Do You Qualify to Claim R&D Tax Credits?
Your company needs to be a SME (small to medium enterprise); in essence, having less than 500 staff and under 100 million euros turnover. Other areas of qualification are as listed and explained below.
The Nature of the Project
Please note: Although the projects need to be based on specific areas of research, it does not mean that your business has to be a science or technology business.
Claiming R&D credits is open to almost all companies operating in different types of categories; for example, you could be a manufacturing company that is trying to create a software or process (that does not already exist) to increase productivity.
Projects must meet certain criteria, such as revolving around an improvement such as engineering, science based, or software related projects.
The project purpose needs to be related to improving the function, quality, reliability or performance of the product, process or service. Evaluation of how your project fits the criteria can be undertaken as advised, to demonstrate your eligibility for the credits.
How to Claim R&D Tax Credits?
To be able to submit your claim for tax credits, there are a few steps that need to be taken to ensure your claim will be successful.
Firstly, the claim must be submitted through your Corporation Tax return. The expenditures related to the research and development being undertaken can be claimed, such as: staff costs, third party payments, external workers, software, utilities, clinical volunteers and research contributions. These costs are then submitted and tallied to calculate the size of the claim.
Secondly, a narrative to describe the project, innovation and research being undertaken will need to be submitted. Examples of information could include how the project has solved a problem and how it will support future capability and solve future issues in the company.
Finally, a CT600 form (a Company Tax Return) must be filled in and included in the application to HMRC.
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