SR&ED Tax Credits for
Manufacturing & Automation
Manufacturing innovation happens on the shop floor, not in a lab. We translate your custom tooling, PLC programming, and trial runs into audit-proof SR&ED claims, letting you stay focused on production, not paperwork.
Your R&D in [
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
Your R&D in
[
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
What may qualify in manufacturing & automation
(examples)
01
Automating legacy lines with novel robotics or machine vision
Integration schematics, PLC code iterations, cycle time data.
02
Developing custom molds, dies, or tooling for new materials
CAD drawings, tool wear analyses, tolerance testing logs.
03
Scaling up a prototype to continuous mass production
First-off run reports, heat/friction data, machine calibration logs.
04
Overcoming complex material behaviors (e.g., springback, warping)
Metallurgy or polymer test results, scrap rate tracking, process parameter iterations.
05
Integrating IoT and custom sensors into older industrial equipment
Architecture diagrams, signal latency tests, hardware modification logs.
Do you qualify?
A quick self-check
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You’re more likely to qualify if your work has all three:
01
Technological Uncertainty
You couldn't predict if a new machine integration, custom tool, or material process would hit the required cycle time, tolerance, or yield rate.
02
Systematic Investigation
You ran test batches, tweaked machine parameters (speeds, feeds, temperatures), modified tooling, and logged QA data to find a solution.
03
Technological Advancement
You achieved a measurable improvement in production speed, waste reduction, precision, or material capability that goes beyond standard shop 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 production runs and standard equipment maintenance do 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.
Routine runs vs. SR&ED
The CRA doesn't fund standard production. We help isolate the specific labor and machine hours dedicated purely to experimental "first-off" trial runs and process troubleshooting.
The "Lean Manufacturing" Trap
Six Sigma and Lean are business methodologies, not SR&ED. We document the underlying technical engineering hurdles your team had to overcome to achieve those efficiency goals.
Scrapped Material Tracking
Materials destroyed during trial runs—like jammed metal, burnt plastics, or failed molds—are highly claimable. We ensure your costly scrap is properly tracked and maximized in the claim.
Off-the-shelf Equipment
Buying a new CNC machine isn't R&D. But if standard tooling fails and your machinists have to invent a custom workholding solution to produce a complex part, that engineering work qualifies.
Want to sanity-check your setup?
Request consultation
Request consultation
Your R&D in
[
Manufacturing
]
Our expertise. Zero anxiety.
How Checkpoint helps manufacturing & automation teams with SR&ED
We turn real manufacturing & automation 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
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(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 ]
Equipment & Machinery Manufacturing
Equipment-focused SR&ED is strongest when it documents iterative engineering, design constraints, performance targets, testing cycles, failed versions, and how decisions drove each change. We help differentiate routine redesign from true technological advancement supported by measurements and learning outcomes.
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.
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 ]
[ 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').
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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