The CRA has received a ministerial order under the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) to allow for the extension of Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) claim deadlines for no more than six months starting from March 13, 2020, and not past December 31, 2020.
The extension provides more time for claimants who were unable to meet their SR&ED deadlines due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
The SR&ED reporting deadline for corporations has been extended by six months or to December 31, 2020, whichever date comes first.
| Fiscal Year-End | SR&ED reporting deadline before extension | SR&ED reporting deadline after extension |
| 13/Sept/2018 -31/Dec 2018 | 13/March/2020 – 30/June/2020 | 13/Sept/2020 – 31/Dec/2020 |
| 1/Jan/2019 – 29/June/2019 | 13/March/2020 – 30/June/2020 | 31/Dec/2020 |
Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) was enacted by Part 3 of Bill C-20 and addresses the need for flexibility with deadlines that are difficult or impossible to meet as a result of the exceptional circumstances resulting from the pandemic. Bill C-20, an Act respecting further COVID-19 measures, was introduced on July 20, 2020, and received royal assent on July 27, 2020, becoming law and temporarily enabling the minister of national revenue to issue an order extending SR&ED reporting deadlines.