R&D Tax Relief

Maximise innovation tax incentives and claim support — helping businesses recover the cost of research and development through HMRC’s generous tax relief scheme.

Recover the Cost of Innovation

R&D Tax Relief is one of the most valuable — and most underused — incentives in the UK tax system. HMRC allows companies to claim enhanced tax relief or a cash credit for qualifying research and development expenditure, yet the majority of eligible businesses never make a claim.

Many business owners assume R&D relief only applies to laboratories or tech companies. In reality, if your business has solved a technical challenge — in any sector — you may well have a valid R&D claim worth thousands of pounds.

InsightAccountax identifies your qualifying activities, builds a technically robust claim, and submits it to HMRC — maximising your relief while ensuring full compliance with HMRC’s strict guidelines.

R&D Relief for SMEs & Large Companies

Two separate R&D schemes apply depending on your company size — we handle both.

SME Scheme

Companies under 500 staff · Under €100m turnover

Enhanced deduction of 86% of qualifying R&D costs from taxable profit

Loss-making companies can surrender losses for a cash credit from HMRC

Must be a UK limited company subject to Corporation Tax

Claim up to 2 years after the end of your accounting period

Applies to staff costs, subcontractor costs, software, consumables and more

RDEC Scheme

Large companies · SMEs receiving grants

Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme

Above-the-line credit visible in profit and loss accounts

Applies to large companies or SMEs working under contract or grant

Credit can be used to offset Corporation Tax or received as cash

We assess the most beneficial scheme for your specific position

What Counts as R&D Activity?

R&D is broader than most people think — it spans many sectors and business types.

01

Software & Technology

Developing new software, systems or algorithms that advance beyond existing capabilities or solve a previously unsolved technical problem.

02

Engineering & Manufacturing

Creating new products, improving existing processes, or solving technical challenges in design, production or materials that weren’t straightforward.

03

Life Sciences & Healthcare

Clinical research, pharmaceutical development, medical device innovation or healthcare process improvements that advance scientific knowledge.

04

Construction & Built Environment

Developing new construction methods, materials or techniques — including structural challenges that required significant technical problem-solving.

05

Food, Agriculture & Environment

Innovating in food production, agricultural techniques, environmental science or sustainability — qualifying work is widespread in these sectors.

06

Any Sector with Technical Uncertainty

If your team has overcome a technical challenge that wasn’t standard knowledge for your industry, that work may well qualify — regardless of sector.

Our R&D Claim Process

A rigorous, end-to-end process that maximises your claim and ensures full HMRC compliance.

01 Free Eligibility Assessment

We review your business activities at no cost and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a qualifying R&D claim and its likely value.

02 Technical Deep Dive

We work closely with your technical team to identify all qualifying projects, document the scientific or technological uncertainties, and capture every eligible cost.

03 Financial Analysis

We identify all qualifying expenditure — staff costs, subcontractors, software licences, consumables and externally provided workers — and calculate your maximum claim.

04 Technical Report Preparation

We prepare a robust technical narrative that clearly explains the R&D activities, the uncertainties overcome, and how the work advances scientific knowledge.

05 CT600 Submission

The R&D claim is incorporated into your Corporation Tax return (CT600) and submitted to HMRC — we manage the entire filing process on your behalf.

06 HMRC Enquiry Support

If HMRC raises questions about your claim, we provide full support and defend the claim robustly — our thorough preparation minimises enquiry risk from the outset.

Why Businesses Choose InsightAccountax

Free Initial Assessment

We assess your eligibility at no cost — you only pay when we identify a valid claim worth pursuing.

HMRC Compliant Claims

Every claim is built to withstand HMRC scrutiny — technically robust, properly evidenced and fully compliant

Maximised Relief

We identify every qualifying cost category to ensure you claim the maximum allowable relief — nothing is left on the table.

Fast Turnaround

Most R&D claims are completed and submitted within 4–6 weeks — cash credits from HMRC typically follow within 28 days.

R&D Relief Key Facts

Enhanced Deduction (SME)

86%

Cash Credit Rate

Up to 33p

Claim Window

2 Years

HMRC Payment Time

~28 Days

Our Compliance Record

100%

R&D Tax Relief FAQs

Does my business qualify for R&D Tax Relief?

If your business has attempted to develop or improve a product, process or service in a way that involved overcoming genuine technical uncertainty, you may well qualify. Sectors range from construction and manufacturing to food production and software development.

How much can I claim back?

Under the SME scheme, companies can claim an enhanced 86% deduction on qualifying costs. For loss-making companies, this can result in a cash credit from HMRC of up to approximately 33p for every £1 of qualifying expenditure.

How far back can I claim?

You can make an R&D claim up to 2 years after the end of the accounting period in which the qualifying R&D activity took place. If you’ve been doing R&D work in previous years without claiming, you may be able to make a retrospective claim.

What costs can be included in an R&D claim?

Qualifying costs include staff salaries and NIC, subcontractor payments (at 65% for SMEs), software licences used in R&D, consumable materials used or transformed during R&D, and payments to externally provided workers involved in the qualifying activity.