Find answers to common questions about R&D Tax Credits,
Section 179D, and Inflation Reduction Act incentives.
The Federal R&D Tax Credit is a $1 for $1 credit against taxes owed (or paid) each tax year.
A common misconception is that eligible R&D Credit activities are limited to work performed in a white lab coat. The IRS definition is much broader and encompasses all companies that satisfy the four part test.
The activities do not need to be new to the world, just new to your company.
A completed Form 6765 is required for each timely filed tax year. For amended tax years, a detailed submission is required in addition to Form 6765.
Generally, there is a three year statute of limitations for federal filed tax returns. In addition to the current tax year, companies can go back up to three prior years to claim any missed R&D Tax Credits.
In addition to the Federal R&D Credit, over 35 states offer a tax credit for qualified research activities. Some states offer refundable tax credits for companies who are not yet profitable.
The Federal R&D Tax Credit can be carried forward for up to 20 years, enabling businesses flexibility to fully monetize their R&D Tax Credits.
The Federal R&D Tax Credit now enables eligible small businesses that meet certain criteria to utilize their R&D credit towards quarterly payroll taxes.
New York State has introduced a Life Science Tax Credit program. The credit is fully refundable based on qualified research expenses incurred in New York. Credits of up to 20% are available to companies in target life science sectors.
Commercial building owners can take the 179D tax deduction for their energy efficiency projects dating back to 2006. For government, non-profit, and public buildings, the Section 179D deduction can be claimed by the primary designers. Designers can typically claim Section 179D deductions for projects completed in the preceding three years.
Each commercial building has a maximum amount per square footage deduction limit for the 3 tax years immediately preceding the current tax year. For a building where the deduction is appropriately allowable to a designer, the building's maximum amount for square footage limit applies to the 4-tax-year period immediately preceding the current tax year.
The version of ASHRAE 90.1 used as a baseline comparison is dependent on the year the building energy project is placed in service:
In addition to current and future building energy projects, commercial building owners can take the 179D deduction for building energy projects completed since 1/1/2006. Commercial building owners do not need to amend previously filed tax returns in order to claim prior year projects.
In addition to current and future building energy projects, designers can typically take 179D for projects completed in the previous three tax years. Designers will need to amend previously filed tax returns in order to claim prior year projects.
All taxpayers claiming a Section 179D deduction must file Form 7205 with the tax return submission. Additional documentation is required when taxpayers claim a deduction for projects placed in service in prior tax years.
Prevailing Wage Requirements:
Apprenticeship Requirements:
The Tax Credit takes the eligible project cost and multiplies it by a tax credit percentage.
The Base Credit is 6%.
The 5x bonus can turn 6% to 30%.
If the project is located in an Energy Community you can add an additional 10%.
If the project meets the Domestic Content requirements another 10% is possible.
Low Income Bonus can add 10% or 20% to the overall credit.
Solar Technologies, Small Wind, Ground Source Heat Pump, Standalone Energy Storage Systems, Thermal Energy Storage Systems, Fuel Cell, Geothermal Electricity, Waste Energy Recovery Electricity, Interconnection Property,
These are two separate requirements that allow receipt of the 5x bonus if your project is larger than 1 MW.
Prevailing Wage - requires that all laborers on eligible projects must be paid at least the Davis Bacon Wage and Fringe for the specific trade and location.
Apprenticeship
1. 15% of total labor hours comes from apprentices
2. For every Contractor and Sub-contractor that has four or laborers over the course of the project at least 1 of them needs to be an apprentice
3. You can NOT have too many apprentices at once you must stay below the maximum Apprentice to Journey worker ratio daily, governed by the registered apprenticeship program and/or state and
4. All apprentices must come from a Registered Apprenticeship program.
The credits can be carried back 1 year and carried forward 20 years.
Section 6418 allows these tax credits to be transferred. The eligible project must have a pre-filing registration number in order to facilitate a transfer.
A pre-filing is required after the project is placed in service. You are pre-registering for the credit, submitting to IRS, that you are going to be taking a credit for a particular project. It is technically pre-registering for the credit, not the project.
There are two methods to determining the start of construction:
5% Safe Harbor Option - The start of construction is once you have incurred more than 5% of the eligible project cost.
