Client Login Are you developing or improving a product, process, formula, or software?
Claim R&D Tax Credits to Reduce Your Business Taxes
Tax Credits for Innovation, Product Development, & Research
You don’t have to send a rocket to Mars to qualify for the Research & Development tax credit. There are thousands of businesses that claim this credit annually whose innovations you’ve never heard of and thousands more who haven’t even reached the finish line. If you’re worried about even asking the question of whether your business qualifies…STOP IT! If you believe your business has (or is developing) a novel product, process, formula or software, it’s worth a chat.
Dark Horse Believes...
...determining if you should qualify should be easy
We can let you know in relatively short order whether your business qualifies in a judgment-free way that won’t leave you feeling embarrassed for asking.
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Is your work within one of the
Commonly Eligible Industries?
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Are you asking questions like “Can we develop it?” or “How do we develop it?
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Are you systematically evaluating one or more alternatives?
Dark Horse Believes...
...your R&D tax credit should be defensible
Dark Horse works with a team of R&D credit specialists who create a robust tax credit study that dots every “i” and crosses every “t” should the IRS ever want to take a closer look. The tax credit mills that crank out a high volume of credits care very little about whether the credit can be substantiated under audit because they’ll likely have wound down their business by the time they would have to face the music.
Dark Horse Believes...
...you should know which expenses qualify in real-time
It’s difficult to forecast or create budgets when you don’t know the tax impact of your budgeted spend. Dark Horse will help you identify which expenses qualify, and since we do your bookkeeping, we can create clear accounting that shows you the costs alongside the projected R&D tax credit amount.
Dark Horse Believes...
...missing out on the R&D tax credit is a shame.
If you wait too long to claim the R&D tax credit, you may not be able to claim it at all. The IRS limits the amount of time you have to amend prior year tax returns in order to claim the credit. So, if you’re waiting to claim the credit because you don’t think you can utilize it right now, we urge you to reconsider.
For most companies, the credit is worth 7-10% of qualified research expenditures. It’s a dollar-for-dollar credit against taxes owed, which can dramatically lower your effective tax rate. Plus, it can be carried back one tax year and carried forward for 20 years.
Depending on the particulars of your business and personal tax situation, the tax credit can be used to offset:
3 Steps to Claim Your R&D Credit
STEP ONE
We'll help you determine if your business qualifies for the Research & Development Tax Credit
STEP TWO
If you qualify, we’ll coordinate with our R&D credit team to collect all information needed to claim the credit
STEP THREE
We'll claim the credit on your behalf, ensuring the correct elections are made to maximize the credit
Without Dark Horse
In Leon Max v. Commissioner, the tax court ruled rather unfavorably to the taxpayer...
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Nearly $1MM in R&D tax credits disallowed.
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Taxpayer paid penalties and interest on the tax assessed, as well as the costs incurred to litigate.
Common solutions to common problems won't qualify. Competent professionals should have intervened on behalf of the taxpayer.
Your R&D Tax Credit Experts
Find Your Dark Horse CPA
When you work with Dark Horse, you're actually working with your very own Dark Horse CPA, instead of a rotating roster of staff like you get with the traditional CPA firm. Select a specialty below to get matched with the right CPA.
Nancy R.
I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.
Jude T.
After years of feeling underwhelmed by every tax professional I worked with, we finally found Chris Ries at Dark Horse. We did a wide search for a CPA who could handle both our business and personal needs. Chris stood out from the start. He's not just deeply knowledgeable about tax law - he's genuinely thoughtful and strategic in how he applies it to your specific situation. What truly sets Chris apart is how responsive and engaged he is throughout the entire year. Our strategy sessions allowed us to get ahead of issues long before tax season, which made the whole process significantly smoother and less stressful.
Kyle T.
With our prior accountant we didn't feel we were receiving adequate tax guidance and felt we were always paying more than our fair share of taxes. We have been very pleased with the service we have received with Adam Ripperdan. He has taken the time to review in detail our current situation and upcoming plans. With that information he has helped us create tax strategies for our businesses, investments, and personal taxes that not only help us save on taxes but also helps us plan for the future. I highly recommend Dark Horse CPAs.
David H.
Chris is exceptional. He is far more professional, clear in his communication, and knowledgeable than any CPA I’ve worked with. He has expertly managed both my personal and business tax needs and consistently goes above and beyond—helping me make informed, strategic decisions well in advance of future tax filings. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Johnny E.
Chris with Dark Horse is great! He provides so much information and helps me learn about my taxes, not just filing them. He is very passionate about his work and I appreciate the work he does for my company!
John T.
Provides great service. Very professional. Very responsive to questions and inquiries. Very punctual, I would highly recommend their services.
Nancy R.
I have used James Larsen as my CPA for many years and am confident in his work ethic and tax knowledge.
Jude T.
After years of feeling underwhelmed by every tax professional I worked with, we finally found Chris Ries at Dark Horse. We did a wide search for a CPA who could handle both our business and personal needs. Chris stood out from the start. He's not just deeply knowledgeable about tax law - he's genuinely thoughtful and strategic in how he applies it to your specific situation. What truly sets Chris apart is how responsive and engaged he is throughout the entire year. Our strategy sessions allowed us to get ahead of issues long before tax season, which made the whole process significantly smoother and less stressful.
Kyle T.
With our prior accountant we didn't feel we were receiving adequate tax guidance and felt we were always paying more than our fair share of taxes. We have been very pleased with the service we have received with Adam Ripperdan. He has taken the time to review in detail our current situation and upcoming plans. With that information he has helped us create tax strategies for our businesses, investments, and personal taxes that not only help us save on taxes but also helps us plan for the future. I highly recommend Dark Horse CPAs.
David H.
Chris is exceptional. He is far more professional, clear in his communication, and knowledgeable than any CPA I’ve worked with. He has expertly managed both my personal and business tax needs and consistently goes above and beyond—helping me make informed, strategic decisions well in advance of future tax filings. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Johnny E.
Chris with Dark Horse is great! He provides so much information and helps me learn about my taxes, not just filing them. He is very passionate about his work and I appreciate the work he does for my company!
John T.
Provides great service. Very professional. Very responsive to questions and inquiries. Very punctual, I would highly recommend their services.
