UK R&D Tax Credit
News & Articles

Is RDEC Drifting Towards Industrial Policy Bias?

Could the UK Government be Pushing R&D Incentives Toward Industrial Policy Objectives?

UK R&D tax relief remains sector-neutral in law, but recent government behaviour suggests a shift toward favouring strategic, high-tech industries. This article explores how Budget signals, HMRC enquiry patterns and the new Call for Evidence together create a subtle form of industrial policy—and what this means for businesses preparing claims under the merged RDEC scheme ... READ MORE

R&D Advance Assurance Pilot Announced for Spring 2026

What does the new R&D Advance Assurance Pilot mean for SMEs?

It's undeniable that parts of the new RDEC qualification rules are complex. Getting advance assurance from HMRC on specific points would be invaluable. The proposed pilot, announced in the Autumn Budget Statement (November 2025), looks like it aims to address this, at least for some Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This article examines what is known and, crucially, what is yet to be confirmed about the pilot, and how it might impact your claims.

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Why do Techncial Teams Underclaim?

The Psychology of R&D Reporting for RDEC Claims

Many R&D teams under-report uncertainty — not because their work isn’t innovative, but because they’re too modest to see it that way. They often normalise difficulty. One plant scientist, for example, developing disease-resistant seeds using bio-markers — at first dismissed his work as “routine”. It took a year to persuade him it was R&D by which time he’d missed claiming over £100,000 in tax credits ... READ MORE

Is R&D Tax Relief Going Unclaimed? 

Some R&D Incentives are Going Unclaimed Due to Psychological Barriers, Misconceptions & Fears

Are you a UK business missing out on R&D tax credits? You might be. Despite the benefits of the UK R&D incentives, such as the RDEC scheme, many businesses fail to claim due to common misconceptions and fears. They believe they aren't "innovative enough," fear HMRC scrutiny, or find the process overwhelming. Our full article explores these hidden barriers and how to overcome them. ... READ MORE

The UK’s Innovation Funding Landscape Explained 

Are you Making the Most of How R&D Tax Relief Works with Other UK Innovation Incentives?

This article explores how R&D tax relief interacts with other UK government schemes including the Patent Box, Innovate UK grants and investor incentives such as EIS and SEIS. Learn how recent changes under the merged R&D scheme make it easier to combine funding sources and maximise total benefit while avoiding common pitfalls. ... READ MORE

R&D Tax Credit Statistics 2025 show SME Collapse 

UK R&D Tax Relief Statistics 2025: Why SME Claims Halved and Large Company Claims Grew

New HMRC R&D data confirms a major shift in the UK scheme. SME claims have plummeted 52% due to reforms and compliance, while large company (RDEC) relief now dominates the £7.6 billion support pot. What's behind this stark change and what does it indicate for the future ... READ MORE

Official Data: R&D Tax Credit Claims in Key UK Sectors 

Beyond the Hype: What Official Data Say About R&D Tax Credit Claims in Future-Defining UK Sectors

For the first time, government analysis has revealed how Engineering Biology, Quantum Technology and Robotics companies are engaging with R&D tax relief. The analysis indicates that with nearly 3,800 active firms and just 1,189 claims, uptake varies widely. It also provides insights into how government can benchmark R&D claims and how they view lossmaking as 'expected' for early stage claimants ... READ MORE

AI and the Future of R&D Claims

What happens when AI-powered R&D claims meet AI-powered HMRC inspections?

AI is transforming how R&D tax claims are prepared, helping businesses draft narratives, extract technical details, and model costs. At the same time, HMRC may be using AI to review claims, creating a potential arms-race scenario: faster processing, but higher risk of false positives and opaque rejections. Read the full newsletter to explore practical steps for staying compliant in an AI-driven R&D environment. READ MORE