R&D Credit and Section 174 (CPE)

by | May 13, 2025 | Events, Main Tax Min, Tax Minimization, Tax News | 0 comments

Join Mark Dunning for a half-day course where you’ll learn how to define qualified research, identify the details of credit calculations, and discover the best practices for supporting documentation. The course will explore the §174 capitalization requirements and their impact, with the latest updates on Congressional action and IRS trends and concerns. Two dates to choose from.

Online Only | 4.0 Credits | Two dates to choose from.

Thursday, October 23, 2025

8:30 am – 12:00 pm

Register

Thursday, November 20, 2025

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Register

Ready to unravel the mysteries of Research & Development (R&D) credits? Join R&D expert Mark Dunning, partner at TaxOps Minimization, for a deep dive into the complexities and recent updates of these lucrative credits. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your understanding or enhance your firm’s credit claims, this session covers everything from qualifying research to navigating the latest IRS trends.

Description

In this course, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of defining qualified research under R&D credit guidelines, learning what qualifies as research. You’ll delve into the intricate details of credit calculations, ensuring you know how to accurately compute the credit. Additionally, you’ll discover how to properly support and document your claims, making sure they stand up to scrutiny. The course will also cover §174 capitalization requirements, including preparing the necessary forms and understanding the latest IRS guidance. Stay informed about current IRS examination trends and concerns, and highlight the financial statement aspects of claiming the credit to ensure your firm’s compliance and optimization.

Learning Objective

After completing this course the participant will be able to:

  • Explain the background of the research and development credit and recent legislation.
  • Discuss the new §174 capitalization requirements and §280C(c) impact.
  • Define qualified research under statutory and case law.
  • Distinguish and recognize the issues pertaining to internal-use software.
  • Calculate regular and alternative simplified credit, including:
    • Base period;
    • Start-up company rules;
    • Acquisition and disposition application;
    • Controlled groups.
  • Explain the need for contemporaneous documentation.
  • Recognize the role of the Internal Revenue Service, including:
    • Issue management network/Tier I;
    • Examination trends;
    • Pre-filing agreements.
  • Describe financial statement benefit issues.

Instructors:

T. Mark Dunning, CPA
Partner
TaxOps Minimization

T. Mark Dunning, CPA, is the managing partner of TaxOps Minimization, where he leads an experienced team in implementing tax-saving projects. Previously he was responsible for the coordination, management, and execution of large research credit studies at EY, and he also has worked extensively with small and mid-size companies on their R&D issues. An accomplished negotiator with the IRS and state tax authorities, he managed four of the 23 IRS pre-filing agreement projects granted and closed in the research credit area by the IRS. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Brigham Young University and writes and speaks ­frequently about far-ranging business tax topics involving tax credits, deductions, and deferrals.

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