CIR et CII : récupère ton cash grâce à l’innovation
CIR and CII – Two Financial Tools Your Startup Can’t Afford to Ignore
You’re investing time and money into innovation—what if the government paid part of that back? That’s exactly what the Research Tax Credit (CIR) and Innovation Tax Credit (CII)are designed to do. Two powerful, non-dilutive incentives… often misunderstood or underused.
At Flag, we’ve been helping innovative startups and SMEs claim these credits for over 10 years. And believe us, it’s money you don’t want to leave on the table..
CIR vs. CII: What’s the Difference?
- CIR targets scientific or technical R&D—basic research, applied research, and experimental development.
- CII is for the design and development of innovative products, even if there’s no hardcore research involved.
Quick Summary:
| Tax Credit | Who's Eligible? | Scope | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
|
CIR |
Startups / SMEs / Mid-caps |
Scientific or technical R&D |
30 % |
|
CII |
Startups / SMEs |
Product innovation (non-R&D) |
20 % |
You can combine bothif you run mixed R&D and innovation projects.
What Expenses Are Eligible?
Whether for CIR or CII, eligible costs may include:
- Salaries of employees working on qualifying projects
- Outsourced services from approved providers
- Consumables and technical supplies
- IP-related costs (e.g., patents, models)
- Prototyping and testing expenses (CII)
No need for a PhD or an in-house lab—what matters is proving real R&D or product innovation efforts.
How Much Can You Recover?
- Up to €100M in eligible expenses under CIR
- Up to €400,000 in expenses under CII
- Reimbursement rates: 30% (CIR), 20% (CII)
And if your startup isn’t profitable yet? No problem the French government refunds the credit in cash.
A Word of Caution: Your File Needs to Be Solid
Don’t assume a few receipts will do the trick. The tax authorities expect a structured, technical, and well-argued application.And if you get audited? A weak or incomplete file could cost you big time.
That’s where Flag comes in. We do the heavy lifting, build your file properly, and help you avoid the classic traps.
How Flag Helps You with CIR and CII
On average, an eligible startup can recover up to €120,000 per year through the CII. Failing to claim it means missing out and non-dilutive capitalsecure, and equity-free financing.
Book a free call with Flag for an audit.We’ll tell you if you qualify. If it’s a go, we’ll handle the full process for you. Done.
- Eligibility Audit
- We review your projects, identify what qualifies, and give you a ballpark estimate.
- File Preparation
- We write the technical report, gather financial data, and prepare all supporting documents.
- Tax Compliance Secured
- We ensure your application is fully aligned with French tax requirements—no loose ends.
- Ongoing Support
- We update your claims every year. No copy-paste jobs, no lazy shortcuts.
Why Start Now?
Waiting until year-end = chaos: Scrambling for info, tracking down teams, chasing missing receipts. The earlier you start: :
- The fresher the data
- The more available your team
- The easier it is to integrate into your financial planning
- The less stress, fewer mistakes
What the Experts Say… and Why It’s Still Confusing
The France’s official tax website provides detailed CIR and CII criteria.
Mais soyons honnêtes : c’est dense, souvent flou, et pas adapté à la réalité des startups.
At Flag, we translate that complexity into startup language,make it actionable, and get it done.
Final Word: Claim What’s Yours
The CIR and CIIare cash rewards for your innovation.But without a proper application, you risk:
- Missing out on funding
- Facing an audit and penalties
- Wasting time and effort for nothing
Contact us now. One call, a quick audit, and you're on your way.
Flagis your partner in smart, non-dilutive financing.We handle the tax, you focus on building the future.
At Flag, we help startups build a high-impact financing roadmap, including:
- Equity fundraising
- Non-dilutive financing strategies
- Innovation tax optimization
- Part-time CFO services
Not sure where to start? Reach out, we’ll walk you through it.
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Flag, the one-stop-shop for financing innovation.