SR&ED Tax Credits for
Equipment & Machinery Manufacturing
Assembling standard machinery isn’t SR&ED—overcoming unprecedented physical and synchronization constraints is. We translate your technical drawings, prototype failures, and PLC logic into defensible claims, letting you focus on engineering, not paperwork.
Your R&D in [
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
Your R&D in
[
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
What may qualify in equipment & machinery
We turn complex Equipment & Machinery work into a defensible SR&ED claim with clear evidence and clean scope.
(examples)
(Evidence to capture)
01
Designing custom end-of-arm tooling or specialized jigs
CAD iterations, stress and load calculations, failure analyses.
02
Developing high-speed pick-and-place or sorting systems
Cycle time benchmarks, vibration sensor data, logic revisions.
03
Integrating non-standard sensors or IoT into existing machinery
Signal processing logs, hardware-software interface schemas, latency tests.
04
Modifying equipment for extreme thermal or corrosive environments
Material durability tests, thermal imaging, cooling system iterations.
05
Engineering novel safety systems or automated fail-safes
Fault-tree analyses, simulation results, sensor response logs.
Do you qualify?
A quick self-check
This is some text inside of a div block.
You’re more likely to qualify if your work has all three:
01
Technological Uncertainty
You couldn't predict if a custom mechanical design, hydraulic system, or control logic would meet performance targets due to physical or environmental constraints.
02
Systematic Investigation
You built functional prototypes, tested multiple component configurations, iterated on PLC code, and logged mechanical or electrical performance data.
03
Technological Advancement
You achieved a measurable improvement in equipment speed, precision, energy efficiency, or durability that goes beyond standard engineering practices.
We help you capture:
You don’t need perfect paperwork. You need a consistent evidence trail.
What problem you were solving
[ uncertainty ]
What problem you were solving
[ uncertainty ]
What problem you were solving
[ uncertainty ]
Our technical specialists speak your language.
Whether you are architecting a cloud database, scaling a bioreactor, or overcoming mechanical failure, we understand your underlying constraints without needing a beginner's explanation.
[ uncertainty ]
What problem you were solving
[ uncertainty ]
What problem you were solving
[ uncertainty ]
Routine assembly of off-the-shelf components does not qualify—unless you can show specific technological uncertainty and documented testing.
[ Not sure if your work fits? ]
Request consultation
Request consultation
Common pitfalls we help you avoid
Small fixes early can prevent big issues later.
Assembly vs. Engineering
Simple assembly isn't SR&ED. We help isolate the specific engineering hours spent solving "unsolvable" problems when standard parts didn't fit or function as expected.
The "Custom Order" Trap
Building a custom machine for a client is a business goal. Solving the technical hurdles that made that machine hard to build is SR&ED. We separate the two for the CRA.
Shop Floor Testing
Engineers often solve problems "on the fly" during assembly. We help you capture these informal shop-floor trials, RFI logs, and manual tweaks as defensible R&D evidence.
Scrapped Prototypes
The cost of materials and components destroyed during destructive testing or failed prototype builds is highly claimable. We ensure these costs aren't overlooked.
Want to sanity-check your setup?
Request consultation
Request consultation
Your R&D in
[
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
How Checkpoint helps equipment & machinery teams with SR&ED
We turn real equipment & machinery innovation into a clear SR&ED claim with evidence CRA can understand—without unnecessary complexity.
[ step 01 ]
Entry consultation
A brief, technical conversation to understand your operations to determine your SR&ED potential. No preparation needed.
[ step 02 ]
Eligibility review
We analyze your technical landscape to separate routine engineering from eligible work, identifying your hidden ROI.
[ step 03 ]
Technical discovery
We identify potential SR&ED projects from your work, and translate them into CRA-compliant language. Your team stays focused on innovation, not paperwork.
[ step 04 ]
Claim Preparation & Submission
We identify eligible project costs, draft the SR&ED forms, and develop a technical narrative for the CRA. We then coordinate with your tax advisor to manage the final submission.
[ step 05 ]
Proactive Compliance
Say goodbye to the year-end scramble. We establish a recurring rhythm of monthly or quarterly check-ins to capture eligible activities and costs as they happen.
