Want to know how quickly you can get your SR&ED claim processed? The CRA just updated their SR&ED Service Standards from April 1 to September 30, 2014 so you have a better understanding of how long your claim will take, on average.
The SR&ED claim service standards are:
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- Refundable claims (this is typically SME’s who fall under the CCPC category) – 120 calendar days from receipt of a complete claim
- Non-refundable claims (this is typically a large CCPC or non-CCPC) – 365 calendar days from receipt of a complete claim
- Claimant-requested adjustments to refundable claims – 240 calendar days from receipt of a complete claim
- Claimant-requested adjustments to non-refundable claims – 365 calendar days from receipt of a complete claim
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According to the CRA, they are committed to meeting these service standards 90% of the time. During the previous period, they met them 95% of the time, which is just slightly lower than than the previous period where they met their standards 96% of the time.
SR&ED Claims Success Rates and Average Processing Times
As Reported Between April 1 and September 30, 2014
We’ve highlighted the % and days changes from the previous period year so you can compare.
| Type of Claim | CRA Success Rate | Average Days within CRA’s control | Average Days outside CRA’s control | Total Average Time (days)* |
| Refundable claims 120 Days | 95% (-1%) | 44 (+4) | 29 (+1) | 73 (+5) |
| Refundable claimant-adjusted claims 240 Days | 93% (-3%) | 117 (+5) | 58 (+2) | 175 (+3) |
| Non-Refundable claims 365 Days | 96% (0%) | 94 (-3) | 80 (+1) | 174 (-1) |
| Non-Refundable claimant-adjusted claims 365 Days | 95% (+2%) | 162 (+6) | 91 (-29) | 253 (-23) |
| All claims | 95% (-1%) | 72 (+4) | 46 (-1) | 118 (+3) |
* The average days within CRA’s control and the average days outside CRA’s control may not add up to the Total Average time due to rounding.
If you’re considering filing a SR&ED claim but thought you’d just put it off and file within an 18-month timeframe, think again. If you’re a Canadian SME and you file within six months of your fiscal year end, you could potentially use your refundable claim money within 3 months or 73 days on average.
We don’t know about you, but we prefer to have money in the bank sooner rather than later!
