> The vast majority of tech workers laid off in the last two years didn't work in research and development.
I bet they were classified as R&D for accounting purposes. Product development largely falls into R&D - it doesn't matter what the product being developed is for.
Every job I had at a megacorp was classified as R&D, and I know because I had to track hours against such.
> I bet they were classified as R&D for accounting purposes.
It's not just that. Section 174 now explicitly calls out Software as always being an R&D expense:
> (3) Software development
> For purposes of this section, any amount paid or incurred in connection with the development of any software shall be treated as a research or experimental expenditure.
I bet they were classified as R&D for accounting purposes. Product development largely falls into R&D - it doesn't matter what the product being developed is for.
Every job I had at a megacorp was classified as R&D, and I know because I had to track hours against such.