Physical Work Test Option - Physical work of a significant nature has been completed at the job site or if custom (not off the shelf) equipment is being manufactured, the start of that manufacturing.
There is no cap or limit for most of the bonuses under Section 48
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thousands of dollars with our decades of tax incentive expertise. The pudding is on us.
Charles R. Goulding is an Attorney/CPA, President and founder of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers, two divisions of a national tax consulting firm. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Cooper Industries Inc. (now Eaton) in Houston, Texas. Before joining Cooper, Mr. Goulding was a vice president of Dover Corporation, an eight billion dollar sales NYSE diversified industrial manufacturer. At both companies, Mr. Goulding created and administered company-wide R&D Tax Credit programs. These programs encompassed both domestic and international business operations and have helped generate over $600 million in tax savings for their respective firms. Mr. Goulding has been at the forefront of R&D Tax Credit work since the credit’s inception in 1981.
Mr. Goulding has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School (Juris Doctor) and an MBA from Adelphi University. Mr. Goulding also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. His undergraduate degree is from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was a double major in Political Science and Economics. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Goulding is a former President of the New York Chapter of the Tax Executives Institute and also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. He has served as the co-chairman of the Taxation of Mergers and Acquisition conferences in Chicago, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and Paris, France. He recently chaired New York’s Solar Investment Conference.
He has authored over 800 articles for numerous tax publications including International Business, International Tax Journal, Euromoney, Taxation for Accountants, The Practical Accountant, The CPA Journal, and Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Mr. Goulding successfully litigated the Dover Corporation case in U.S. Tax Court (the first check the box case) and the Pulsar International case on reasonable compensation. He is also the Mayor of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Charles R. Goulding is an Attorney/CPA, President and founder of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers, two divisions of a national tax consulting firm. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Cooper Industries Inc. (now Eaton) in Houston, Texas. Before joining Cooper, Mr. Goulding was a vice president of Dover Corporation, an eight billion dollar sales NYSE diversified industrial manufacturer. At both companies, Mr. Goulding created and administered company-wide R&D Tax Credit programs. These programs encompassed both domestic and international business operations and have helped generate over $600 million in tax savings for their respective firms. Mr. Goulding has been at the forefront of R&D Tax Credit work since the credit’s inception in 1981.
Mr. Goulding has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School (Juris Doctor) and an MBA from Adelphi University. Mr. Goulding also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. His undergraduate degree is from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was a double major in Political Science and Economics. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Goulding is a former President of the New York Chapter of the Tax Executives Institute and also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. He has served as the co-chairman of the Taxation of Mergers and Acquisition conferences in Chicago, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and Paris, France. He recently chaired New York’s Solar Investment Conference.
He has authored over 800 articles for numerous tax publications including International Business, International Tax Journal, Euromoney, Taxation for Accountants, The Practical Accountant, The CPA Journal, and Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Mr. Goulding successfully litigated the Dover Corporation case in U.S. Tax Court (the first check the box case) and the Pulsar International case on reasonable compensation. He is also the Mayor of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Jacob Goldman, LEED AP, is Vice President and Chief Engineer of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Since co-founding the Company in 2005, Mr. Goldman has helped secure over a billion dollars in tax deductions across 17,000+ projects. His expertise includes R&D Tax Credits and energy related incentives such as Section 179D and Investment Tax Credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Mr. Goldman is an award-winning speaker, distilling intricate tax codes into actionable strategies. He frequently presents at national conferences like AEE, IGSHPA, LightFair, and NFMT, as well as local chapters of USGBC, ASHRAE, IFMA, BOMA, and beyond. His most recent accolades include the 2023 AEE Northeast Regional Award for Energy Professional Development.
His thought leadership has played an integral role in advising the DOE, NEMA, and NRDC on Section 179D extensions. He has pioneered the firm’s national practice for IRA incentives, from universities leveraging solar tax credits to corporations optimizing energy efficiency deductions, Mr. Goldman’s expertise is at the cornerstone of sustainable tax strategy.
Mr. Goldman has authored over 150 articles in leading industry publications including Corporate Business Taxation Monthly, Building Operating Management, Thomson Reuters, Green Lodging News, and International Parking Institute.
