Strata Partners with CSIA to Help Control Systems Integrators Claim R&D Credits That Hold Up

TL;DR

• Strata has partnered with the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) to help member firms understand and pursue the federal R&D tax credit.
• The theme of our recent CSIA session was simple: a defensible claim that is scoped accurately matters more than the biggest headline number, because an overstated claim concentrates risk on you.
• CSIA members can start with a no-cost review of their integration work, with documentation built to support the claim and coordinated with your existing CPA.

A partnership built around getting it right

We are glad to share that Strata R&D Tax Group has partnered with the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), and recently presented a session for its members on the federal R&D tax credit. CSIA is a global professional association for control systems integrators, known for a culture of openness, peer learning, and vetted best practices across the system integration industry. That focus on doing the work well is exactly why the partnership fits.

Control systems integrators solve genuinely hard technical problems, often on systems that have never been assembled in quite the same way before. A lot of that work can be relevant to the R&D tax credit, yet many firms either overlook it or get pulled toward providers who lead with an eye-catching number. We wanted to bring CSIA members a different conversation.

Defensible beats biggest

The market is crowded with firms racing to put the largest possible figure on your return. The problem is that an overstated or thinly supported R&D claim does not reduce your risk. It concentrates it, and the exposure lands on you, not on the firm that filed it.

A claim built on accurate scoping and solid documentation is different. It captures what your work genuinely earns and it stands up if it is ever examined. That is where Strata's expertise lives, and it is what we mean by "R&D credits, done right." It was also the heart of what we shared with CSIA members.

Where R&D can show up in control systems integration

The federal credit comes from Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code and turns on a four-part test rather than on whether a company has a formal lab. For control systems integrators, qualifying activity often appears in work such as the following, depending on the specific facts and documentation:

• Custom PLC and SCADA programming developed for a specific system or process.
• HMI and operator-interface development where the right approach was not predetermined.
• Control panel design and fabrication that required engineering iteration.
• System architecture and integration across hardware or platforms not combined before.
• Commissioning, tuning, and troubleshooting that resolved genuine technical uncertainty.

Not everything qualifies. Routine installation, standard configuration that follows established manuals, and purely cosmetic choices generally do not involve the technical uncertainty the credit is built around. Whether a given activity qualifies depends on the specific activities, expenses, and records, which is exactly what a proper review is for.

What the partnership offers CSIA members

The path is meant to be low risk. It starts with a no-cost review, where we look at your integration work and confirm what genuinely qualifies, with no cost and no obligation. From there, Strata scopes the credit to real activities and real expenses rather than a headline number, builds the substantiation that supports the claim if it is ever examined, and coordinates directly with your CPA so the documentation is audit-ready. Engagements often move within a four to eight week window, depending on scope and the records available.

FAQ

What does the CSIA partnership mean for members? It means a clear, no-pressure way to find out whether your firm's work may qualify for the federal R&D tax credit, from a firm that prioritizes defensible claims over inflated numbers. The initial review is offered at no cost.

Our CPA already files our taxes. Does this replace them? No. Strata works alongside your existing CPA. Many accountants focus on compliance and filing rather than specialized credit studies, which often require detailed technical substantiation. We deliver documentation and coordinate directly with your CPA.

Is there a guarantee on how much we will receive? No. Whether credits are available, and in what amount, depends on your specific activities, expenses, documentation, and tax situation, and cannot be guaranteed in advance. The value of the approach is a claim that is accurate and supportable.

How do we get started? Request a no-cost review and our team will reach out. There is no obligation to proceed.

Ready to find out what your work is worth?

If your firm regularly engineers around technical problems, the conversation is worth having. CSIA members can request a no-cost review at stratataxgroup.com/csia-webinar-2026, or reach us any time at stratataxgroup.com/contact. R&D credits, done right.

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult a qualified tax professional regarding your specific circumstances.