R&D tax credit claims

Because a large share of enquiries do not qualify, and we would rather tell you that for nothing than charge £999 for a claim HMRC rejects. The review takes a short call and some questions about the projects. You get a written view: qualifies, does not qualify, or borderline with the reasons. There is no obligation afterwards.

A project seeking an advance in overall knowledge or capability in a field of science or technology, through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainty that a competent professional in the field could not readily resolve. Commercial novelty is not enough; routine development with known methods is not enough. The test is about the technology, not the product.

For accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2024 the merged scheme gives a 20% expenditure credit, taxable, so worth around 15% to 16.2% of qualifying spend net of tax. Loss-making companies spending at least 30% of total expenditure on R&D can claim the enhanced intensive rate, worth up to 27%.

Staff costs including employer NI and pension for time spent on R&D, externally provided workers at 65%, subcontracted R&D at 65% with new rules on who claims, software licences, cloud computing and data costs, consumables transformed or used up in the R&D, and some clinical trial payments. Capital spend, rent and marketing do not qualify.

Companies that have not claimed in the previous three accounting periods must notify HMRC of their intention to claim within six months of the end of the period. Miss it and the claim for that period is lost entirely. We check your position at the eligibility stage and file the notification as part of the service.

Since August 2023 every R&D claim must be accompanied by a form submitted to HMRC before the CT600, giving project descriptions, cost breakdowns, the named senior officer responsible and any agent involved. Claims without it are removed from the return. We complete and submit it as part of the £999 fee.

HMRC aims to process 85% of claims within 40 days but the compliance campaign has lengthened this for many. Relief reducing a Corporation Tax bill takes effect when the return is processed; payable credits are paid to the company's bank account. We track the claim and chase HMRC if it stalls.

Percentage fees reward inflating the claim, which is exactly what HMRC's campaign targets. A fixed fee means our only interest is a claim that is right. For most small company claims £999 is also considerably cheaper than the 15% to 30% of benefit that contingent advisers charge.

We review the claim, the narrative and the cost basis, tell you how robust it is, and quote a fixed fee for handling the enquiry before any work starts. Where a claim was overstated by a previous adviser, the best outcome is often an agreed reduction, and we say so rather than fight a losing position at your expense.

Under the merged scheme the company that decides to undertake the R&D and bears the risk generally claims, even if it subcontracts the work. Subcontractor costs are included at 65%. Overseas subcontractor and worker costs are largely excluded unless the conditions cannot be met in the UK. We apply the rules to your contracts.

A claim can be made up to two years after the end of the accounting period, by amending the CT600. If you have two open periods both can be claimed. The notification rule applies to the later periods if you have not claimed recently, so the two-year window and the six-month window interact; we check both.

HMRC now checks a far higher proportion of claims than before 2023, so any claim carries some risk of questions. A claim with a clear technical narrative, costs that reconcile to the accounts and payroll, and a named competent professional behind it is answered quickly. We write claims to that standard.