With a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buffalo and an MBA from the University of Maine, Mr. Goldman brings a rare blend of technical mastery and financial acumen to the complex world of tax optimization.
Charles R. Goulding is an Attorney/CPA, President and founder of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers, two divisions of a national tax consulting firm. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Cooper Industries Inc. (now Eaton) in Houston, Texas. Before joining Cooper, Mr. Goulding was a vice president of Dover Corporation, an eight billion dollar sales NYSE diversified industrial manufacturer. At both companies, Mr. Goulding created and administered company-wide R&D Tax Credit programs. These programs encompassed both domestic and international business operations and have helped generate over $600 million in tax savings for their respective firms. Mr. Goulding has been at the forefront of R&D Tax Credit work since the credit’s inception in 1981.
Mr. Goulding has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School (Juris Doctor) and an MBA from Adelphi University. Mr. Goulding also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. His undergraduate degree is from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was a double major in Political Science and Economics. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Goulding is a former President of the New York Chapter of the Tax Executives Institute and also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. He has served as the co-chairman of the Taxation of Mergers and Acquisition conferences in Chicago, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and Paris, France. He recently chaired New York’s Solar Investment Conference.
He has authored over 800 articles for numerous tax publications including International Business, International Tax Journal, Euromoney, Taxation for Accountants, The Practical Accountant, The CPA Journal, and Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Mr. Goulding successfully litigated the Dover Corporation case in U.S. Tax Court (the first check the box case) and the Pulsar International case on reasonable compensation. He is also the Mayor of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Raymond Kumar is a CPA and Director with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He joined the firm in 2008 and brings with him Big4 accounting firm experience, where he helped secure specialty tax incentives for Fortune 500 automakers, defense contractors, and consumer goods manufacturers. His tax expertise includes Section 179D incentives and R&D Tax Credits which he has specialized in his entire professional career.
Mr. Kumar plays a key role in managing of the firm’s national Section 179D practice, working closely with clients and partners to identify and quantify tax savings. He is involved in every step of the process to ensure project success.
Mr. Kumar is a frequent author and presenter on tax incentives and has presented at the Human Centric Sustainability Event at Yankee Stadium, Energize Long Island conference, and the NYS Society of Professional Engineers Annual Conference. He has numerous published articles covering tax incentives, featured in Retrofit Magazine, Corporate Business Taxation Monthly, and FacilitiesNet.
Mr. Kumar holds a BBA in Accounting from Adelphi University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Mr. Kumar is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed to practice in New York.
Andrea Albanese is a Director with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2010 and has played a key role in establishing and growing the firm’s national R&D Tax Credit practice. She oversees R&D Tax Credits and client relationships across a variety of industries including software, manufacturing, distribution, architecture and engineering, food and beverage, and aerospace/defense.
Ms. Albanese specializes in helping clients and CPAs identify, quantify, and maximize R&D Tax Credit benefits. She has helped secure tax credits for businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, in both the public and private sectors. Her recent projects include a large e-commerce distributor, a London-based VR company, and a large manufacturer with multi-state operations. Her industry focus includes R&D Tax Credits for food and beverage production.
Her tax incentive expertise includes obtaining payroll R&D Tax Credits for start-ups as well helping clients obtain New York State refundable life science credits. She has numerous published articles covering tax incentives in leading tax publications such as Thomson Reuters and CCH’s Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Ms. Albanese holds a BS in Technology Studies from SUNY Farmingdale.
Lara Tomiko is a Senior Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2016 and has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries, including architecture/engineering, food and beverage, renewable energy, horticulture, and control systems engineering.
Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Ms. Tomiko has managed numerous IRA tax projects, securing tax credits for solar, battery, geothermal, EV, and EV charging station installations. She has secured dozens of Elective Pay Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives for K-12 schools, municipalities, non-profits, colleges/universities, as well as religious institutions. Ms. Tomiko also specializes in obtaining the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, helping clients maximize their benefits under the IRA.
Ms. Tomiko’s expertise also includes Section 179D deductions, helping leading energy service companies obtain tax incentives for energy efficient design.
Ms. Tomiko holds a BA in Sustainability Studies from Stony Brook University.
