R&D Tax Credits

An R&D tax report that provides compelling technical narrative, financial clarity and peace of mind.

Having defended a client’s seven-figure claim, we realised a core issue in the R&D tax credit scheme – Traditional reports using the additional information form fail to address key questions raised by HMRC during compliance checks. Companies claiming are left having to navigate conversations with HMRC, leading to claim reductions and putting future years claims in jeopardy. Realising this prompted an overhaul in how our reports are written, they’re now designed to proactively answer those questions, ensuring your claim is well positioned from the start.

Financial directors deserve R&D tax reports that offer more than just technical narrative. They deserve clarity and peace of mind. We’re now offering a report that addresses potential enquiry questions from HMRC, while maintaining meticulous technical narrative, strict adherence to PCRT guidelines, and clear financial breakdowns – everything you need to feel confident in your R&D tax submission.

Reports tailored to HMRC's new process

Recent statistics from HMRC reveal a sharp rise in claim enquiries, now exceeding 20% of all submissions. This increased scrutiny highlights the critical importance of partnering with an R&D advisor equipped to support you throughout the entire process, not just during the initial claim preparation.

With significant changes in R&D tax relief legislation over the past 18 months, most notably the mandatory AIF in August 2023 and the merging of the RDEC and SME scheme in April 2024 there is also a further layer of complexity in the claim process. Relying solely on a basic submission using the HMRC AIF guidelines can be risky in this evolving climate, these guidelines may inadvertently lead to missing out on qualifying costs, and potentially triggering enquiries due to incomplete or inaccurate information.

Our R&D tax claim service provides you with end-to-end support, clarity in your claim value changes under the new scheme and most importantly a report that is proactive under the new guidelines.

Peace of mind during exits and IPOs

CFOs considering funding rounds, exits or other scenarios where due diligence checks are necessary face an issue: HMRC typically has up to 4 years to check for suspected R&D claim errors, creating significant overhead and uncertainty whilst the period lapses.

Escrowed R&D benefits, a common practice in these scenarios, can further complicate access to capital during a time when you need it most. Using our current format, under HMRCs own legislation it is possible for us to reduce the enquiry window to just 15 months, providing a smoother exit strategy for businesses considering this route.

Your Reputation On the Line

Since August 2023, HMRC has required all R&D tax credit documents to be checked and signed by a named officer of a claiming organisation. With your reputation effectively advertised on the front page of the document you need to be certain what you are signing meets your own professional standards.

Every section of technical narrative within our reports contains strict adherence to the legislation and references the relevant guidelines (CIRD, DSIT, CTA, Finance Act and GfC3) creating a justified, comprehensive report that you can be confident in submitting.

Relevant Articles

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What to Consider When Searching for an R&D Adviser in 2026

Here are our five green flags that will help ensure you work with a credible, competent adviser who will safeguard your R&D claims.

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What Makes a Coherent Technical Narrative

Using a coherent technical narrative in R&D claims is key to success.

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A Timeline of Projects & Stages of R&D

Applying a project-based approach gives you a robust framework for showing the innovative nature of your work, and costs that come with it.

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What is the Additional Information Form (AIF) in an R&D Claim?

Correctly completing this is crucial and can save you from falling into a trap of confusion and potential non-compliance.

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Evolution of the SME/RDEC Scheme

It is essential that those seeking to claim R&D tax relief understand the differences between each scheme so that they can maximise the number of claimable credits.

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Why Hasn’t my Accountant Mentioned R&D Tax Credits?

Let’s dive into some common reasons accountants fail to mention R&D Tax Credits.

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Our R&D Tax Relief Process

1. Terms of Engagement & Company Introduction An introductory consultation to review the company's current R&D process and outline how our process works.

2. Initial Consultation

Once assigned an industry specialist claims consultant, they will schedule an initial meeting. During this, we will discuss qualifying criteria, the process and timeline, eligible projects, the claim amount, and answer any questions you have about R&D tax relief.

3. Report Writing & Review

Based on the information provided during our meeting, our report team will collate our signature four-part report which will then be sent to you for your review and confirmation, ensuring that the information provided accurately reflects the company's R&D activities during the claim period.
The agreed report and revised tax calculations will be submitted to HMRC. If any additional queries arise, we will first discuss them with you before responding to HMRC.

Common Misconceptions

You must invent something completely new

R&D relief is not limited to ground-breaking inventions. Improving an existing product, process, or service can qualify if it involves overcoming technical uncertainty.

Failed projects do not qualify

Unsuccessful R&D can still be eligible because the scheme rewards the attempt to resolve scientific or technological uncertainty, not just successful outcomes.

Only “white coat” science counts

R&D can occur in many industries, including software, engineering, manufacturing, construction, food, and medtech, as long as it seeks a genuine scientific or technological advance.

Only large or specialist firms can claim

Companies of all sizes and sectors can claim R&D relief, provided they meet the technical and eligibility criteria, including many SMEs and startups.

Outsourced R&D is never claimable

Some subcontracted or externally provided R&D work can still be included, depending on the company’s size and the contractual arrangement.

Only staff directly doing experiments count

Staff involved in supporting qualifying R&D (e.g., project management, direct technical support, certain overheads) can also be part of the claim where their time is directly attributable to the R&D.