Rewarding Innovation

Your R&D Claim

Preparing your R&D claims with professional integrity

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Maximise

I ask the right questions to surface the full breadth of qualifying work and associated costs.
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Demonstrate

Supporting explanations reported in an evidence based framework across legislative criteria.
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Assure

Showing HMRC the complexities of tax legislation are understood and correctly applied.

Simplifying R&D Tax Credit Claims

By collaborating with the right people, I acquire the knowledge and understanding of your R&D project to ensure a focused, efficient and manageable process.

Simplifying R&D tax credit claims

By collaborating with the right people, I acquire the knowledge and understanding of your R&D project to ensure a focused, efficient and manageable process.

Discovery Consultation

We'll talk through what kind of work you've been doing and any factors that affect your eligibility or the financial benefit available. Based on our discussions, I'll let you know what to expect from the claims process which will be tailored to your circumstances.
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Information Gathering and Analysis

Working closely with the right people in your organisation, I learn the intricacies of your R&D project, gathering the necessary project details, costs and supporting documentation to accurately put together your claim.
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Supporting Claim Document

I present all aspects of your work in a comprehensive report to demonstrate a clear link to the BEIS guidelines for R&D and tax legislation. From the written narratives to setting out cost calculations, my reports are transparently explicit, informative and technically on point.
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Approval & Submission

I'll send you the completed claim document for review and guide you through what you need to check, taking the time to help you understand it. Once you are happy with your claim document, arrangements can be made for it to be submitted to HMRC.
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Enquiry Cover

Should HMRC open an enquiry into your R&D claim, I’ll handle this for your organisation at no additional cost.
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R&D Tax Advisory

Commercial choices could impact R&D claims (restructuring, takeovers or acquisitions, inter-company collaborations, etc). I can consider these aspects so you can negotiate change fully informed from an R&D perspective.
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Collaborating with organisations to do things the right way

Tax legislation is complex - I help you to understand how rules and guidelines relate to your work and associated expenditure.

Heads of Tax in Industry

Access specialist R&D tax knowledge when it is needed.

Company/Financial Directors

Supporting c-level executives to obtain a valuable source of additional funding.

Accountants

Partnering with professionals to bring R&D specialist support.

“I partner with people who are serious about getting their R&D claims right.”

R&D in your industry

Whatever your sector, R&D is possible!
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Software

From computer software to AI and robotics, R&D tax credits reward organisations that seek out new or improved capabilities using IT.
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Software
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Manufacturing

From aerospace to welding, organisations endeavouring to overcome unsolved problems will likely qualify for R&D tax credits.
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Manufacturing
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Pharmaceuticals

Organisations running R&D into new drugs, chemicals and medicines are almost certainly going to qualify for R&D tax credits for tax relief.
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Pharmaceuticals
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Engineering

Using science and technology to develop or improve control systems, operations and materials could be rewarded with R&D tax credits.
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Engineering
Not sure if your organisation fits? Book a call

FAQs

What is qualifying expenditure for R&D tax credits?

Expenditure incurred on activities associated with R&D project work could include:

  • Staff salaries, employer class 1 National Insurance Contributions and employer pension contributions
  • The reimbursement of employee expenses might also qualify where certain conditions are met
  • Borrowing staff from group companies
  • Payments to third parties possessing relevant expertise for your work
  • Additional labour resource via agencies or freelancers to work with in-house staff
  • Software licensing fees
  • Utilities (heat, light and power)
  • Consumables (materials and equipment used by the R&D process)
Do I have to directly employ staff to make a claim?

No, your organisation can use third-party companies or individuals to fulfill its requirements for expertise. You may find that you have a mixture of both directly employed staff and contractors.

How far back can I claim R&D tax credits?

Your organisation has 2 years from the end of its accounting period to make an R&D tax credit claim.

What is the difference between RDEC and SME schemes for R&D tax credits?

The rates of relief differ (the SME scheme can return up to 33p for every £1 of qualifying R&D expenditure whereas under RDEC, the rate of return is around 10.5p for every £1 of qualifying expenditure) plus the methods of calculating the tax credits in the corporate tax computations are currently different.

Can I still make a claim if my project isn’t finished?

Yes, R&D tax credits reward your innovation journey, not just the end result. Your project may never find a solution that goes to market but your organisation can still seek R&D tax credits to reward your efforts.

How long does it take to receive my tax credit from HMRC?

The goal of HMRC is to process claims within 28 days but some can take longer depending on the compexity of the claim or the complexity of your organisation's wider corporation tax affairs.

Can I claim R&D tax credits as a sole trader?

No, your organisation must be a corporate entity within the scope of charge to UK corporation tax.

Who has the right expertise in my organisation to consider eligibility for R&D tax credits?

The people with knowledge and skills relevant to your industry who can apply scientific or technological understandings to devise potential methodologies which take theoretical designs or concepts and turn them into practical solutions. People such as software developers, chemists, scientists, engineers, for example.

When might problem solving efforts signal eligibility for R&D tax credits?

R&D takes place when the experts in your industry cannot easily produce a solution based on their knowledge or what they can deduce from publicly available information. They will use their understandings of how to combine knowledge and resources to create new or improved knowledge and/or capabilities within your industry.

What determines an organisation’s status as an SME for R&D tax credits?

Your organisation must not breech the following criteria for 2 consecutive accounting periods:

Fewer than 500 employees
And either an annual turnover of < €100m OR Gross assets of < €86m
Data for companies that are part of a group or deemed to be "linked" may also need to be considered for these tests.

How do R&D tax credits work?

Research and development tax relief rewards scientific and technological innovations and advancements. There's a thorough process to go through in order to determine your eligibility and make a claim but your organisation could receive a significant tax credit return if handled correctly.

Resources

See all
Download

Your Guide to a Good Tax Adviser - 6 Qualities to Look For

5
min read
Download

R&D tax relief - overview for an SME

10
min read
Insight

Newsletters archive

min read
Case Study

Pitfalls for SMEs in the life sciences industry

8
min read
Insight

The impact of grants on R&D tax relief claims under the SME scheme

6
min read
Insight

Handling the requirements to access R&D tax relief

5
min read
Download

An introduction to R&D tax relief for Life Science companies

5
min read

Expert R&D tax advice

Let’s talk R&D

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20+ years experience
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Chartered Tax Adviser