Ryan Donley is a Senior Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He has been with the firm since 2017, managing R&D Tax Credit Studies and partner relationships for a variety of industries including software, beer and wine, machine shops, construction, glass, and managed IT.
Mr. Donley manages R&D Tax Credits for various Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) including the New York City and New Jersey regions. His tax incentive expertise includes obtaining payroll R&D credits for start-up companies and the beer and wine industry, ranging from craft beverages to large scale producers. Mr. Donely has presented on the utilization of R&D tax incentives for start-up companies and most recently he presented at the Pennsylvania Brewing Symposium.
Mr. Donley holds a BS in Business Administration from SUNY Farmingdale.
Preeti Sulibhavi is a CPA with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She has been with the firm since 2018 and has handled R&D Tax Credits for companies in a wide range of industries including food and beverage, software, and life sciences. Ms. Sulibhavi has co-authored numerous articles on specialty tax incentives for publications such as Fabbaloo, a leading 3D printing blog.
In addition to business and personal income taxes, Ms. Sulibhavi handles IRS Form 990-T filings and related schedules for non-profit/government entities seeking to claim Elective Pay benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Ms. Sulibhavi is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. Ms. Sulibhavi holds a BA in Economics with a Minor in Biology from Wellesley College and an MBA in Accounting from Hofstra University, Zarb School of Business.
Peter Saenz is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He has been with the firm since 2015 and handles R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries, including dental/ medical, biotechnology, machine shops, construction, woodworking, and software design. He brings with him direct experience in robotic process automation, digital transformation, data analytics, and software development.
Mr. Saenz is pursuing his doctorate at Stony Brook University where he researches AI adoption. He holds an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University, along with an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Life Science Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He received his BS in Business Management from SUNY Farmingdale.
His past doctoral research focused on life sciences, specifically in spatial transcriptomics, diagnostics, and microfluidics. He has worked with numerous companies to secure biological innovation-based R&D Tax Credits. Additionally, he has experience in developing Large Language Models and enjoys working with AI clients to maximize their R&D Tax Credits.
Mr. Saenz has co-authored numerous articles on the R&D Tax Credit spanning technological innovation, business, and policy.
Mellissa McIntyre is a Senior Tax Analyst and Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She has been with the firm since 2018, focusing on R&D Tax Credit strategies across various industries with a strong focus in architecture, engineering, and life sciences. Ms. McIntyre works with clients to optimize their time-keeping strategies, helping them capture and document qualifying activities more efficiently. Her recent projects include a leading lighting & controls manufacturer, an electronic device manufacturer, and a cosmetics formulation company.
She has extensive experience with federal and state R&D Tax Credit processes throughout New England, where she works with numerous clients to help them take advantage of region-specific R&D tax incentives. Ms. McIntyre has participated in Washington, DC fly-ins to advocate for the R&D Tax Credit program and its importance to American innovation.
Ms. McIntyre holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University, with a focus in bioimaging and bioelectricity.
Warren Buzzell Jr. is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Mr. Buzzell joined the firm in 2020 and has managed with R&D Tax Credit studies in various industries, including manufacturing, software development, architecture/engineering, life science, and lighting.
Mr. Buzzell holds a BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Robert Morris University and an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University. In addition to his engineering background, Mr. Buzzell is also a certified Project Management Professional.
Mr. Buzzell’s experience prior to joining the firm includes working with additive and subtractive manufacturing, automotive glass manufacturing, preclinical studies, and graduate research.
Mr. Buzzell is the co-author of a number of articles on R&D Tax Credits for the additive manufacturing industry, including “3D Printing Technology’s Potential in Traumatic Brain Injury Research”, “The Future of Biomanufacturing: Machine Learning, Automation, and 3D Printing’s Role”, and “3D Printing for Quality Assurance: A Closer Look at Aerospace Component Inspection Protocols”.
Matthew Selman is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He joined the firm in 2022 and brings with him an industrial engineering background in manufacturing and logistics.
Mr. Selman manages Elective Pay Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives for various energy technologies, including solar, geothermal, thermal storage, and EV charging. He also handles Section 179D deductions for building owners and for designers of all categories of government buildings including federal, state, local, and K-12 public schools. While at the firm, Mr. Selman has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies with a focus on the manufacturing sector.
