Lake County R&D Tax Advisors

R&D Tax Credit Support for Lake County Businesses

Lake County includes a broad mix of industrial manufacturers, plastics and polymer processors, coating and chemical formulators, horticulture and greenhouse operations, medical component producers, electronics assemblers, and software development teams. Many of these organizations perform technical work such as testing materials, refining processes, evaluating prototypes, adjusting environmental controls, or developing internal-use software. When documented correctly, these efforts may qualify for the federal R&D Tax Credit.


RCG has completed more than 25,000 R&D tax credit studies and identified more than $750 million in tax savings. Our engineers, CPAs, and technical analysts focus exclusively on R&D credit services, providing guidance and audit-ready documentation for companies throughout Lake County.

Understanding the R&D Tax Credit

The R&D Tax Credit applies to companies working to improve or develop products, materials, processes, environmental controls, horticulture methods, or software. Projects may qualify when they involve:

Experimentation to resolve technical uncertainty

Prototype development or iterative design

Material, formulation, or process testing

Engineering analysis or simulation

Software development based on computer science principles

Lake County businesses frequently perform these kinds of activities across manufacturing, materials testing, horticulture processes, and digital system development.

How the R&D Credit Supports Lake County Operations

Qualified research expenses reduce federal tax liability and may support reinvestment in:

Engineering and technical personnel

Material testing and formulation refinement

Prototype development and mechanical evaluation

Equipment improvements and automation updates

Software development and workflow enhancements

Environmental tuning and process optimization for horticulture operations

Eligible companies may also review open tax years. Qualifying startups may apply the credit toward the employer portion of payroll taxes.

Common R&D Activity Found in Lake County

RCG frequently documents qualifying activity such as:

Testing plastics, polymers, or material blends

Refining coating performance, adhesion, or durability

Improving machining processes or tolerances

Designing and refining components for medical or technical products

Enhancing workflow reliability in electronics or sensor assemblies

Adjusting environmental controls or substrate blends in horticulture operations

Developing or refining custom software or integrations

Running structured experiments to validate improvements

These activities reflect engineering-driven problem-solving and iterative development.

Sectors That Qualify for R&D Tax Incentives

Plastics, Polymers & Material Processing

Testing formulations, refining molding conditions, evaluating strength or durability

Chemical Blending, Coatings & Surface Engineering

Adjusting chemical blends, testing coating adhesion, refining durability, evaluating surface behavior


Medical Components & Precision Assemblies

Prototype development, tolerance refinement, performance testing, structural evaluation

Metal Fabrication & Machining

Improving machining steps, refining welds, evaluating structural performance, testing component behavior


Electronics, Sensors & Light Assembly

Evaluating component reliability, refining assembly methods, testing integrated system behavior


Automation, Robotics & Controls
Updating control logic, improving workflows, integrating system components

Software Development & Digital Systems

Enhancing features, refining architecture, improving integrations, developing internal-use applications


Agriculture & Horticulture Process Development

Adjusting growing conditions, refining environmental controls, evaluating substrate blends, improving consistency or yield through structured testing

Who Qualifies for the R&D Tax Credit

Lake County companies may qualify when they:

Design, refine, or test prototypes

Test materials, coatings, blends, or technical processes

Improve machining, molding, or automation workflows

Evaluate horticulture methods or environmental conditions

Develop or refine software tools or architecture

Conduct structured experimentation to resolve technical uncertainty

Analyze alternative methods or design variations

Eligibility is based on the technical process, not the size or industry of the business.

Steps to Claim Your R&D Tax Credit

  • 1. Identify qualifying activity

    RCG works with engineering, materials, horticulture, electronics, automation, and software teams to identify where experimentation occurs.

  • 2. Gather documentation

    We collect design notes, testing logs, formulation records, environmental testing data, prototype results, development logs, and payroll details.

  • 3. Prepare project narratives

    RCG documents uncertainty, experimentation, objectives, findings, and engineering reasoning.

  • 4. Evaluate qualified research expenses

    We review eligible wages, materials, supplies, and contractor activity related to qualified projects.

  • 5. Deliver an audit-ready package

    Your CPA receives IRS forms and all supporting technical documentation.

  • 6. Provide support if questions arise

    RCG communicates with taxing authorities using the documentation prepared during your study.

IRS Requirements: The Four-Part Test

Permitted Purpose: Work must aim to improve performance, reliability, function, or quality.

Elimination of Uncertainty: Teams must address uncertainty involving method, design, or capability.

Process of Experimentation: Projects must involve testing, prototyping, simulation, or structured evaluation.

Technological in Nature: Efforts must rely on engineering, chemistry, computer science, physical sciences, or biological sciences.

Documentation and Support for Lake County Businesses

RCG prepares engineering summaries, testing notes, horticulture process evaluations, formulation documentation, prototype reports, wage analyses, and cost schedules that clearly connect activities to qualified research expenses.

How RCG Works With Your Lake County Team

RCG begins by reviewing your operations to identify where iterative development or experimentation occurs. We interview engineering, materials, horticulture, automation, software, and production personnel to gather technical detail. All findings are assembled into a complete audit-ready package for your CPA.

Common Misconceptions About the R&D Tax Credit

Many companies assume their work is too routine to qualify. In reality, qualifying activity often occurs during material testing, horticulture process refinement, automation work, mechanical evaluation, software development, and equipment improvements. Eligibility depends on the technical method, not the industry category.

Why Lake County Companies Work With RCG

RCG specializes in documenting engineering, materials, horticulture, coatings, manufacturing, automation, and software development activities. Our technical and tax expertise helps Lake County businesses claim eligible R&D activity confidently and in compliance with IRS standards.

Start Your R&D Tax Credit Review

If your Lake County business develops, tests, refines, or improves processes, materials, horticulture methods, automation systems, or software, the R&D Tax Credit may apply.

Frequently Asked Questions for Lake County Businesses

  • Do Lake County manufacturers qualify for the R&D Tax Credit?

    Many qualify when they refine processes, test materials, evaluate prototypes, or improve equipment reliability.

  • Can horticulture-related operations qualify?

    Yes. Adjusting growing conditions, refining environmental controls, or evaluating substrate blends may qualify when experimentation is involved.

  • Does plastics or polymer work qualify?

    It may when teams test formulations, refine processing parameters, or evaluate durability.

  • Do Lake County software groups qualify for R&D incentives?

    Yes. Developing features, improving architecture, refining integrations, or addressing technical uncertainty may qualify.

  • Can Lake County startups apply the R&D credit toward payroll taxes?

    Yes. Eligible startups may apply the credit to the employer portion of payroll taxes.

  • What documentation supports a strong R&D claim?

    Testing logs, formulation notes, environmental evaluations, prototype data, engineering documentation, development histories, and payroll information support audit readiness.

Our Serving Area

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