R&D Ledger is not affiliated with or endorsed by Moss Adams. This independent comparison is based on publicly available information and is provided for educational purposes.
Last competitor information verified: August 2026
Note: In April 2025, Baker Tilly and Moss Adams announced a planned combination, and the transaction has since closed. The combined firm operates under the Baker Tilly name. The mossadams.com domain is transitioning, and the dedicated R&D tax credit service page was not fully accessible at the time of research. The information below is based on publicly available Moss Adams content that was accessible (including Moss Adams R&D tax credit insights) and the announced merger. Buyers should verify current offerings directly with the combined firm. See also our page on Baker Tilly alternatives.
Businesses evaluating R&D tax credit services may encounter Moss Adams, an accounting and advisory firm that has combined with Baker Tilly. This page provides an independent comparison of Moss Adams’ publicly described model and the year-round internal documentation approach represented by R&D Ledger. For a broader framework, see our page on how to choose an R&D tax credit provider.
What Moss Adams Publicly Offers
According to publicly available Moss Adams content, Moss Adams provides accounting, tax, and consulting services including credits and incentives for research and development. Moss Adams has described R&D tax credit and payroll tax offset offerings for growing companies.
Moss Adams has published insights on how the R&D credit can help new companies offset payroll taxes, and R&D tax credits for internet, gaming, and media companies. Moss Adams has described the R&D tax credit as a benefit for companies investing in research and development activities. Following the combination with Baker Tilly, these services are now offered under the Baker Tilly name.
Provider and Engagement Model
Moss Adams describes itself as an accounting and advisory firm. Based on publicly available information, the model involves professional-service engagements for R&D tax credits and incentives, including payroll tax offset for eligible companies. The firm serves growing companies.
This is a professional-service model: Moss Adams’ professionals conduct the R&D credit analysis and provide payroll tax offset guidance.
How the Process Appears to Work
Based on publicly available information, the process involves identifying qualifying R&D activities, documenting credits, and providing payroll tax offset guidance for eligible companies. The specific process details should be verified directly with Moss Adams.
Documentation Approach
Moss Adams’ documentation approach, based on publicly available information, involves the firm producing documentation as part of the R&D credit engagement. The specific documentation methodology should be verified directly with Moss Adams.
Role of Software
Moss Adams’ website does not prominently describe a proprietary client-facing software platform for R&D credit documentation, based on publicly available information. The firm appears to operate primarily as a consulting practice.
Role of Human Professionals
Human professionals are central to Moss Adams’ model. As an accounting and advisory firm, Moss Adams’ professionals conduct the R&D credit analysis. The model is professional-service-driven.
Year-Round vs. Study Considerations
Moss Adams’ model appears oriented toward a study or engagement cycle rather than continuous year-round documentation by the internal team. Year-round internal documentation, as represented by R&D Ledger, involves the business’s own team organizing project, technical, cost, and evidence records throughout the year for professional review. For more on this distinction, see our page on year-round R&D documentation vs. annual study.
What a Buyer Should Compare
A buyer evaluating Moss Adams against year-round internal documentation software may consider:
- Professional service vs. internal documentation: Moss Adams provides R&D credit and payroll tax offset services. Does the buyer want a firm to conduct the study, or does it want to organize records internally?
- Growing-company focus: Moss Adams describes services for growing companies. Does the buyer fit that profile?
- Payroll tax offset: Moss Adams describes payroll tax offset offerings. Does the buyer need payroll tax offset support?
- Industry coverage: Moss Adams describes internet, gaming, and media companies. Does the buyer’s industry align?
- Verification: Since the service page was not fully accessible, the buyer should verify current offerings directly.
For a broader comparison, see our page on R&D tax credit firm comparison.
When Moss Adams’ Model May Make Sense
Moss Adams’ model may make sense for a business that:
- is a growing company wanting a professional-service engagement;
- needs payroll tax offset support for eligible small business status;
- operates in an industry Moss Adams serves (such as internet, gaming, or media);
- prefers a consulting firm to conduct the R&D credit study; and
- is willing to verify current offerings directly with the firm.
When Year-Round Internal R&D Tracking May Make Sense
Year-round internal R&D documentation may make sense for a business that:
- wants to organize project, technical, cost, and evidence records throughout the year internally;
- already has a CPA who handles filing and needs organized records to support that work;
- prefers continuous documentation rather than a study-cycle engagement; and
- wants a documentation workspace that can support any CPA or consultant.
For more, see our page on best R&D tax credit consulting firms.
Can the Two Approaches Coexist?
A business could maintain year-round project and evidence records in a documentation workspace and also engage a firm like Moss Adams for the study. The internal records could supply organized project, cost, and evidence data to support the firm’s analysis. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive: a business might use internal documentation for ongoing recordkeeping and a firm for the study and payroll tax offset guidance.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing
- Does the business want a firm to conduct the study, or does it want to organize records internally?
- Is the business a growing company that fits the firm’s focus?
- Does the business need payroll tax offset support?
- Does the business’s industry align with the firm’s coverage?
- Has the business verified the firm’s current offerings directly?
Key Takeaway
Moss Adams is an accounting and advisory firm that provides R&D tax credit services including credits and incentives for research and development, with payroll tax offset offerings for eligible companies, focused on growing companies. Year-round internal R&D documentation, as represented by R&D Ledger, involves the business’s own team organizing project, technical, cost, and evidence records throughout the year for professional review. The two approaches differ in who conducts the study and the service scope, and a buyer’s choice depends on its preference for consulting vs. internal documentation. For more on choosing a provider, see our page on how to choose an R&D tax credit provider.