Mr. Selman holds a BS in Industrial & Systems Engineering with a Minor in Green Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Valentina Alzate is an Engineer at Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2022 and brings experience and knowledge of full-stack software development and data analytics to support client projects across various industries.
Ms. Alzate manages R&D Tax Credit studies with an industry focus on software development, data analytics, and machine learning. She also manages tax credits for clients across multiple sectors including engineering firms and logistics/distribution. Ms. Alzate’s recent projects include securing R&D Credits for a global marketing solutions provider, leading wholesale foodservice provider, and financial software company.
Ms. Alzate holds a BS in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Andressa Bonafé-Pontes is a Senior Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2012 and has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies in various industries, including life sciences, software development, artificial intelligence, and architecture/engineering.
Ms. Bonafé-Pontes has co-authored numerous articles on R&D Tax Credits with a focus on life sciences, 3D printing, and software development, including “The R&D Tax Credit Aspects of AI Vision Technology”, “Emotion-Recognition Technology”, and “The R&D Tax Credit Aspects of Cyber Security Start-Ups”, among many others.
Ms. Bonafé-Pontes holds an MS in International Economic Policy from the Paris Institute of Political Sciences, an MS in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Brasilia, and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Brasilia.
Leah Nabangi is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers and has been with the firm since 2023. While at the firm, Ms. Nabangi has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries including architecture/engineering, food/beverage, electrical engineering, and software development. Ms. Nabangi has experience in various topics such as sustainability and development, data analytics, and machine learning.
Ms. Nabangi holds a BS in Applied Mathematics and Statistics with a double major in Technological Systems Management from Stony Brook University.
Nimra Shakoor is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Ms. Shakoor graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Environmental Engineering and an MS in Operations Research and Information Engineering. Her focus includes the intersection of environmental sustainability and data science. Since joining the firm, Ms. Shakoor has contributed to R&D Tax Credit studies in warehouse automation and software development. Ms. Shakoor has co-authored numerous articles on the R&D Tax Credit as it relates to college consolidations and additive manufacturing.
Anthony Palumbo is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Mr. Palumbo holds a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Binghamton University. His graduate research focused on translational biophotonics and computational optical bioimaging, while his undergraduate work emphasized biomedical devices and instrumentation, biopharmaceutical technology, and biomaterials. Since joining the firm, Mr. Palumbo has contributed to R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries including robotics, warehouse automation, and software development. Mr. Palumbo has co-authored numerous articles on the R&D Tax Credit, exploring the intersection of additive manufacturing with developments in AI, industrial policy, and domestic materials sourcing.
Michael Horwitz is a Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Mr. Horwitz holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael specializes in EPAct Section 179D studies, working closely with clients and partners to identify and quantify tax savings relating to energy efficient design.
Charles R. Goulding is an Attorney/CPA, President and founder of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers, two divisions of a national tax consulting firm. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Cooper Industries Inc. (now Eaton) in Houston, Texas. Before joining Cooper, Mr. Goulding was a vice president of Dover Corporation, an eight billion dollar sales NYSE diversified industrial manufacturer. At both companies, Mr. Goulding created and administered company-wide R&D Tax Credit programs. These programs encompassed both domestic and international business operations and have helped generate over $600 million in tax savings for their respective firms. Mr. Goulding has been at the forefront of R&D Tax Credit work since the credit’s inception in 1981.
Mr. Goulding has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School (Juris Doctor) and an MBA from Adelphi University. Mr. Goulding also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. His undergraduate degree is from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was a double major in Political Science and Economics. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Goulding is a former President of the New York Chapter of the Tax Executives Institute and also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. He has served as the co-chairman of the Taxation of Mergers and Acquisition conferences in Chicago, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and Paris, France. He recently chaired New York’s Solar Investment Conference.
