The R&D Credit Sanity Check
Why “same as last year” thinking is breaking R&D credit studies and how SPRX replaces assumptions with precision.
SPRX Team
Nov 6, 2025
Most R&D credit studies start and end with one phrase: “Same as last year.” The process hasn’t changed in decades. Manual reviews, recycled reports, and assumptions that pass as analysis. It feels safe. But comfort comes at a cost: missed credits, higher audit risk, and capital left on the table.
At SPRX, we believe the system is broken. We’re rebuilding it with technology and expertise that deliver precision, transparency, and speed.
Why So Many Credits Go Wrong
After reviewing hundreds of studies across industries, we’ve seen the same failures repeat.
1. Confusion still rules.
Even experienced finance teams struggle to define qualified research. Only 3 in 10 eligible businesses claim the credit. Outdated interpretations and broad assumptions mean many innovations never get counted. Meanwhile, non-qualifying work sometimes slips through, creating audit risk.
2. “Same As Last Year” thinking.
Most firms rely on SALY. It’s efficient for billing hours, not for finding new opportunities. Regulations evolve, costs shift, and project scopes change. What qualified last year might not be qualified this year, and vice versa. If your provider hasn’t revisited your study approach, you’re likely leaving money unclaimed.
3. Pilot models misclassified or ignored.
The IRS has redefined pilot model costs several times in the past decade, yet many providers still apply outdated rules. That single oversight can erase six figures in potential credits.
The SPRX Sanity Check
We built SPRX to remove guesswork from R&D credit studies.
Instead of sampling data, we analyze everything: every project, activity, and W-2 record.
Data-driven benchmarking compares your qualified wages and supply costs to industry peers.
AI-powered analysis tests the strength of your documentation and evaluates how it would hold up in an IRS exam.
Expert validation confirms accuracy, defensibility, and compliance with the latest regulations.
The result is a credit built on precision, not assumption. Fast, transparent, and audit-ready from day one.
Rebuilding the System
The R&D credit was meant to reward innovation. Instead, it has become a maze of outdated practices and inefficiency.
SPRX is combining technology and human expertise to turn tax from a cost center into a source of growth capital.
It starts with a sanity check.
