FAQ
Questions agency owners actually ask
Straight answers. No jargon theatre.
Do marketing agencies really qualify for SRED?
Marketing services don't. The custom technology you build to deliver them often does - when it involves technological uncertainty and systematic experimentation. See what qualifies. CRA decides; we assess.
What if another firm told us no?
That's our origin story. Generalists see “agency” and stop. We look at repos, failed builds, and integrations. Book a call - we'll tell you if they were right or if they never looked. Book free.
How much can an agency typically recover?
Often $30K–$100K+ per year depending on eligible tech spend, CCPC status, and province. Try the refund calculator for a range.
What counts as “technical uncertainty” in agency work?
When competent developers couldn't know in advance if an approach would work - unstable APIs, attribution that wouldn't reconcile, AI accuracy plateaus, systems that broke under real load. Not “we hadn't built this feature yet.”
We use contractors, not employees - can we claim them?
Often yes, at a reduced rate (commonly 80% of arm's-length Canadian contractor costs for eligible work). Details depend on the arrangement. We'll map this on the call.
We build on WordPress / Shopify / Webflow - does any of that count?
Mostly no - routine theme and template work doesn't qualify. Custom plugins, complex integrations, or experimental systems built because the platform couldn't do the job may be different. Honest answer: assume no until we see the technical story.
Our client owns the IP - who claims the SRED?
It depends on who bears the technological risk and how contracts assign IP. We review this early for consultants especially. More on contracts.
How far back can we claim?
Generally 18 months after fiscal year-end. After that, that year's credit is gone permanently. If you've never filed, check the clock now.
Do we need to be profitable?
No. For Canadian-controlled private corporations, a large portion of SRED credits can be refundable even in loss years.
What documentation do we need if we didn't track anything?
We reconstruct from repos, tickets, Slack, calendars, and interviews - then install a light go-forward habit (about 1 hour/month). Perfect docs aren't required to start.
What happens if CRA reviews the claim?
We defend it. Audit defense is included in our success fee - no hourly surprise. Reviews are common; defensible narratives are the point.
How long until we see money?
Typically 60–120 days after filing for refundable claims, longer if CRA reviews. Claim prep itself is usually 2–4 weeks of calendar time.
What does it cost?
Success fee of 20% of recovered credits. Other firms often charge 25-30% for a one-page filing. Ours includes high-touch drafting and documentation process help. Free eligibility call. Details on pricing and how we compare.
Will claiming SRED trigger an audit of our whole business?
A SRED review is about the claim, not a full corporate audit. Inflated claims raise risk. Honest, well-documented claims are how you sleep at night.
Can we claim if we've already filed our taxes for the year?
Often yes via amendment, if you're still inside the 18-month window. Don't assume it's too late without checking.
What should we change this year to qualify more next year?
Document uncertainties when builds break. Tag technical time. Keep failed experiments. Take the eligibility check and grab the field guide.