We know how important innovation is for your business, and our dedicated team is here to make understanding and benefiting from R&D tax credits easy. Let’s explore R&D Tax together in a straightforward, informative way that suits your needs.
What R&D Means for Your Business: Claiming Your Share
The R&D tax credit scheme allows you to reclaim a portion of the money you have invested in innovation, regardless of your business size. No laboratory coat required!
To qualify for this tax relief, you’ll need to submit an R&D tax credit claim, potentially receiving a cash payment and/or a reduction in Corporation Tax.
To qualify, your business must:
- Be eligible for corporation tax as a limited company in the UK.
- Have engaged in ‘innovation,’ including qualifying R&D activities.
- Have invested funds in these innovation projects.
What Counts as R&D? Your Guide to Claiming Tax Credits Across Industries
To submit a claim you have to identify what constitutes R&D in your business. Fortunately, there’s a wide scope for R&D across all sectors of businesses. When you claim for the first time, you can typically claim for your last two completed accounting periods – which essentially means you can often have cash waiting you may not have ever considered.
Examples of sectors that can claim for R&D include:
● Life Science R&D Tax Credits: The UK’s global leadership in life sciences offers great opportunities for businesses to reclaim money invested in innovation.
● Food and Drink R&D Tax Credits: It is estimated that claims are only made for 1% of the R&D performed in this sector; perhaps your business is among the 99%.
● Science & Technology R&D Tax Credits: Many people associate R&D with sciences and technology, making it a common area for claims. If you’re involved in this sector, get in touch. However, R&D is often wrongly assumed to only be relevant to this sector.
● Manufacturing & Engineering R&D Tax Credits: Ideal for creating new processes or transforming existing ones. Make sure you claim what you deserve.
Most sectors are eligible, but you might need assistance identifying eligible activities.
What activities are eligible for R&D tax savings?
During the R&D tax claim process, we will analyse what has gone into your R&D process to work out how much money you can claim.
This includes:
● Staff salaries and expenses
● Freelancer fees or subcontractor work. This may also include payments made to the subjects of clinical trials.
● Materials and consumables. This even extends to utilities and other factors
● Certain types of software
With so many eligible sectors and criteria, your business could be missing out on thousands of pounds. Try our R&D tax calculator to see how much your R&D tax claim could be worth.
R&D Tax Relief Schemes – Key Changes
The government’s target to raise investment in R&D to 2.4% of UK GDP by 2027 drives these changes.
As of April 2024, the two separate RDEC and SME tax credit schemes will be merged, streamlining the relief and helping control its overall cost.
Technical Changes to the R&D Tax Relief Regime
In addition to the rate changes, a number of technical and administrative changes are on the way, but these apply for accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2023 or April 2024.
Advanced assurance, changes in the definition of R&D, and extensions to costs that qualify for relief are some of the technical changes shaping the R&D tax relief landscape.
R&D Tax Relief Claim Process – Changes from August 2023
All claims are required to be made digitally, except for companies exempt from the requirement to deliver a Company Tax Return online, and include an Additional Information form to be submitted through a new online portal.
Lumo: Your R&D Partner for Growth
At Lumo, we’re not just service providers; we’re your innovation partners. Engage with our expert team for personalised advice and support on R&D tax incentives.
We’re committed to helping innovative businesses like yours grow, aligning with our ethos of supporting your journey to a brighter future.
Don’t let valuable opportunities slip away. Contact Lumo today and let us help you unlock the power of R&D tax credits for your business.