THE taxation system in the UK is complex and the devil is often in the detail – and it’s the detail of one particular aspect, research and development (R&D) tax credits, which is the speciality of an Essex-based company
R&D Advisors UK Limited was founded by Kevin Auchoybur, who has over eight years’ experience in advising clients on their eligibility for R&D tax credits and has successfully claimed a large number of refunds in that time for SMEs carrying out research and development.
Kevin leads a team which has a deep and thorough understanding of R&D tax credits legislation, experts in identifying whether a business qualifies for R&D tax credits, and what expenditure qualifies for the scheme.
Kevin said:
“We specialise in retrospective and current year R&D tax relief, reporting with industry experts to create and file your report within a short time frame. We work with clients to develop and complete the report within eight weeks of determining your company’s eligibility.
Our specialist knowledge of the current legislation allows us to maximise claims for our clients, and our straightforward claim process means that clients can concentrate on running their business whilst we manage their claim for them.
We have helped many clients successfully claim R&D tax credits where others have advised they do not qualify. We have an excellent technical support team who are experienced in writing reports to a high standard using the HMRC guidelines. Our no-win, no- fee policy means if a client does not ultimately qualify for R&D tax relief, there will be no charge for our services.”
So, what exactly are R&D tax credits?
Kevin explained:
“The Government recognises innovation is essential to growth in the UK. The R&D tax credit scheme was introduced in 2000 and is administered by HMRC. It is now the largest single source of government support for business R&D and gives companies the opportunity to recoup some of their investment in developing new products, designs and processes. Regardless of the size of your company or whether you are making profits or losses, if you have costs and people associated with projects aimed at advancing what you do, then you could qualify for the R&D tax credits scheme.
If you have even the slightest feeling you may be eligible, our advice is always to talk to us about it. Our team
of experts will be pleased to discuss your potential claim in more detail. We understand businesses are busy and
that time is a valuable asset. Our process aims to take up as little of your time as possible. One of our specialists will visit you to help identify if there are examples of R&D in your work and if so, what they are.Once a client has signed our agreement form to provide our services at no cost or risk to their company, we gather
the relevant technical and financial information necessary to support their claim and prepare a comprehensive report covering their R&D submission with revised tax computations. We (or their accountant) then submit a revised tax return to HMRC, including technical reports and breakdown, and continue to work with HMRC to ensure they are happy with the claim. If the claim is successful, the client will receive a substantial refund from HMRC.”
It is estimated that less than 4% of companies are claiming R&D tax credits. Since 2000, almost £14 billion in tax relief has been claimed with the average claim value being £56,000. In the spring budget of 2017, the chancellor pledged an additional £4.7 billion for R&D tax credits over the next four years, mainly due to the positive impact the scheme provides for UK companies.
FAQ’s
Do I qualify?
If you own a limited company that has been trading for over 12 months and has developed new or improved existing products, processes, systems, devices, or materials, then there is a significant chance that you will be eligible to claim for R&D tax relief.
What can I claim for?
We have a detailed understanding of R&D legislation and practice and will conduct a thorough review of your business to ensure that every opportunity for R&D tax relief is identified.
What could the claim be worth?
The amount of relief available will depend on the amount of money you have spent or are currently spending, and the profitability of your business when the work took place.
Are there any upfront costs?
No, and we will only charge for a successfully approved claim. There is no charge if the claim fails to be approved by HMRC.
Can I claim patent costs?
No, the costs of preparing and registering a patent are the costs of protecting the completed R&D.
How do I treat R&D losses?
Under the SME scheme, any losses arising from the enhanced R&D expenditure may be surrendered for payable tax credit of 14.5% of the loss for that period.
How long will it take to receive an R&D tax credit claim?
The R&D Specialist Unit at HMRC aims to process 95% of payable tax credit claims within 28 days of receipt, although this can vary due to staffing levels. We enjoy an excellent relationship with the HMRC team and will regularly liaise with them for updates on clients claims.
How far can I go back to claim?
You can go back two full financial years as long as they are still in scope and based on your company financial year, not the HMRC tax year.
If you want to find out more or need some expert advice get in touch using the contact details below.
Contact Us
Call: 0203 195 3888
Email: info@rda.co.uk
Website: www.rda.co.uk