R&D tax relief claims see a rapid increase

Newly released statistics from HMRC show that businesses are rapidly taking up the incentive to claim for R&D tax credits. In 2015-16, claims increased by 25 per cent, with a whopping £3.7bn being claimed by large and small companies across the nation.

Further, the latest figures from HMRC show that 39,960 claims have been made for 2016-17 – a significant increase compared to the 26,255 that were reported for 2015-16 at the same time last year. Small and medium-sized businesses in particular are taking advantage of the relief, with 34,060 having claimed in 2016-17 compared to just 15,585 in 2013-14.

This is great news for the UK’s economy – it shows that organisations are continuing to invest in research and development, keeping us at the forefront of innovation.

Is your work eligible?

The majority of claims, however, have come from only three sectors. Organisations in the finance and insurance industries, for example, fall behind, while those in manufacturing comprise a significant proportion of the total businesses who claimed.

With the average claim reaching £53,000, there’s a huge benefit – especially to smaller businesses – in claiming relief. Many still believe that their work isn’t eligible, but R&D tax credits aren’t reserved for science laboratories, manufacturers and construction firms. The food and drink industry, for example, innovates all the time, agricultural businesses can claim, as can those leading developments in land remediation.

In order to qualify for the relief, your business must simply … READ MORE ...