Administered by Provincial and territorial governments · Last verified: July 2026
Most provinces offer their own R&D tax credits on top of the federal SR&ED credit. Ontario, Quebec, BC, and Alberta all have programs that can significantly reduce the net cost of innovation.
You claim this on your tax return, so the money comes back as a lower tax bill or a refund after you file. If you missed it in a past year, you can often still recover it by adjusting a prior return.
Take the 3-minute quiz to find out, and see every other Canadian program you qualify for at the same time.
Check my eligibilityProvincial R&D Tax Credits is generally open to incorporated businesses, in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia, that carry out research and development. Confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying.
The estimated value is 3.5% to 30% of eligible R&D costs. The actual amount depends on your eligible costs, the program's budget, and approval.
SR&ED has a hard filing window of about 18 months after your fiscal year-end. Within it you can still file or amend a claim; after it, the claim is lost. Confirm your dates with your accountant.
1. Document R&D activities throughout the year 2. Work with a tax consultant familiar with provincial credits 3. File provincial schedules with your corporate return 4. Stack with federal credits where applicable
Annual: file with corporate return.