Turn R&D Tax Credits Into a Competitive Advantage for the Defense Industry

If your team is developing weapons systems, advancing autonomous defense technology, or engineering survivability solutions for next-generation platforms, you're likely performing R&D that may qualify for tax credits.

why the defense industry qualifies.

The defense industry is technologically innovative by nature.

Defense contractors and manufacturers work across some of the most technically demanding disciplines in existence. The IRS doesn't require breakthrough discoveries, it requires that you're attempting to resolve technical uncertainty through experimentation.

We help Founders, CTOs, and CFOs uncover overlooked credits tied to →

Designing or improving weapons systems, platforms, or munitions

Engineering survivability, stealth, or countermeasure solutions

Conducting materials research for armor, structures, or extreme environments

Integrating or advancing command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems

Conducting materials research for armor, structures, or extreme environments

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Built for high-growth tech.

We’ve secured over $100M in credits for innovators in advanced agriculture, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and medical optics. Our team includes former Big 4 Tax CPAs, Tax Attorneys, and Engineers who speak your language - engineering and compliance.

What Makes RK Partners Different

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Maximize refund without risk

Audit-ready documentation

3-4 hours total time investment from your team

Our Process

Technical interviews

We meet with your key staff to identify every qualifying project and disqualify any that don’t meet IRS criteria.

Financial analysis

Our team reviews your payroll, general ledger, and tax returns to calculate the full credit.

Compliance review

A dedicated team with an impeccable IRS defense record reviews everything through our QA process.

Deliver
& file

You receive a complete, audit ready report that your CPA files alongside your taxes or amends for prior years.

Recent Results

An AI startup (seed stage) secured $120K

A blockchain platform secured $400K

A data analytics firm secured $325K

A food & beverage company secured $5.7 M

Precision Optics Manufacturer secured $113K

A wean‑to‑finish pig farm secured $2.9 M

Medical Imaging Device Company with $230K secured

A supplement manufacturer secured $1.12 M

Laser systems manufacturer secured $400K

A custom avionics controls company secured $685 K

Photonics (seed stage) with $135K secured

A chemical manufacturing company secured $680 K

A terpenes company secured $580 K

A dairy farm secured $508 K

A packaging manufacturer secured $480 K

A software / cybersecurity firm secured $441 K

A blockchain/crypto platform company secured $400 K

An agriculture seed company secured $360 K

An optical engineering firm secured $113 K

A custom manufacturing firm secured $95 K

An aquaculture oyster company secured $91 K

A tradeshow display company secured $300 K

A skincare company secured $215 K

A testing lab secured $196 K

A beverage manufacturer secured $60 K

A shellfish aquaculture operation secured $85 K

A food & beverage freeze‑dry innovator secured $15 K

An EdTech SaaS company secured $310K

A software platform company secured $17 K

A skincare company secured $11 K

A telehealth platform secured $441K

One-Year Window for Retroactive Claims

Thanks to newly passed federal legislation, aerospace companies may now have a chance to capture additional R&D benefits for 2022 or 2023. This opportunity is only available for a short window, so timing is critical.

Don’t leave six figures on the table.

Schedule Your Free Credit Review

Start with a no-obligation call to determine what your business could claim.

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Details

Mark Kashinskiy

Managing Partner – Founder

Mark is the Founder and CEO of RK Partners; he is a serial entrepreneur with a focus on ventures at the intersection of tax incentives, technology, and consulting. With a strong background in commercial strategy and a track record of launching and scaling ventures, he has spent the past decade helping companies unlock hidden value through government incentives, while scaling high-performance teams across a range of industries.

Mark led the firm from the ground up, growing RK into one of the most rapidly growing Tax Credits & Incentives consultancies in the US. Serving clients from high-growth startups through to large enterprises, Mark has played a hands-on role in building the firm’s commercial engine, operational structure, and leadership team – laying the foundational infrastructure for long-term success.

Mark Kashinskiy

April Zozzaro

Managing Partner – CPA

April is responsible for overseeing the entire consulting arm of RK Partners, leading the firm’s R&D Tax Credit practice. A licensed CPA with a Master’s in Accounting, she brings over 12 years of specialized experience in R&D tax incentives, having worked across a broad range of industries and supported companies from early-stage startups to global Fortune 500s.

Before joining RK Partners, April held a Manager role at Deloitte, where she was instrumental in delivering over $700 million in R&D tax credits to her clients. Since joining RK, she has played a foundational role in building the firm’s consulting practice from the ground up - designing its technical approach, developing operational frameworks, and scaling a high-performing team of consultants.

Under her leadership, RK Partners has established a reputation for technical excellence, rigorous compliance, and meaningful client impact. April’s ability to bridge deep subject matter expertise with practical business acumen has made her a trusted advisor to clients and a cornerstone of the firm’s growth and delivery success.

April Zozzaro

Samuel Wooldridge

Senior Partner - Head of Commercial

With over 7 years of international experience in Tax Credits and Incentives, Sam leads the Commercial Team at RK Partners, where he combines sharp commercial acumen with strategic leadership. Throughout his career, he has helped a wide range of businesses unlock the full value of government incentives. While his client base spans multiple industries, he has developed particular expertise in Agriculture, Software, and Manufacturing.

At RK, Sam is responsible for driving the firm’s commercial strategy and leading all client engagement initiatives, ensuring clients and partners consistently receive exceptional value. Recognized for his deep industry knowledge, ability to build and scale high-performing teams, and his commitment to long-term client relationships, Sam is a trusted leader in an increasingly dynamic and competitive landscape.

Samuel Wooldridge

Scott H. Durepo

Senior Partner – Compliance Officer

Scott spent 19 years at Deloitte Tax in both the Research  and Development Tax Credit Group and the Tax Controversy Group and has over 25 years’ experience with the Research Tax Credit. He represented Fortune 100 and 500 companies as well as much smaller clients during their IRS audits.  He successfully resolved 55 cases at the Examination level and has not had even one case that went to IRS Appeals. The resolutions included amounts from a few hundred thousand to over 200 million.

At RK Partners, Scott leads the firm’s compliance and audit defense function. He directly oversees the training and development of our consulting team, ensuring they maintain a deep and current understanding of federal tax law, recent case law, and IRS examination trends. His rigorous approach to documentation, substantiation, and risk management safeguards our clients and reinforces the technical credibility of every claim we prepare.

Scott H. Durepo

Randall Roisman

Senior Partner

Randall Roisman

Matthew Michaud

Partner

Matt Michaud is a seasoned professional with nearly a decade of experience in the R&D Tax Credit space, combining commercial expertise with strong operational and team leadership. As one of the earliest team members at the firm, Matt has played a pivotal role in shaping its growth trajectory: expanding market presence, developing internal capabilities, and helping establish a high-performance culture.

With deep knowledge of R&D tax incentives and a consultative, solutions-focused approach, Matt has partnered with businesses across sectors including software, engineering, and product development to help them realize the full value of government incentives. Beyond his client-facing work, he has contributed significantly to strategic planning, team development, and cross-functional collaboration, positioning the firm for long-term success in a competitive industry.

Matthew Michaud