He has authored over 800 articles for numerous tax publications including International Business, International Tax Journal, Euromoney, Taxation for Accountants, The Practical Accountant, The CPA Journal, and Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Mr. Goulding successfully litigated the Dover Corporation case in U.S. Tax Court (the first check the box case) and the Pulsar International case on reasonable compensation. He is also the Mayor of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Jacob Goldman, LEED AP, is Vice President and Chief Engineer of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Since co-founding the Company in 2005, Mr. Goldman has helped secure over a billion dollars in tax deductions across 17,000+ projects. His expertise includes R&D Tax Credits and energy related incentives such as Section 179D and Investment Tax Credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Mr. Goldman is an award-winning speaker, distilling intricate tax codes into actionable strategies. He frequently presents at national conferences like AEE, IGSHPA, LightFair, and NFMT, as well as local chapters of USGBC, ASHRAE, IFMA, BOMA, and beyond. His most recent accolades include the 2023 AEE Northeast Regional Award for Energy Professional Development.
His thought leadership has played an integral role in advising the DOE, NEMA, and NRDC on Section 179D extensions. He has pioneered the firm’s national practice for IRA incentives, from universities leveraging solar tax credits to corporations optimizing energy efficiency deductions, Mr. Goldman’s expertise is at the cornerstone of sustainable tax strategy.
Mr. Goldman has authored over 150 articles in leading industry publications including Corporate Business Taxation Monthly, Building Operating Management, Thomson Reuters, Green Lodging News, and International Parking Institute.
With a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buffalo and an MBA from the University of Maine, Mr. Goldman brings a rare blend of technical mastery and financial acumen to the complex world of tax optimization.
Charles R. Goulding is an Attorney/CPA, President and founder of Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers, two divisions of a national tax consulting firm. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Cooper Industries Inc. (now Eaton) in Houston, Texas. Before joining Cooper, Mr. Goulding was a vice president of Dover Corporation, an eight billion dollar sales NYSE diversified industrial manufacturer. At both companies, Mr. Goulding created and administered company-wide R&D Tax Credit programs. These programs encompassed both domestic and international business operations and have helped generate over $600 million in tax savings for their respective firms. Mr. Goulding has been at the forefront of R&D Tax Credit work since the credit’s inception in 1981.
Mr. Goulding has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School (Juris Doctor) and an MBA from Adelphi University. Mr. Goulding also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. His undergraduate degree is from the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he was a double major in Political Science and Economics. He spent his junior year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Goulding is a former President of the New York Chapter of the Tax Executives Institute and also participated in Pace University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program. He has served as the co-chairman of the Taxation of Mergers and Acquisition conferences in Chicago, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and Paris, France. He recently chaired New York’s Solar Investment Conference.
He has authored over 800 articles for numerous tax publications including International Business, International Tax Journal, Euromoney, Taxation for Accountants, The Practical Accountant, The CPA Journal, and Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Mr. Goulding successfully litigated the Dover Corporation case in U.S. Tax Court (the first check the box case) and the Pulsar International case on reasonable compensation. He is also the Mayor of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove, New York
Raymond Kumar is a CPA and Director with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He joined the firm in 2008 and brings with him Big4 accounting firm experience, where he helped secure specialty tax incentives for Fortune 500 automakers, defense contractors, and consumer goods manufacturers. His tax expertise includes Section 179D incentives and R&D Tax Credits which he has specialized in his entire professional career.
Mr. Kumar plays a key role in managing of the firm’s national Section 179D practice, working closely with clients and partners to identify and quantify tax savings. He is involved in every step of the process to ensure project success.
Mr. Kumar is a frequent author and presenter on tax incentives and has presented at the Human Centric Sustainability Event at Yankee Stadium, Energize Long Island conference, and the NYS Society of Professional Engineers Annual Conference. He has numerous published articles covering tax incentives, featured in Retrofit Magazine, Corporate Business Taxation Monthly, and FacilitiesNet.
Mr. Kumar holds a BBA in Accounting from Adelphi University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Mr. Kumar is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed to practice in New York.
Andrea Albanese is a Director with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2010 and has played a key role in establishing and growing the firm’s national R&D Tax Credit practice. She oversees R&D Tax Credits and client relationships across a variety of industries including software, manufacturing, distribution, architecture and engineering, food and beverage, and aerospace/defense.
Ms. Albanese specializes in helping clients and CPAs identify, quantify, and maximize R&D Tax Credit benefits. She has helped secure tax credits for businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, in both the public and private sectors. Her recent projects include a large e-commerce distributor, a London-based VR company, and a large manufacturer with multi-state operations. Her industry focus includes R&D Tax Credits for food and beverage production.
