TaxTrex + creditARMOR Bundle
Use TaxTrex to prepare and document the claim, then creditARMOR to test it. The bundle puts both Swanson Reed products together under your brand: documentation first, then audit readiness.
The idea
Preparing a claim and testing it are two halves of the same job. Documentation is how the evidence is built. Audit readiness is how you find out how well it holds up. Offering both together lets a partner say something simple to a client: we help you record your research as you go, and we test your claim before we file it. The bundle puts the two Swanson Reed products under the partner's brand, so the client deals with one firm, and the partner deals with one relationship. Partner pricing is on the partner pricing page, and terms are proposals until Swanson Reed confirms them.
How it works
- 1
Prepare
TaxTrex captures evidence and costs through the year: surveys, interviews, files and accounting sync.
- 2
Test
creditARMOR runs a mock audit and scores the claim, listing what to fix.
- 3
Fix and file
Weak spots are fixed before review and filing, and a licensed CPA or enrolled agent reviews the claim.
How the two products divide the work
Descriptions are general and proposals until confirmed by Swanson Reed.
| Question | TaxTrex | creditARMOR |
|---|---|---|
| What is it for? | Documenting R&D as it happens | Testing how well a claim stands up |
| When is it used? | Through the year | Before filing, and as the claim changes |
| Who mainly uses it? | Client staff and the partner's team | The partner's reviewers |
| What does it produce? | A claim pack | A score and a fix list |
What you get
- One partner relationship for both products.
- Preparation and testing in one flow.
- A consistent client experience under your brand.
- A natural place for review tiers: lighter where records are strong, deeper where the claim is complex.
A worked example (illustrative)
This scenario is invented. A firm offers the bundle to a client in January. Through the year, the client answers short surveys and files evidence. In the autumn, the firm loads the draft claim pack into creditARMOR. The mock audit finds two weak spots: an unsupported allocation and a project with a thin description. The client supplies better records and a clearer description, and the firm runs the check again. The result is a shorter list, and the firm's reviewer works from a claim that has already been tested once. The client understood the sequence and saw the value in each step.
Why bundle
The practical benefit is flow. The evidence from TaxTrex is what creditARMOR tests, so the second step needs no extra data entry. A finding in creditARMOR points back to a record or a gap in TaxTrex, so the fix is in the same place. And the partner can explain one process instead of two. For firms that already do some of this by hand, the bundle formalizes it. For firms that do not, it provides a structure.
Limits
The bundle does not guarantee that a claim will be accepted, and a mock audit does not predict examination. Review by a licensed CPA or enrolled agent remains essential, and forms are filed through an authorized IRS e-file provider or tax software. Cost Guru and its partners do not sell insurance through this site. Everything about terms, tiers and pricing is a proposal until Swanson Reed confirms it.
A mock audit does not guarantee acceptance of a claim or predict whether it will be examined. Integrations, review tiers and partner pricing are proposals until confirmed by Swanson Reed.
Signs the bundle may suit your firm
- You have several clients with research activity and little documentation.
- You already review claims closely and want a more systematic way to test them.
- You want to offer a clear, two-step service to clients.
- You value one partner relationship over two.
- You are willing to start with a pilot group.
Sequencing the work through the year
A sensible pattern is to introduce documentation early in the year, so evidence builds up. Mid-year, check that clients are answering and fill gaps. As filing approaches, run the mock audit, fix findings and complete review. After filing, keep records together and note what you learned. Putting the two products on one calendar helps clients see the logic, and helps the firm plan staff time.
Explaining the bundle to clients
Keep it simple. Tell clients that the service has two parts: recording their research as they go, and testing the claim before it is filed. Explain what is asked of them in each part, and who at your firm is responsible. Do not promise outcomes, and do not describe anything as insurance. A client who understands the process, and its limits, is more likely to take part and less likely to be disappointed.
Where the bundle sits among your options
You do not have to take the bundle. A firm may start with documentation alone and add testing later, or begin with testing for claims prepared elsewhere. The bundle is the full path for firms that want to own the process from first record to final check. It is worth thinking about the order in which you want to learn: documentation takes effect over the year, while testing pays off at the end. Many firms find that starting with one and adding the other after a season gives them time to understand each.
Questions to settle before taking the bundle
- Which review tiers will you offer, and to which clients?
- Who on your team will run the mock audit and act on the findings?
- How will you describe the two products to clients?
- What will you do when a score is poor close to the filing date?
- How will you keep the evidence and the test results together?
Bundle questions
Can I take one product without the other?
Yes. Each is available on its own, and the bundle is for partners who want both.
How is the bundle priced?
Contact us for pricing. Partner pricing is a proposal until confirmed with Swanson Reed.
Does it include insurance?
No. Cost Guru and its partners do not sell insurance through this site.
Who owns the client relationship?
The partner. Clients see the partner's brand.
Keep exploring
TaxTrex by Swanson Reed, Under Your Brand
White-label R&D documentation for CPA firms and businesses, from Swanson Reed.
Learn morePartner Pricing: TaxTrex and creditARMOR
Partner pricing for white-label TaxTrex and creditARMOR is set with Swanson Reed and has not been published.
Learn moreHow creditARMOR Audit Readiness Works
From a loaded claim to a mock audit, a fix list and protection options.
Learn morecreditARMOR Features
The seven tools inside creditARMOR, a Swanson Reed audit-readiness product, and how they fit together.
Learn moreR&D Audit Protection
Options if an R&D claim is questioned: coverage, expert support and help for claims already under examination.
Learn moreWhat a Mock Audit Can and Can't Tell You
A mock audit helps you prepare. It does not predict outcomes. Please read this before relying on a result.
Learn morePlease note: Estimates and drafts are prepared by software for review by a licensed CPA or enrolled agent. This is not tax advice.
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