R&D tax credit accountant UK

An R&D tax credit accountant tests whether your project sought a technological advance under genuine uncertainty, calculates qualifying expenditure, and files the claim with the required additional information form. Claims are now filed under the merged scheme or the intensive regime.

You must be seeking an advance in science or technology, facing uncertainty that a competent professional in the field could not readily resolve. Commercial novelty is not enough; building a product using known techniques is not enough. Where the work does qualify, the relief is valuable and worth claiming properly.

The merged scheme provides an above the line expenditure credit for most claimants. Loss making, R&D intensive small companies can access enhanced support under the intensive regime instead. Qualifying costs typically include staff, externally provided workers, subcontractors subject to restrictions, software, data and cloud computing, and consumables.

An additional information form listing projects and costs must be submitted before or with the claim, a named senior officer must endorse it, and claim notification rules catch first time and lapsed claimants. HMRC enquiry rates rose sharply after widespread abuse. We prepare a claim we would be comfortable defending, because we will be the ones defending it.

Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the current UK position and current HMRC and Companies House guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own business.