Many states enable taxpayers to claim the R&D Tax Credit. This is intended to encourage innovation, research, and development in products and services. Does the government of your state offer tax credits for businesses that engage in research and development? Taking a look at an R&D Tax Credit Map is the best way to know more about it.

R&D Tax Credit Map: A General Comparison of the R&D in Each State

R & D tax credits are offered to company owners in 35 out of the 50 states in the United States at present. These tax credits aim to increase company profits, stimulate the surrounding area’s economy, and incentivize job growth within the state’s borders. Although most state and local innovation tax credit programs adhere to federal and IRS regulations regarding QREs or Qualified Research Expenses and other claim definitions, certain states have mandated exceptions to this rule. If you can identify and understand a number of the most common distinctions, it will be much simpler for you to decide whether or not your company is qualified for the program. Because of this, it is strongly recommended that you look at an R&D Tax Credit Map to determine whether or not the state in which you are currently located is qualified to receive the R&D Tax Credit.

When determining the specific state qualifications, it is essential to keep the following in mind:

Eligible Entities

The vast majority of states taking part in this program know that C- and S- Corporations, LLCs, and Partnerships are the types of businesses that are eligible to receive the innovation tax credit.

Deadline for Filing

Taxpayers in many countries are required, at the time they file their state tax returns, to apply for a tax credit for R&D.

The Percentages of R&D Tax Credits

R&D tax credit percentages vary from state to state and are determined by a variety of factors, including qualified research expenses (QREs) and a wide range of other factors.

Carryforward Credit

Other states, unlike Kansas, do not reject credits that can be carried forward into subsequent years, but Kansas is one of those states. The participating states each have their own rules regarding the carryforward credit. A limited number of local laws will permit a carryforward period that is unlimited in duration.

Specific State Tax Credit Regulations for R&D

Each participating state has its own set of regulations that outlines a multitude of necessary conditions, such as the application procedure, the method of calculating, and a multitude of other preconditions for eligible taxpayers.

Do Your State Offer Tax Credits for Research and Development?

Is the location of your company’s operations in a state that provides financial incentives for activities that your business already takes part in? Since state laws vary, it is important to determine if and how your business can save money by claiming tax credits for research and development. The following paragraphs provide an overview of the R&D tax credits offered by 8 Southeastern states.

Alabama

In the state of Alabama, there is no option for receiving a tax credit for research and development.

Florida

To qualify for Florida’s research and development tax credit, businesses must be organized as C corporations. This is because the income tax levied by the state of Florida is exclusive to C-corporations and does not apply to any other types of business entities.

In most instances, Florida follows the definitions and methods of computing qualified research expenses that the federal government establishes. Nevertheless, the activities must take place within the borders of the state of Florida and fall under a specific category of the economic landscape.

Most of the time, the credit can only be applied to subsequent purchases after it has already been issued. It is equivalent to ten percent of qualified expenses that are more than the standard amount, in which the base amount is the average of the expenditures for research made over the course of the preceding four years. Furthermore, the credit will not exceed fifty percent of the total tax liability that the corporation is responsible for paying at any given time.

In conclusion, the maximum amount of credit that can be granted annually across the State is capped at $9 million unless the State decides to raise the limit for a particular year. Corporations are required to apply for an allocation of this amount before they can be considered for eligibility to receive the credit.

Georgia

Any and all business entities are eligible to claim the research and development tax credit offered by the state of Georgia. The credit is given to the pass-through entity shareholders (organizations that do not pay separate state income taxes) so that those shareholders can make use of it on their tax returns. Pass-through entities do not pay separate federal income taxes either.

In general, Georgia complies with qualified expenses definitions as provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It grants a credit equal to ten percent of the amount used as the foundation. When calculating the base amount, the ratio of Georgia’s revenues to its QREs for the three years prior to the current year serves as the starting point.

The amount of the credit that can be applied toward the payment of the company’s total income tax obligation is limited to fifty percent. The remainder has two potential uses: it can be carried forward for up to ten additional years, or it can be applied to the employee’s portion of the payroll taxes.

Louisiana

The state of Louisiana also offers credit for businesses that have invested in research and development. The credit percentage ranges from 5% to 30% of the excess QREs. This range is based on the number of people who are currently employed in the state of Louisiana. It is possible to take advantage of the credit with a number of different types of business structures, including C-Corporations, S-Corporations, LLCs, and Partnerships. In addition, in Louisiana, any credit amounts that are not used can be carried forward for the next five years.

Mississippi

There is no provision in the state’s budget for a levy that would be applied to research and development.

North Carolina

The state of North Carolina completely eradicate its tax credit for research and development at the state level in 2016. Businesses can apply any unused portion of the credit they carried over from the previous year to the portion of the credit that is still available.

South Carolina

South Carolina’s method of calculating the R&D tax credit is noticeably less complicated than the calculations in some other states that provide this incentive. It is equivalent to five% of the total expenses incurred in South Carolina that are eligible for federal R&D tax credits. The activity in question should have taken place within the state. The tax credit can be carried forward for up to ten years, but it can only be applied to fifty percent of the company’s total tax liability at any given time.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, there is no option for claiming a tax credit related to research and development at the state level.