Skip to content
  • Home
  • Services
    • Audit & Attest
      • Financial Statement Audits
      • Employee Benefit Plans
      • Attestation Engagements
      • Compilations & Review
      • SOC
      • Agreed-Upon Procedures
    • Advisory
      • Transaction Advisory Services
      • Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, Privacy
      • High Net Worth Services
      • Forensic Services
      • Litigation Services
      • Management Consulting
      • Technology Services
      • Valuation Services
    • Business & Tax
      • Corporate Income Tax
      • Individual Income Tax
      • International Tax
      • State and Local Tax Compliance and Tax Minimization Services
      • Tax Planning
    • T&C Family Office Group
  • Industries
    • Construction & Real Estate
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing & Distribution
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Private Equity Firms
    • Privately-held Companies
    • Technology & Energy
  • Firm
    • Overview
    • Our People
    • Our Community
    • Templeton Group
      • PracticePro 365
      • T&C Family Office Group
      • Templeton Investigative Services
  • Careers
    • Experienced
    • Students
    • Benefits
  • News
  • Pay My Bill
  • Home
  • Services
    • Audit & Attest
      • Financial Statement Audits
      • Employee Benefit Plans
      • Attestation Engagements
      • Compilations & Review
      • SOC
      • Agreed-Upon Procedures
    • Advisory
      • Transaction Advisory Services
      • Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, Privacy
      • High Net Worth Services
      • Forensic Services
      • Litigation Services
      • Management Consulting
      • Technology Services
      • Valuation Services
    • Business & Tax
      • Corporate Income Tax
      • Individual Income Tax
      • International Tax
      • State and Local Tax Compliance and Tax Minimization Services
      • Tax Planning
    • T&C Family Office Group
  • Industries
    • Construction & Real Estate
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing & Distribution
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Private Equity Firms
    • Privately-held Companies
    • Technology & Energy
  • Firm
    • Overview
    • Our People
    • Our Community
    • Templeton Group
      • PracticePro 365
      • T&C Family Office Group
      • Templeton Investigative Services
  • Careers
    • Experienced
    • Students
    • Benefits
  • News
  • Pay My Bill
CONTACT US

Research & Development Tax Credit Made Permanent

  • Uncategorized

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (“PATH”) Act of 2015, which includes a provision making permanent the Research & Development (“R&D”) tax credit under Section 41. This is a very significant development, as the R&D credit generally has required annual legislative renewal. A permanent R&D credit will provide businesses and investors the stability needed to enhance long term planning and decision making.

Added Benefits

In addition to being made permanent, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015, the R&D tax credit will have two added benefits. First, eligible small businesses (those that are privately held and with $50 million or less in average gross receipts for the three preceding tax years) may utilize the R&D tax credit against their Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”). Historically, businesses could only use the R&D tax credit to offset ordinary tax liability and only to the extent this liability exceeded their AMT, with one exception to this rule in 2010.

Additionally, startup companies (those with gross receipts of less than $5 million for the current tax year and no gross receipts for any tax year before the five tax years ending with the current tax year) may utilize the R&D tax credit against employer’s payroll tax (i.e., FICA) up to $250,000. This is an important added benefit, as startup companies investing in new technologies often do not pay income taxes.

Conclusion

With a permanent R&D tax credit, businesses now face a more reliable and predictable future. Moreover, the extension of the credit to small businesses and startups broadens its availability to taxpayers. The PATH Act now provides economic stability that can help spur long-term innovation and investment in new and improved ideas.

This article originally appeared in BDO USA, LLP’s “Quarterly Insight” (Winter 2016). Copyright © 2016 BDO USA, LLP. All rights reserved. www.bdo.com

Categories
  • Agribusiness
  • Assurance, Advisory & Review
  • Audit & Attest
  • Blog
  • Business and Tax
  • Business Consulting & Corporate Compliance
  • Corporate Income Tax
  • Current Opportunities
  • Cybersecurity, Technology Risk, Privacy
  • Employee Benefit Plan
  • Employee Benefit Plans / 401(k)
  • Healthcare
  • High Net Worth Individuals
  • High Net Worth Services
  • Individual Income Tax
  • Industries
  • Manufacturing & Distribution
  • Newsletter Articles
  • Newsletters
  • Nonprofit
  • Press Releases
  • Privately Held Companies
  • Professional Services
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Retail
  • Services
  • Specialty Tax Services
  • State and Local Tax Complianc
  • T&C Family Office Group
  • Tax Planning
  • Tax Planning & Compliance
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Valuation Services
  • Valuation Services

SHARE THIS ON:

RELATED POSTS

Understanding spousal IRAs: A smart retirement strategy for couples

Retirement planning is essential for all families, but it can be especially critical for couples where one spouse earns little to no income. In such

Read More »

9 essential types of insurance for construction companies

Comprehensive insurance coverage might seem like a luxury for many contractors. After all, you’re likely dealing with rising costs from supply chain uncertainties, tariff-impacted materials

Read More »

Tap into the 20% rehabilitation tax credit for business space improvements

If your business occupies a large space and you’re planning to relocate, expand or renovate in the future, consider the potential benefits of the rehabilitation

Read More »

Contact Us

WEST PALM BEACH
Esperante Building
222 Lakeview Avenue
Suite 1200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 798-9988
Fax: (561) 798-4053

FORT LAUDERDALE
The Main
201 East Las Olas Boulevard
Suite 1650
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 333-0001
Fax: (954) 765-0719

Twitter Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin
© 2025 Templeton & Company. All Rights Reserved. Website by Weber & Co.
Services
  • Audit & Attest
  • Advisory
  • Business & Tax
  • T&C Family Office Group
  • Pay My Bill
  • Audit & Attest
  • Advisory
  • Business & Tax
  • T&C Family Office Group
  • Pay My Bill
Industries
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing & Distribution
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Private Equity Firms
  • Privately-held Companies
  • Technology & Energy
  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Healthcare
  • Manufacturing & Distribution
  • Nonprofit Organizations
  • Private Equity Firms
  • Privately-held Companies
  • Technology & Energy
Firm
  • Overview
  • Our People
  • Our Community
  • Templeton Group
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Overview
  • Our People
  • Our Community
  • Templeton Group
  • Terms & Conditions
Careers
  • Experienced
  • Students
  • Benefits
  • Experienced
  • Students
  • Benefits