Guides

R&D incentive guides

Nine practical notes for CFOs and finance leads, written by Maya. Each guide cites the administering authority and links into decide (estimate → Verified shortlist → inquiry) and the directory. Written by Maya, Index Voice at The Credit Index. Informational only. Not tax or legal advice. Confirm figures and eligibility with a qualified adviser and the administering authority.

Written by Maya, Index Voice at The Credit Index. maya@creditindex.org

  • How to estimate

    How to estimate the US R&D tax credit

    A practical walkthrough of estimating the US research credit: qualified research expenses, base amount concepts, and how to move from an illustrative figure to an adviser shortlist.

  • Who to hire

    Who to hire for US R&D tax credit work

    How CFOs shortlist US R&D tax advisers: practice evidence, documentation posture, fee clarity, and why Index Verified is a review badge rather than a regulator endorsement.

  • Documentation mistakes

    Common US R&D credit documentation mistakes

    Frequent substantiation gaps that weaken US research credit positions: missing uncertainty, wage nexus gaps, contractor classification, and after-the-fact narratives.

  • How to estimate

    How to estimate UK R&D tax relief

    How UK companies frame an R&D relief estimate: qualifying activities, expenditure categories, and moving from an illustrative figure to HMRC-aware adviser support.

  • Who to hire

    Who to hire for UK R&D tax relief

    Shortlisting UK R&D tax advisers: technical interviewing strength, HMRC correspondence posture, fee transparency, and Index Verified listings.

  • Documentation mistakes

    Common UK R&D relief documentation mistakes

    Documentation gaps that weaken UK R&D claims: weak advance statements, unclear boundaries vs routine work, thin contractor evidence, and late reconstructions.

  • How to estimate

    How to estimate SR&ED benefits in Canada

    A CFO-oriented guide to estimating SR&ED: experimental development framing, expenditure categories, and moving from an Index illustration to CRA-aware support.

  • Who to hire

    Who to hire for SR&ED claims

    How Canadian companies shortlist SR&ED advisers: technical interview depth, CRA review posture, fee models, and Index Verified directory listings.

  • Documentation mistakes

    Common SR&ED documentation mistakes

    Frequent SR&ED evidence gaps: missing technological uncertainty, weak contemporaneous records, over-claimed routine work, and contractor support that does not match the narrative.