VIEWpoints - Issue 2 - 2025 October 2025 | Page 16

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHT

New Bill Brings Major Incentives for Innovation: R & D Tax Credit Updates

The research and development( R & D) tax credit landscape has changed in two major ways as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act( OBBBA), giving businesses new tax planning options and opportunities for increased cash flow.

01

RESTORES FULL EXPENSING, ADDS AMORTIZATION OPTIONS

02

PROVIDES RETROACTIVE RELIEF
In recent years, many businesses investing in R & D
For expenses incurred during tax years 2022 – 2024,
have struggled with the burden of amortizing costs
larger taxpayers can choose to accelerate and
over a five-year period— a provision of the Tax
deduct unamortized domestic R & D costs in 2025,
Cuts and Jobs Act. Beginning in 2025, the OBBBA
or deduct them ratably over 2025 and 2026.
restores full expensing, meaning companies can
Smaller businesses( revenues less than $ 31 million
once again deduct domestic R & D costs in the year
based on average annual gross receipts for tax
incurred( foreign investment remains unchanged
years 2022 – 2024) have an unprecedented
at a 15-year amortization requirement). For those
opportunity to amend returns for those years,
investing in domestic R & D, that can put significant
opening up the potential for significant refunds
dollars back into the business in the near term.
for costs capitalized under the old tax bill.
Returns must be amended by July 4, 2026, to
take advantage of these retroactive benefits.
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