R&D tax relief • Sussex
R&D Tax Relief Claims in Haywards Heath
If your company is solving technical problems, it may qualify for R&D tax relief. We check whether your work qualifies, prepare a claim that stands up to HMRC scrutiny and file it with your company tax return.
- Merged scheme: 20% R&D expenditure credit
- ERIS: extra relief for R&D-intensive loss makers
- Compliance: notification and information forms
- No inflated claims, only what qualifies
R&D relief at a glance
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Merged R&D expenditure credit | 20% of qualifying costs, worth around 15% to 16% after tax for profitable companies |
| Enhanced R&D Intensive Support (ERIS) | For loss-making SMEs spending at least 30% of total costs on R&D: an extra 86% deduction and a payable credit of up to 14.5% |
| Claim notification | First-time claimants must notify HMRC within 6 months of the end of the accounting period |
| Additional information form | Must be submitted before the company tax return for every claim |
What counts as R&D?
R&D for tax purposes means work that seeks an advance in science or technology by resolving technical uncertainty. It is not limited to labs. Software, engineering, manufacturing and product design businesses often qualify.
Software development
Building new technology, algorithms or integrations where the solution was not readily available.
Engineering and manufacturing
Developing new processes, materials or products that needed technical problem-solving.
Qualifying costs
Staff costs, subcontractors (with limits), software, consumables and some data and cloud costs.
What does not qualify
Routine work, cosmetic changes and work where the answer was already known in the field.
Why use Digivolve?
HMRC has increased checks on R&D claims. We prepare claims alongside your year-end accounts and corporation tax return, so the figures match and the technical narrative is clear and honest. See also our limited company accountants page.
R&D tax relief FAQs
- Does my company qualify for R&D tax relief?
- It may if you are trying to overcome scientific or technological uncertainty, even if the project failed. We assess this with you before preparing a claim.
- How much could we claim?
- Under the merged scheme, the credit is 20% of qualifying costs before tax. R&D-intensive loss-making SMEs may get more through ERIS.
- Do we need to tell HMRC in advance?
- First-time claimants, or companies that have not claimed in the last three years, must submit a claim notification within 6 months of the end of the accounting period.
- How do you charge?
- We agree a fixed fee upfront rather than taking a large percentage of your claim.
Think you might qualify?
Book a free consultation to talk through your projects.
This page is general information, not personal tax advice.