SR&ED for British Columbia Startups: Filing Guide for BC Tech Companies

British Columbia's tech and cleantech sectors generate a growing volume of SR&ED claims. BC companies file the federal T661 as their primary R&D tax incentive schedule; provincial corporate tax integration happens through your T2 and BC schedules rather than a standalone story separate from Ottawa.

Read our SR&ED in British Columbia guide for a structured overview.

Who files SR&ED in BC?

Typical BC claimants include:

• SaaS and platform companies in Vancouver
• Cleantech and hardware-software hybrids on the Island and interior
• Remote-first teams incorporated in BC with distributed engineering

Federal eligibility does not change by province — the five SR&ED questions still govern.

Software vs cleantech boundaries

BC startups often blend:

• Cloud software development (often eligible when uncertainty is technical)
• Field pilots and hardware integration (eligible when experimentation is documented)
• Routine deployment and customer onboarding (not eligible)

If your team ships firmware, sensors, or energy systems alongside code, see software in hardware projects for boundary guidance.

BC provincial context

While the headline benefit is federal, track BC corporate tax context with your accountant. Contractor-heavy West Coast teams should review the 80% subcontractor rule before filing.

Documentation that survives review

CRA reviewers expect contemporaneous evidence:

• Time allocation to experimental vs routine work
• Git history and design docs tied to hypotheses tested
• Contractor agreements with SR&ED-eligible scope

Timesheets matter more than most founders expect.

Choosing how to file

Compare DIY claim software vs a full-service consultant or evaluate what to look for in SR&ED software before you commit for the year.