[ step 06 ]
CRA Audit and Review Defense
We don’t just submit and disappear. We provide expert technical defense and manage all CRA communications to protect your claim.
[ step 07 ]
Funding Secured
Once your claim is approved, we provide a detailed reconciliation of the funding secured. We operate on a success-fee basis—we win only when you win.
What evidence
matters most
This is some text inside of a div block.
(and how we keep it simple)
01
Technical
Uncertainty
The solution isn’t obvious in your context—there’s a real technical problem to solve.
02
Systematic Investigation
You test options through trials and iterations, form hypotheses, and measurement conclusions.
03
Technological Advancement
You can show measurable improvement beyond routine operations.
We help you capture:
You don’t need perfect paperwork. You need a consistent evidence trail.
What problem you were solving
[ uncertainty ]
What you changed vs. what stayed constant
[ variables ]
What you measured
[ results, comparisons ]
What changed based on results
[ decisions ]
Who worked on it and when
[ timeline ]
Link between trial work and eligible costs
[ high-level ]
Explore manufacturing sub-sectors
[ Sub-industry ]
Robotics & Mechatronics
Robotics SR&ED often involves complex uncertainty across sensing, control, reliability, integration, and real-world performance. Defensibility depends on showing structured experiments, iteration cycles, and measurable outcomes—especially where solutions are non-obvious and constrained by hardware and environment.
Industrial Automation
Automation SR&ED is most defensible when system integration challenges are framed as technological uncertainty, resolved through iterative testing—process constraints, performance bottlenecks, reliability, and validation results. We help structure the evidence so "integration work" doesn't read as routine implementation.
Manufacturing & Automation Overview
See how we help teams across the entire manufacturing sector secure SR&ED funding. From custom tooling to complex automation integrations, discover our end-to-end methodology.
Your R&D in
[
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
Why teams choose Checkpoint
Proven experience, defensible process, and clear accountability.
20
+
[ Years of experience ]
8500
+
[ Projects ]
$500M
+
[ Recovered ]
96.5
%
[ Success rate ]
[ Testimonials ]
[ Equipment & Machinery Manufacturing ]
“What set Checkpoint Research apart was their ability to speak our language fluently.
We didn't have to 'dumb down' our technical challenges in control systems or advanced mechanics; they understood the engineering immediately. This resulted in a streamlined filing process where the reports were a true, substantive reflection of our R&D."
Frequently Asked Questions
Structuring claims in [Pharmaceuticals]
We speak your technical language
We speak your technical language
What is the CRA’s "Why and How" framework?
The "Why and How" framework is the CRA’s current assessment standard, replacing the legacy "Five Questions." It strictly evaluates the technical impetus for your project (the 'Why') and the systematic rigor of your execution (the 'How').
read more
read more
What constitutes "contemporaneous documentation"?
Contemporaneous documentation refers to raw evidence generated during the execution of the work. Retroactive documentation drafted months after project completion is heavily scrutinized and frequently rejected by the CRA.
read more
read more
Which specific artifacts should our engineering team preserve?
Preserve time-stamped artifacts tied directly to technical roadblocks. Commit logs, Jira/Linear tickets, Slack threads detailing failed tests, architecture whiteboard photos, and granular timesheets are the gold standard of evidence.
read more
read more
What are the escalation protocols if a claim is denied?
The CRA provides a strict, three-tier escalation framework: an initial dispute resolution dialogue with the reviewer, an escalation to the Review Manager, and ultimately a formal Notice of Objection — filed within 90 days of assessment and, if required, carried to the Tax Court of Canada.
read more
read more
When is litigation in the Tax Court of Canada (TCC) necessary?
The TCC is the final arbiter, utilized only when internal CRA administrative appeals are exhausted. It provides an independent judicial review of your technical and financial eligibility, completely separate from the CRA's internal ecosystem.
read more
read more
Let’s Assess Your R&D Potential
Start with a pressure-free consultation.
We’ll clarify what likely qualifies, flag key risk areas, and recommend the safest next step based on your activities and timeline.
See what typically qualifies
See what typically qualifies
Direct line:
+1 (365) 525-2505
+1 (365) 525-2505
Prefer WhatsApp or email?
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.