Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of Precision Alloy Solutions

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Precision Alloy Solutions is a specialized manufacturing firm that develops high-performance metal components and custom alloys for the energy and aerospace sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors to accomplish?

• We were investing heavily in developing a new heat-treatment process for aerospace alloys. We hired Swanson Reed to help us navigate the complex R&D tax incentive landscape and ensure that our technical documentation met the rigorous standards required to claim tax credits.

SOLUTION

How did you find Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

Referral

Why did you select Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Swanson Reed conducted a detailed review of our manufacturing logs and technical milestones. They interviewed our lead engineers to identify eligible R&D activities under the tax code. They then prepared the technical narrative reports and calculated the qualified research expenses (QREs), managing the entire claim submission process from start to finish.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The result was a significant tax offset that directly boosted our annual cash flow. They identified nearly 15% more eligible expenditure than our internal accountants had originally estimated. The technical report was comprehensive and audit-proof, giving us complete confidence in our filing.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their team was very organized and followed a strict timeline. They understood our manufacturing jargon, which made communication very efficient. Every deliverable was submitted on time, and they were always proactive in asking for the specific data they needed to strengthen our claim.

What was your primary form of communication with Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their team was very organized and followed a strict timeline. They understood our manufacturing jargon, which made communication very efficient. Every deliverable was submitted on time, and they were always proactive in asking for the specific data they needed to strengthen our claim.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors could have done differently?

We had a very positive experience. Providing a slightly more streamlined digital document portal could enhance the initial data collection phase, but overall, their service was top-notch.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of Precision Automate

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Precision Automate specializes in designing custom robotic assembly lines and automated material handling systems for the automotive and aerospace industries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors to accomplish?

• We develop complex, high-risk automation prototypes that involve significant technical trial and error. We hired Swanson Reed to lead a formal R&D tax credit study. Our goal was to identify which phases of our robotic prototyping—specifically our work on sensor integration and low-latency motor controls qualified for federal and state tax incentives.

SOLUTION

How did you find Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

Referral

Why did you select Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Swanson Reed managed the entire lifecycle of our R&D claim. They began by auditing our shop-floor technical logs and interviewing our lead mechanical engineers to isolate 'qualified research activities.' They utilized their TaxTrex platform to streamline our data collection, ensuring that time spent on failed prototypes was also captured. Finally, their team calculated the QREs (Qualified Research Expenses) and drafted a robust technical report that underwent their signature Six-Eye Review to ensure audit protection.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Successfully claimed a six-figure tax credit that significantly offset our prototype development costs."
"Increased our R&D recovery by 22% compared to our previous generalist accountant's estimates."
"Established a structured, repeatable process for tracking engineering hours that meets all IRS compliance standards."
"The final report was delivered two weeks before the tax filing deadline, allowing for a thorough internal review.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project management at Swanson Reed was highly structured and professional. They operated with a clear timeline that respected our busy manufacturing schedule.

Timeliness: They were exceptionally punctual. Our R&D tax claim was finalized and ready for submission nearly two weeks before the deadline. They managed to hit every milestone—from the initial technical walkthrough to the final financial audit—without a single delay.

Responsiveness: Their communication was excellent. Whenever our engineering team had a question about how to categorize a specific robotic prototype or custom PLC logic under the R&D criteria, Swanson Reed’s specialists provided clear, technical answers within a few hours.

Approach: What I appreciated most was their ability to handle the heavy lifting. They didn't just dump a list of requirements on us; they actively participated in our shop-floor reviews to extract the necessary data, making the process low-friction and highly efficient for my operations team.

What was your primary form of communication with Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The most impressive aspect of Swanson Reed is their deep industry-specific technical knowledge. Unlike traditional accounting firms that often struggle to grasp the complexities of mechanical engineering and robotics, their team actually speaks our language. They understood the nuances of our PLC programming and custom robotic integration immediately.

Their Six-Eye Review process is truly unique and provided our board with the peace of mind that our claim was technically sound and audit-ready. Additionally, their creditARMOR assurance is a standout feature in the industry it shows they are willing to stand behind their work. They don’t just provide a service; they provide a defensible, high-quality technical narrative that accurately reflects our innovation.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors could have done differently?

