with CRA scrutiny in mind and remain involved through claim acceptance. If your claim is selected for review, we support the technical and financial response from beginning to end.
02 How we work
Preparing a thorough SR&ED claim doesn't need to consume your team's time. We lead the process, keep information requests focused and minimize the demands placed on your technical and financial staff.
We start with a free 30-minute conversation to understand your business, the technical challenges your team encountered and the work performed. We'll give you an initial view of eligibility, potential claim value and whether it makes sense to proceed.
We identify the projects and activities that may qualify, map the related expenditures and determine what supporting information is available. From there, we establish a practical plan for preparing the claim.
We work directly with your technical and financial contacts to prepare the technical narratives, calculate eligible expenditures and complete the applicable SR&ED schedules. Your team reviews and validates the claim before anything is finalized.
We provide the completed claim to your accountant for inclusion with the corporate tax return and coordinate with them throughout filing. If the CRA requests additional information or selects the claim for review, our support through claim acceptance is included in the capped contingency fee, with no separate review fee.
03 Pricing
Our capped contingency model shares the risk of the claim while protecting you from an outsized fee. You pay only when SR&ED credits are accepted, and the fee cannot exceed the cap agreed before we begin.
Our fee is calculated as a percentage of the SR&ED credits accepted by the CRA. You pay only after the claim is accepted.
Every engagement includes a maximum fee. Once the cap is reached, our fee stops growing, even if the accepted credits continue to increase.
Claim preparation, coordination with your accountant and support for CRA questions or claim review are included in the capped contingency fee, with no separate review charge.
Our standard fee is 15% of the SR&ED credits accepted by the CRA, subject to an agreed maximum fee, typically between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on the scope, complexity and risk of the engagement. Your rate and cap are confirmed in writing before work begins.
Traditional contingency
Fixed fee
Capped contingency
04 Industries
SR&ED eligibility depends on the technical challenges encountered and the work performed, not simply the industry you operate in. Our experience helps us understand your work quickly, ask better questions and identify eligible activities that can otherwise be overlooked.
New architectures, algorithms, integrations, performance limitations, data processing and technically uncertain development.
Product development, clinical research, diagnostics, therapeutic technologies, prototypes and regulated development environments.
New equipment, robotics, tooling, production systems, process optimization and the integration of emerging technologies.
Energy efficiency, power systems, emissions reduction, resource recovery and new environmental technologies.
Plastics, composites, coatings, formulations, chemical processes and the development of new or improved material properties.
New formulations, processing methods, preservation, scale-up, shelf-life and manufacturing-performance challenges.
Don't see your industry? SR&ED is determined by the work, not the sector. We can determine whether there is a potential opportunity during the free assessment.
05 Testimonials
Strong claims are only part of the relationship. Our clients rely on Scientis for consistent advice, technical understanding and dependable support as their businesses evolve.
Baylis Medical Technologies
I've worked with Martin for more than 10 years, during his time at PwC and later through Scientis. He has built strong working relationships across the Baylis team and consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of complex medical-device development. Through an acquisition, the formation of a new company and several CRA reviews, Scientis has prepared clear, defensible claims that achieved positive outcomes for Baylis.
Datec Coating Technologies
Martin has prepared Datec's SR&ED claims since 2009, with 100% of our claimed credits accepted by the CRA. Over that time, he and Scientis have developed systems that make the claim process efficient and place minimal demands on our team. Their understanding of our technology, consistency and dependable support have made Scientis a trusted long-term partner.
Obeo Biogas
A trusted investor introduced us to Scientis when Obeo was preparing its first SR&ED claim for our biogas-processing technology. Martin quickly understood both the technology and our development work, then guided us through claim preparation and the subsequent CRA review. Our claim was accepted as filed, and we have continued to rely on Scientis for SR&ED support. I have since recommended Scientis to others in my network.
06 FAQ
If you don't see your question here, the assessment is the best place to start.
Your company may qualify if it encountered a technological limitation that could not be resolved using available knowledge or standard practice, and undertook a process of experimentation or analysis to overcome it. Eligibility depends on the work performed. Whether the project ultimately succeeded or failed has no bearing on eligibility.
Claim value depends on your corporate status, eligible expenditures, provincial credits and any other government assistance received. During the initial assessment, we identify the relevant federal and provincial credits and provide a realistic estimate based on your circumstances.
We lead the process and keep demands on your staff to a minimum. Your technical and financial staff will participate in focused discussions, provide available supporting information and validate the completed claim. For most engagements, the largest commitment is the technical interview lasting a few hours.
We remain involved through claim acceptance. If the CRA requests additional information or selects the claim for review, Scientis prepares and coordinates the response with your team and accountant. This support is included in our capped contingency fee, with no separate review charge. Historically, 92% of Scientis claims have been accepted without an on-site review, and 97% of claimed ITCs have been awarded.
Our standard fee is 15% of SR&ED credits accepted by the CRA, subject to a maximum fee agreed before work begins. If no credits are accepted, there is no fee. Claim preparation and support through claim acceptance are included, with no separate CRA review charge.
Yes. Scientis prepares the technical narratives, expenditure calculations and SR&ED schedules, then works with your accountant to incorporate the claim into the company's tax return. We complement your existing accounting relationship rather than replace it.
Best practice is to prepare and file your SR&ED claim with your corporate tax return, generally within six months of your company's year-end. Filing them together simplifies the process and allows the credits to be processed as part of the original return. If your corporate tax return has already been filed, Scientis can prepare an amended return to add the SR&ED claim. For corporations, this can generally be done up to 18 months after the end of the applicable tax year. After that reporting deadline, the opportunity to claim SR&ED is lost.
Yes. Companies have switched to us for many reasons, including service, fees, technical quality or the need for stronger claim support. We can review your previous filings, understand how the claim has developed and establish a smooth transition without disrupting your relationship with your accountant.
07 Insights
Practical guidance for companies navigating the SR&ED program.
In a free 30-minute assessment, we'll discuss your work, provide comments on SR&ED eligibility, and help you understand the potential value of a claim. No preparation. No obligation. Just a clear, practical assessment of where you stand.
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