R&D Services

R&D Tax Relief is a corporation tax incentive designed to encourage and reward companies of all sizes and all sectors who are engaged in innovation. The advantage of making a claim is a cash benefit to the company which can be as much as 33% of the qualifying expenditure identified, depending on location and tax authorities. 

There is a common misconception that only companies with teams in white lab coats will qualify however this is far from reality. Regardless of sector, if a company is spending money on research and development then they may be eligible to claim R&D Tax Relief. CBTax support thousands of companies across the UK & Ireland, covering all sectors in making claims. Our experienced team can identify whether a claim could be possible that could fuel your desired growth plans, whether this is to support further innovation, purchasing an asset or profit extraction.

Our claim process is designed to be as efficient as possible, reducing the time you need to invest into making the claim so you can do what you do best, running your business. Throughout the process, our team will also start planning your future claims and whether there are any opportunities to maximise any relief for your company going forward.
1

Free Consultation

Our R&D Technical Specialists and Chartered Tax Advisors will have a meeting with you to evaluate your business and its activities to identify whether you could qualify for an R&D Tax Relief claim. They’ll also run through our process with you and how we can ensure the claim is prepared in an efficient manner for you and your team.

2

Cost Extraction

Our Chartered Tax Advisors and research analysts will extract the qualifying costs that can be included in the R&D claim, ensuring that the claim is accurate and maximised. Not only are we looking at making a retrospective claim but also spotting opportunities that could support a larger claim in the future.

3

Technical Discussions

Our Technical Specialists will meet your key members of staff to discuss any qualifying R&D work they are undertaking, to establish what qualifies and meets your tax authorities technical criteria. These discussions typically take no longer than 2 hours. We will then prepare technical reports based on the projects that have been discussed during our meeting.

4

Submission

We prepare a robust report that covers both the tax aspects of the claim but also the R&D technical projects. This will be reviewed with you prior to submission and once approved, the document can be submitted to the tax authorities in your location.

5

Report Processing

Following submission to your tax authority, we will liaise with the relevant officer until your claim is processed and answer any questions that they may have. Typically, we expect a claim to be processed within 6-8 weeks from the submission date.

FAQ

  • What qualifies as R&D expenditure?

    There are lots of areas that could qualify for relief, from creating a new product to making an appreciable improvement to an existing process. Most companies will see the qualifying projects as something they just do and therefore it usually takes our team of Technical Specialists to ask some questions to identify whether it is something that we could put forward to your tax authorities.

  • How far back can I make a claim for R&D Tax Relief?

    Claims can be made as far back as two full financial periods in the UK, in Ireland claims can be made back as far as 12 months.

  • My company is loss making, can I still make a claim?

    Yes, even if your company is currently experiencing losses, you may still be eligible to claim for R&D tax credits. The R&D tax credit is not restricted to profitable companies. In fact, it can provide valuable support to businesses that are investing in innovation and research activities, regardless of their current financial status. It's important to assess your company's R&D activities against the eligibility criteria outlined by your tax authorities to determine if you qualify for the tax credit. As Chartered Tax Advisors specialising in R&D Tax Credits, we can assist you in navigating the requirements and maximising your claim potential.

  • Can my accountant claim for me?

    Making a claim is not a numbers exercise. We undertake reviews on behalf of clients on work prepared by accountants and this usually would not be sufficient to submit to the tax authorities or is either incorrectly prepared or has not been maximised. Usually, accountants are not qualified Chartered Tax Advisors so although they may be in a position to prepare year end compliance, they are not best placed in providing tax advice.

  • Can I submit a claim by myself?

    Absolutely, you have the option to submit an R&D claim yourself as part of your corporation tax return. However, we believe it's crucial to engage the expertise of Chartered Tax Advisors who possess a thorough understanding of the intricacies involved to avoid costly penalties resulting from inaccuracies. Submitting a technical report alongside your R&D claim isn't obligatory, at CBTax, we ensure that every claim we handle receives meticulous technical planning and support. We prepare robust technical reports, ready for submission to your tax authorities, to ensure compliance and maximise the effectiveness of your claim.