Her tax incentive expertise includes obtaining payroll R&D Tax Credits for start-ups as well helping clients obtain New York State refundable life science credits. She has numerous published articles covering tax incentives in leading tax publications such as Thomson Reuters and CCH’s Corporate Business Taxation Monthly.
Ms. Albanese holds a BS in Technology Studies from SUNY Farmingdale.
Lara Tomiko is a Senior Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2016 and has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries, including architecture/engineering, food and beverage, renewable energy, horticulture, and control systems engineering.
Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Ms. Tomiko has managed numerous IRA tax projects, securing tax credits for solar, battery, geothermal, EV, and EV charging station installations. She has secured dozens of Elective Pay Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives for K-12 schools, municipalities, non-profits, colleges/universities, as well as religious institutions. Ms. Tomiko also specializes in obtaining the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, helping clients maximize their benefits under the IRA.
Ms. Tomiko’s expertise also includes Section 179D deductions, helping leading energy service companies obtain tax incentives for energy efficient design.
Ms. Tomiko holds a BA in Sustainability Studies from Stony Brook University.
Ryan Donley is a Senior Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He has been with the firm since 2017, managing R&D Tax Credit Studies and partner relationships for a variety of industries including software, beer and wine, machine shops, construction, glass, and managed IT.
Mr. Donley manages R&D Tax Credits for various Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP) including the New York City and New Jersey regions. His tax incentive expertise includes obtaining payroll R&D credits for start-up companies and the beer and wine industry, ranging from craft beverages to large scale producers. Mr. Donely has presented on the utilization of R&D tax incentives for start-up companies and most recently he presented at the Pennsylvania Brewing Symposium.
Mr. Donley holds a BS in Business Administration from SUNY Farmingdale.
Preeti Sulibhavi is a CPA with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She has been with the firm since 2018 and has handled R&D Tax Credits for companies in a wide range of industries including food and beverage, software, and life sciences. Ms. Sulibhavi has co-authored numerous articles on specialty tax incentives for publications such as Fabbaloo, a leading 3D printing blog.
In addition to business and personal income taxes, Ms. Sulibhavi handles IRS Form 990-T filings and related schedules for non-profit/government entities seeking to claim Elective Pay benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Ms. Sulibhavi is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. Ms. Sulibhavi holds a BA in Economics with a Minor in Biology from Wellesley College and an MBA in Accounting from Hofstra University, Zarb School of Business.
Peter Saenz is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He has been with the firm since 2015 and handles R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries, including dental/ medical, biotechnology, machine shops, construction, woodworking, and software design. He brings with him direct experience in robotic process automation, digital transformation, data analytics, and software development.
Mr. Saenz is pursuing his doctorate at Stony Brook University where he researches AI adoption. He holds an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University, along with an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Life Science Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He received his BS in Business Management from SUNY Farmingdale.
His past doctoral research focused on life sciences, specifically in spatial transcriptomics, diagnostics, and microfluidics. He has worked with numerous companies to secure biological innovation-based R&D Tax Credits. Additionally, he has experience in developing Large Language Models and enjoys working with AI clients to maximize their R&D Tax Credits.
Mr. Saenz has co-authored numerous articles on the R&D Tax Credit spanning technological innovation, business, and policy.
Mellissa McIntyre is a Senior Tax Analyst and Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She has been with the firm since 2018, focusing on R&D Tax Credit strategies across various industries with a strong focus in architecture, engineering, and life sciences. Ms. McIntyre works with clients to optimize their time-keeping strategies, helping them capture and document qualifying activities more efficiently. Her recent projects include a leading lighting & controls manufacturer, an electronic device manufacturer, and a cosmetics formulation company.
She has extensive experience with federal and state R&D Tax Credit processes throughout New England, where she works with numerous clients to help them take advantage of region-specific R&D tax incentives. Ms. McIntyre has participated in Washington, DC fly-ins to advocate for the R&D Tax Credit program and its importance to American innovation.
Ms. McIntyre holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University, with a focus in bioimaging and bioelectricity.
