On March 17, 2023, US Senators Maggie Hassan and Todd Young reintroduced their American Innovation and Jobs Act. This bi-partisan legislation promotes innovation by encouraging new and established businesses to invest in scientific research and development (R&D) of new technologies.

In the past, businesses could immediately deduct the full value of their R&D investments when they file taxes each year. However, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 required companies to spread the deduction over a 5-year period, starting in 2022. This was largely seen as a retrograde tax policy that created cash-flow problems and substantially higher tax bills.

The proposed American Innovation and Jobs Act would:

• Ensure that companies can fully deduct R&D expenses each year
• Immediately double the cap on the refundable R&D tax credit from $250,000 to $500,000, and ultimately raise it to $750,000 over ten years
• Expand the definition of a qualified startup company from a company with no revenue in the prior 5 years to a company with no revenue in excess of $25,000 for the prior 8 years
• Increase the eligibility threshold for startups from $5 million to $15 million
• Expand the credit for startups that covers R&D from 14% to 20%

The American Innovation and Jobs Act was originally introduced by Senator Young in 2021 and 2022, and now includes co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle.

If you have questions about how the proposed American Innovation and Jobs Act would impact your business, leave a comment below or feel free to contact me directly. I’m happy to help!