#78 – From the Trenches: The R&D Tax Credit Most Business Owners Miss (Val Majewski – American Incentive Advisors)

Most business owners assume the R&D tax credit is only for labs, scientists, or massive corporations. In reality, many MSPs and service-based businesses qualify every year without realizing it. In this episode of the BMK Vision Podcast, Josh Peterson sits down with Val Majewski, Partner at American Incentive Advisors, to break down what the R&D tax credit really is, why most companies self-censor themselves out of qualifying, and how innovation in everyday business processes can translate into real tax savings. Val explains how MSPs, IT firms, and professional services businesses often meet the IRS requirements through process improvement, software development, automation, and service innovation. The conversation also covers recent tax law changes that reopened credits for 2022, 2023, and 2024, common audit misconceptions, and how proper documentation protects business owners. This episode is especially relevant for MSP owners and leaders investing time and money into improving operations and wondering how innovation can reduce tax liability. ⸻ 🎙 What We Cover in This Episode • What actually qualifies as R&D for service businesses • Why MSPs frequently miss the R&D tax credit • The IRS four-part test for R&D qualification • Retroactive credits for tax years 2022–2024 • Why most CPAs do not proactively bring this up • Audit fears versus real-world risk • Real recovery ranges from small businesses to large firms • How discipline from professional sports applies to business success ⸻ 👤 Guest Links Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmajewski/ Company Website: https://thinkabx.com ⸻ 🚀 Subscribe & Follow BMK Vision YouTube (Video Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@beringmckinleyvision?sub_confirmation=1 Learn More About the Vision Platform: https://beringmckinley.com/vision Apply to Be a Guest: https://beringmckinley.com/blog#speaker-form