Warren Buzzell Jr. is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Mr. Buzzell joined the firm in 2020 and has managed with R&D Tax Credit studies in various industries, including manufacturing, software development, architecture/engineering, life science, and lighting.
Mr. Buzzell holds a BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Robert Morris University and an MS in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University. In addition to his engineering background, Mr. Buzzell is also a certified Project Management Professional.
Mr. Buzzell’s experience prior to joining the firm includes working with additive and subtractive manufacturing, automotive glass manufacturing, preclinical studies, and graduate research.
Mr. Buzzell is the co-author of a number of articles on R&D Tax Credits for the additive manufacturing industry, including “3D Printing Technology’s Potential in Traumatic Brain Injury Research”, “The Future of Biomanufacturing: Machine Learning, Automation, and 3D Printing’s Role”, and “3D Printing for Quality Assurance: A Closer Look at Aerospace Component Inspection Protocols”.
Matthew Selman is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. He joined the firm in 2022 and brings with him an industrial engineering background in manufacturing and logistics.
Mr. Selman manages Elective Pay Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives for various energy technologies, including solar, geothermal, thermal storage, and EV charging. He also handles Section 179D deductions for building owners and for designers of all categories of government buildings including federal, state, local, and K-12 public schools. While at the firm, Mr. Selman has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies with a focus on the manufacturing sector.
Mr. Selman holds a BS in Industrial & Systems Engineering with a Minor in Green Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Valentina Alzate is an Engineer at Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2022 and brings experience and knowledge of full-stack software development and data analytics to support client projects across various industries.
Ms. Alzate manages R&D Tax Credit studies with an industry focus on software development, data analytics, and machine learning. She also manages tax credits for clients across multiple sectors including engineering firms and logistics/distribution. Ms. Alzate’s recent projects include securing R&D Credits for a global marketing solutions provider, leading wholesale foodservice provider, and financial software company.
Ms. Alzate holds a BS in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Andressa Bonafé-Pontes is a Senior Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. She joined the firm in 2012 and has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies in various industries, including life sciences, software development, artificial intelligence, and architecture/engineering.
Ms. Bonafé-Pontes has co-authored numerous articles on R&D Tax Credits with a focus on life sciences, 3D printing, and software development, including “The R&D Tax Credit Aspects of AI Vision Technology”, “Emotion-Recognition Technology”, and “The R&D Tax Credit Aspects of Cyber Security Start-Ups”, among many others.
Ms. Bonafé-Pontes holds an MS in International Economic Policy from the Paris Institute of Political Sciences, an MS in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Brasilia, and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Brasilia.
Leah Nabangi is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers and has been with the firm since 2023. While at the firm, Ms. Nabangi has been involved with R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries including architecture/engineering, food/beverage, electrical engineering, and software development. Ms. Nabangi has experience in various topics such as sustainability and development, data analytics, and machine learning.
Ms. Nabangi holds a BS in Applied Mathematics and Statistics with a double major in Technological Systems Management from Stony Brook University.
Nimra Shakoor is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Ms. Shakoor graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Environmental Engineering and an MS in Operations Research and Information Engineering. Her focus includes the intersection of environmental sustainability and data science. Since joining the firm, Ms. Shakoor has contributed to R&D Tax Credit studies in warehouse automation and software development. Ms. Shakoor has co-authored numerous articles on the R&D Tax Credit as it relates to college consolidations and additive manufacturing.
Anthony Palumbo is an Engineer with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Mr. Palumbo holds a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Binghamton University. His graduate research focused on translational biophotonics and computational optical bioimaging, while his undergraduate work emphasized biomedical devices and instrumentation, biopharmaceutical technology, and biomaterials. Since joining the firm, Mr. Palumbo has contributed to R&D Tax Credit studies across various industries including robotics, warehouse automation, and software development. Mr. Palumbo has co-authored numerous articles on the R&D Tax Credit, exploring the intersection of additive manufacturing with developments in AI, industrial policy, and domestic materials sourcing.
Michael Horwitz is a Tax Analyst with Energy Tax Savers/R&D Tax Savers. Mr. Horwitz holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. Michael specializes in EPAct Section 179D studies, working closely with clients and partners to identify and quantify tax savings relating to energy efficient design.