Our experience with Swanson Reed was overwhelmingly positive and their technical expertise is clear. If I had to suggest one minor area for improvement, it would be the initial onboarding documentation. For a fast-moving manufacturing firm, the initial list of data requirements can feel a bit extensive. A more automated way to pull data from industrial project management tools would be a great future enhancement. That said, their consultants were incredibly helpful in walking us through the process, so it was a very minor hurdle in an otherwise flawless engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder & CTO of FinTech Edge

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

FinTech Edge is a financial technology startup that develops highly secure, encrypted payment gateways and cross-border transaction infrastructures for modern digital businesses.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors to accomplish?

• We are a startup building encrypted payment gateways. Because we spend a lot on solving complex security and latency issues, we knew we were eligible for R&D tax credits but didn't know how to document them properly. We hired Swanson Reed to help us identify these R&D activities, calculate our spend, and file a claim that would help us recoup some of our development costs to reinvest in our product.

SOLUTION

How did you find Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

Referral

Why did you select Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Swanson Reed handled the entire R&D study. First, their technical specialists met with our developers to review our sprints and 'uncertainties' in our encryption algorithms. They then quantified our costs, including employee salaries and cloud-server testing expenses. They used their TaxTrex portal to collect our data securely and drafted the final technical narrative for our tax submission. They also provided a risk assessment to ensure our claim was conservative and defensible.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Successfully secured a $38,000 tax credit for our first year of filing."
"Discovered 15% more eligible projects that our general accountant had missed."
"Saved our engineering team roughly 12 hours of manual documentation work through their streamlined process."
"Provided us with a clear roadmap for tracking R&D expenses in real-time for the next year.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Swanson Reed’s project management was streamlined and perfectly suited for a fast-paced startup environment. They followed a clear, phase-based roadmap that ensured we were never overwhelmed with data requests.

Timeliness: They were incredibly punctual, meeting all our internal milestones and ensuring the final report was ready weeks before our tax filing deadline.

Responsiveness: Their team was highly accessible. Whenever we needed clarification on how a specific encryption project fit into the R&D criteria, they responded almost instantly with clear, technical explanations.

Adaptability: They integrated seamlessly with our existing workflows. Instead of demanding complex documentation, they adapted to our sprint logs and technical specs, making the entire process efficient and low-friction for our engineering team.

What was your primary form of communication with Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The most impressive thing about Swanson Reed is their genuine technical literacy. As a CTO, I’ve dealt with many accountants who struggle to grasp the complexities of 'high-level encryption' or 'low-latency infrastructures,' but the team at Swanson Reed actually understood the engineering behind our product.

Their 'Six-Eye Review' process is also incredibly unique—it gave our board a high level of confidence knowing that our claim was scrutinized by technical, scientific, and financial experts before submission. They don’t just fill out tax forms; they act as a sophisticated bridge between our dev team and the tax authorities, ensuring that our innovation is translated into the right financial language.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors could have done differently?

The overall experience was excellent, and the financial results exceeded our initial expectations. If I had to suggest one minor area for improvement, it would be the initial data collection portal's user interface. While highly secure and functional, a more modern, intuitive dashboard for uploading multi-format technical logs would enhance the user experience for our engineering leads even further. However, whenever we had a question, their support team was quick to step in and assist, so it never delayed our progress.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the R&D tax credit claim preparation of David LTD

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company helps businesses grow by providing expert guidance, innovative solutions, and reliable support tailored to their unique needs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors to accomplish?

• Identify and maximize eligible R&D tax credit claims to reduce overall tax liability.
• Ensure compliance with all R&D tax legislation and documentation requirements.
• Implement a streamlined process for tracking and recording R&D activities for future claims.

SOLUTION

How did you find Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors over others?

• Close to my geographic location
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Form 6765 final letter.   Minnesota R&D tax credit claim

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Reciept of tax credits

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes, they worked over the weekend to meet my September 15 tax deadline

What was your primary form of communication with Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors took my call at 11 p.m.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Swanson Reed | Specialist R&D Tax Advisors could have done differently?

Not that I can think of