Tax Credit
Provincial
Active
Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, Innovation and Commercialization)
Government of Quebec
Maximum Credit
20-30% tax credit (CRIC)
Ongoing
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Tax Credit Offset
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Credit rate
30%
Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, Innovation and Commercialization) provides up to 20-30% tax credit (CRIC). Refundable tax credit for eligible R&D expenditures incurred in Quebec. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Refundable tax credit for eligible R&D expenditures incurred in Quebec.
Eligibility Requirements
- Corporation incorporated and filing taxes in Quebec (sole proprietors and partnerships ineligible)
- Has a permanent establishment in Quebec
- Conducting eligible scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) activities in Quebec
- R&D expenditures are Quebec-attributable
- Tax return filed within the prescribed deadline (18 months of fiscal year-end)
- Must be incorporated and filing Canadian corporate taxes
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- 20-30% tax credit (CRIC)
- Type
- Tax Credit
- Level
- Provincial
- Credit rate
- Up to 30% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Entitlement
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to claim
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipThe CRIC's 30% rate on the first $1M of eligible expenditures is significantly more valuable than most Quebec companies realize — combined with federal SR&ED at 35%, a qualifying CCPC can recover 55-65% of the first million in R&D wages and capital as cash refunds.
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Rejection Pitfalls 9
- Work characterized as routine engineering, product improvement, or standard practice — must demonstrate genuine technological uncertainty
+8 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 9 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to claim Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, In...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 10-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 7-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what the program administrators check
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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6 steps
10 docs
Application Steps
1
Document eligible R&D and pre-commercialization activities throughout the year Maintain contemporaneous records for all SR&ED activities (meeting CRA's five-question framework) and for pre-commercialization activities (documenting the direct linkage to preceding Quebec R&D). Keep separate records for the two activity types as CRIC-specific regulations may require distinct documentation for the pre-commercialization component.
Required Documents 10
✓ Form RD-1029.8.CR-T — CRIC claim form, attached to the Quebec CO-17 return
✓ Quebec CO-17 Corporation Income Tax Return
Eligible Expenses 6
Ineligible Expenses 7
Claim timing
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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7 partners
Compatible Programs
Federal SR&ED (CRA)
NRC IRAP
Mitacs
NSERC Engage/Alliance
CDAE-IA (AI digital business development credit)
InvestQuébec programs
CanExport SMEs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Medium Risk
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How Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, In... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... | 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes — the... |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Minimum $10 million contribution | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, In...
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Can sole proprietors claim CRIC?
No — CRIC is for incorporated Quebec corporations only. Sole proprietors and partnerships are ineligible.
What's the realistic CRIC payout for a small tech company?
Small Quebec tech company (5-15 employees, ~$400K eligible R&D wages): $100K–$200K CRIC alone; $200K–$350K combined with federal SR&ED.
How long does it take to get CRIC approval?
CRIC is filed annually with the CO-17 Quebec tax return, within 18 months of fiscal year-end. No separate approval — it's processed with your tax return.
Why do most CRIC claims get rejected?
Common rejections: routine engineering work (not genuine R&D), pre-commercialization activities not directly tied to Quebec R&D, or double-claiming same expenses.
Can I stack CRIC with federal SR&ED?
Yes — CRIC (20–30%) + federal SR&ED (35% for CCPCs) = 55–65% combined refund on first $1M eligible R&D costs.
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Full Playbook: Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Research, In...
6 steps · 10 docs · reviewer insights