Canton R&D Tax Advisors

R&D Tax Credit Services for Canton, Ohio Businesses

Canton has long been recognized as one of Ohio’s most technically capable manufacturing regions. From alloy development and heat-treatment operations to large-scale machining, forging, tooling, and industrial automation, the city’s engineering-driven industries solve complex technical challenges every day. Yet many Canton manufacturers especially precision shops, fabrication facilities, and component builders do not realize that these routine problem-solving efforts often qualify for the federal R&D Tax Credit.


Since 2004, RCG has completed more than 25,000 R&D tax credit studies and documented over $750 million in federal and state tax savings. Our team of CPAs, engineers, and technical analysts works exclusively in R&D Tax Credits and Cost Segregation Studies. RCG supports businesses across Canton and Stark County, ensuring that qualified activities are identified clearly and documented in a fully audit-ready format.

What the R&D Tax Credit Is

The R&D Tax Credit is a federal incentive designed to reward U.S. companies that engage in technical development or improvement work. Canton businesses do not need a formal research lab to qualify. In manufacturing environments, research often looks like:

Refining a steel heat-treating cycle

Designing a fixture to meet impossible tolerances

Testing alternative alloys for durability

Programming an automated system to solve a production bottleneck

If your team is applying engineering principles to eliminate uncertainty, they are likely performing qualified research under IRS guidelines.


Ohio also provides a state-level incentive depending on your tax position.

How the R&D Tax Credit Strengthens Your Canton Business

Reduced tax liability: Qualified research expenses generate federal, and when applicable state tax savings..

Improved cash flow: Many Canton companies claim credits for open tax years (typically the last three) when eligible.

Payroll tax benefit for startups: Young companies under 5 years old may apply the credit to payroll taxes.

Support for technical advancement: The credit rewards investments in improving products, processes, and manufacturing systems.

RCG evaluates your activities and prepares documentation that supports compliant filing with your CPA.

What the R&D Tax Credit Can Do for Canton Manufacturers

Canton’s engineering and production environments create R&D opportunities every day. RCG identifies qualifying technical work such as:

Testing performance characteristics of new alloy compositions

Designing CNC tooling or fixtures to achieve high-precision tolerances

Improving furnace efficiency or refining heat-treating parameters

Conducting metallurgical analysis to improve product durability

Prototyping automotive or industrial components

Automating manual steps using robotics or PLC systems

Most manufacturers are surprised at how closely their routine workflow aligns with IRS requirements.

Sectors That Qualify for R&D Tax Incentives in Canton

RCG tailors each study to Canton’s actual industrial landscape.Technical activities frequently qualify in:

Metallurgy & Alloy Development: Testing compositions, improving heat-treating cycles, refining mechanical properties.

Steel, Forging & Fabrication: Developing weld procedures, designing fixtures, optimizing forming processes.

Automotive Component Manufacturing: Prototyping parts, testing durability, improving machining efficiencies.

Tooling & Precision Machining: Custom tool design, tolerance optimization, CAM programming.

Industrial Automation & Controls: Integrating robotics, custom PLC logic, automated inspection systems.

Chemical & Coating Processes: Refining formulations, improving corrosion resistance, scaling processes.

Eligibility depends on the technical nature of the activity not the size of the company.

Who Qualifies for the R&D Tax Credit

Canton companies often perform qualifying activities such as:

Engineering and design evaluations

Prototype development

Feasibility testing and trial runs

Material, structural, or reliability testing

Production efficiency improvements

Tooling or equipment modifications

Automation and control system integration

CAD, CAM, or 3D modeling work

Analyzing engineering data to resolve uncertainty

RCG matches these activities to IRS qualification standards.

Steps to Claim Your R&D Tax Credit

  • 1. Identify qualifying activities

    RCG reviews your engineering, production, and testing projects.

  • 2. Collect financial and technical documentation

    We help gather notes, logs, CAD files, testing details, payroll data, and supply expenses.

  • 3. Document qualifying projects

    Using CrediTrak, RCG creates structured technical narratives explaining the experimental process.

  • 4. Evaluate qualified research expenses

    We review wages, supplies, and contractor costs tied to qualifying work.

  • 5. Deliver audit-ready documentation

    Your CPA receives a complete filing package with substantiation and calculations.

  • 6. Provide support if needed

    If taxing authorities request details, RCG responds using the documentation we prepared.

IRS Requirements (The Four-Part Test)

Requirement Meaning
Permitted Purpose Work aims to improve function, reliability, quality, or performance.
Elimination of Uncertainty Technical uncertainty exists around capability, method, or design.
Process of Experimentation Testing, modeling, simulation, or systematic evaluation occurs.
Technological in Nature Work relies on engineering, metallurgy, computer science, or physical sciences.

Documentation and Support

RCG prepares:

Technical activity summaries

Project descriptions

Engineering/testing details

Qualified expense documentation

In the event of an inquiry, RCG supports the claim with the audit-ready documentation created during your project.

Common Misconceptions About the R&D Tax Credit

“We’re just machining to print.”

Not always. If you determine the method, tooling, or process, you may qualify.


“We do not develop new products.”

Improving an existing process or alloy composition qualifies when uncertainty exists.


“Failed tests don’t count.”

They are some of the strongest evidence of experimentation.


“Only large corporations qualify.”

Small and mid-sized Stark County manufacturers claim credits every year.

Why Canton Businesses Work With RCG

RCG combines tax knowledge, engineering expertise, and clear communication. We understand the metallurgical, machining, automotive, and industrial sectors that shape Canton’s economy, and we translate your technical work into compliant, audit-ready documentation.

Start Your R&D Tax Credit Review

If your Canton business is developing, testing, refining, or improving products or processes, you may qualify for the R&D Tax Credit.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do steel and alloy testing activities qualify?

    Yes. Heat-treating trials, alloy adjustments, and mechanical testing frequently qualify.

  • Does machining to print qualify?

    It can, if you determine tooling, programming, or process parameters.

  • Do automotive suppliers qualify?

    Yes. Prototyping, testing, and process optimization are typical R&D activities.

  • Do failed prototypes count?

    Yes. IRS rules reward the attempt to solve technical uncertainty.

  • What documentation is required?

    Engineering notes, testing data, project summaries, and expense records. RCG prepares the full audit-ready package.

  • What records are required?

    Engineering notes, testing logs, technical files, and qualified expense data. RCG prepares a complete package.

Our Serving Area

RCG assists clients in identifying and documenting available adoption assistance tax credits throughout the state of Ohio.