Research credit specialists who build claims around the evidence an examiner will ask for
creditARMOR exists because too many research credit claims are calculated well and documented badly. We treat those as one job, not two.
Who we are
creditARMOR is a free R&D tax credit mock audit tool for companies across the United States. creditARMOR and TaxTrex are products of Swanson Reed. creditarmor.ai is operated by RandD Tax Credit Solutions LLC. Through separate engagements, Swanson Reed helps businesses identify qualifying research, calculate federal and state credits, build supporting documentation as work happens, and respond to questions from tax authorities.
creditARMOR was built around a practical observation: research credit claims need a clear connection between the technical work performed and the expenses claimed. Reconstructing that connection years later can be difficult, particularly when project records are incomplete or the people involved have moved on.
Our approach is to make documentation part of the research and engineering workflow. We use automation to organize information and identify inconsistencies, while keeping professional judgments with specialists.
Our relationship with Swanson Reed
creditARMOR and TaxTrex are products of Swanson Reed, a specialist tax advisory practice focused on research and development incentives. Swanson Reed works with businesses across multiple jurisdictions, bringing a focused approach to the technical and documentation requirements of research incentives.
That relationship gives creditARMOR users access to specialists for technical review, documentation, and assistance with existing examinations. If needed, Swanson Reed can assist you with representation before the IRS. Clients benefit from technology-supported analysis alongside professional evaluation of the facts and applicable requirements.
The services, responsibilities, and provider for each engagement are identified in its written terms. Using creditARMOR does not automatically include every service offered by Swanson Reed.
Visit Swanson Reed (opens in a new tab)How we work
Step 1: Start with scoping
Swanson Reed engagements start with a free initial scoping conversation based on the information available. If the work appears not to qualify, Swanson Reed explains that before proposing a paid engagement.
Step 2: Connect projects to expenses
Automated analysis helps organize payroll, ledger, and engineering records into an initial map of projects and expenses. Specialists evaluate candidate projects against the federal four-part test and applicable state rules, and document the basis for their conclusions.
Step 3: Build the supporting record
We develop the claim analysis and supporting documentation together: what your business sought to develop, the technical uncertainties it faced, the experimentation performed, and how the claimed expenses connect to that work.
Step 4: Keep judgment with people
Automation helps manage large volumes of information. It does not replace professional judgment. AI can make mistakes or overlook relevant facts, so its output must be evaluated before it is relied upon or submitted to a tax authority.
We do not price documentation or examination support work as a percentage of an unverified credit estimate. Swanson Reed explains the scope and pricing of its paid services before work begins. The creditARMOR mock audit is free.
What guides the work
- Specialists, not generalistsResearch credits are all we do. That focus helps our reviews identify qualifying work and the points where claims are most often challenged.
- Evidence before estimatesWe will tell you when a project does not qualify. A smaller claim that survives examination is worth more than a large one that does not.
- Documentation as a systemWith Swanson Reed's Documentation Builder, records are captured continuously from the tools your teams already use, so the annual claim is assembly rather than reconstruction.
- Examination in mind from the startClaims are prepared by specialists with examination experience, so the file is built from the start around the evidence an examiner will ask for. If needed, Swanson Reed can assist you with representation before the IRS.
What we help businesses do
- Review potential R&D tax credit eligibilitythrough AI-assisted analysis and specialist evaluation.
- Organize supporting documentationthat connects research activities with claimed expenses.
- Review claims for potential compliance issuesand identify questions requiring further investigation.
- Prepare records for potential examination questions.
- Obtain assistance with an existing R&D tax credit examinationfrom Swanson Reed under a separate written engagement.
Who we serve
Software and platform businesses, manufacturers, engineering and industrial design firms, life sciences and diagnostics companies, food and beverage producers, agricultural technology businesses, and the CPA firms that advise them.
Explore our servicesHelp with an existing examination
creditARMOR is a free service. Passing this mock audit does not guarantee that your claim will pass an IRS examination. If needed, Swanson Reed can assist you with representation before the IRS.
Our commitment to clear advice
We explain what the available evidence supports, where information is missing, and which issues require further investigation. When a position is unsupported, our role is to identify the problem and discuss appropriate next steps.
Your business remains responsible for providing accurate and complete information and meeting its tax obligations. No review, calculation, or documentation process can guarantee a tax outcome.
IRS guidance on research credit recordkeeping (opens in a new tab)This page provides general information only and is not tax or legal advice. Preliminary estimates and mock audit results do not guarantee eligibility, a particular credit amount, or an audit outcome. creditARMOR is an independent simulation. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Internal Revenue Service or any state tax agency. Swanson Reed is not endorsed by the IRS or any state tax authority. Services are subject to applicable law, professional requirements, and the written engagement.
Run a free R&D tax credit mock audit.
You can also book a free thirty-minute scoping call with a specialist. Upload your files and see how your evidence would hold up to the questions an IRS examiner is likely to ask. A higher score means a more audit-ready claim.
creditARMOR is a free service. Passing this mock audit does not guarantee that your claim will pass an IRS examination. Book a call or email hello@creditarmor.ai for a login.