Corporation tax
The merged R&D scheme and enhanced support for R&D intensive SMEs. What qualifies as R&D, what the claim is worth and the evidence HMRC now expects.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityYes, if your company seeks an advance in science or technology by resolving genuine technical uncertainty. Claims now run through the merged scheme, with additional support for loss-making R&D intensive SMEs, and require a pre-notification and a detailed claim submission.
What actually qualifies
Process, evidence and risk
Yes, if your company seeks an advance in science or technology by resolving genuine technical uncertainty. Claims now run through the merged scheme, with additional support for loss-making R&D intensive SMEs, and require a pre-notification and a detailed claim submission.
The work must attempt something a competent professional in the field could not readily deduce: new or improved software architecture, materials, processes or products where the outcome was genuinely uncertain. Routine development, cosmetic changes, market research and applying existing technology in an ordinary way do not qualify.
Qualifying costs include staff salaries and employer NIC and pension on the time spent, a proportion of subcontractor and externally provided worker costs, consumables, software and cloud computing, and data licence costs used in the R&D.
Claims require an additional information form with project descriptions, cost breakdowns and a named senior officer, and most first-time claimants must file a claim notification within six months of the end of the period. Miss the notification and the claim is invalid regardless of merit.
HMRC's compliance activity in this area is heavy. Contemporaneous evidence, technical narratives written by the people who did the work, and honest boundaries around what was uncertain are what survive an enquiry. We will tell you when a claim is not worth the risk.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
Under the merged scheme the above the line credit is taxable, giving a net benefit in the region of 15% to 16% of qualifying spend, with more for R&D intensive loss makers.
Generally two years from the end of the accounting period, subject to the notification rules for new claimants.
Not necessarily, but subsidised expenditure rules change the treatment, so the grant terms have to be reviewed.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
No. This page explains general UK rules and common accounting treatment. Your facts, contracts and wider tax position must be reviewed before you rely on a conclusion.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
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Share your next deadline, accounting problem or growth question. We will reply with a clear next step and quote any technical work before it begins.
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Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
