Cara Pates

With over 13 years of experience in Accounting Methods and Credit Services (AMCS) at  KPMG, Cara specializes in helping businesses of all sizes—from large SEC companies and privately held firms to tax-exempt organizations and startups—navigate complex tax challenges and opportunities.

Professional and industry experience

Cara assists companies in identifying, calculating, filing, and documenting federal tax credits, including research and IRA credits. Cara’s research tax credit experience includes:

• Developing research credit study methodologies to identify qualified activities and expenses, compile contemporaneous documentation, prepare audit ready deliverables.
• Improving study methodologies by incorporating tools and automations to:
• Increase overall efficiency and decrease the amount of time engineers and other R&D subject matter experts have to spend supporting the study; and
• Respond to trends observed in recent IRS audits and court cases.
• Providing IRS audit support, including through Fast Track and Joint Committee on Taxation approval for large refund claims.
• Assisting clients in preparing for new reporting requirements for example, the CCM checkpoint for refund claims and the new Form 6765.

Cara’s IRA credits project experience includes assessing potential credit opportunities, performing studies to calculate and document credits and the various applicable requirements, coordinating with our Advisory teams for prevailing wage and apprenticeship compliance, assisting tax-exempts with direct pay requirements, and performing tax due diligence services throughout the credit transfer process.

Additionally, she provide expertise in assessing accounting methods and preparing accounting method changes to optimize tax compliance and efficiency. Her clients span diverse industries, including Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, Software, Financial Services, Consumer Products, Engineering Services, Education, and Healthcare.