R&D tax relief remains a mystery to majority of small business owners
R&D tax relief was introduced in 2000 as an incentive to drive innovation
Over half of small UK business owners are completely unaware of the research and development (R&D) tax relief scheme and how it could benefit their company, according to new survey findings.
The research, from tax relief experts Catax, uncovered significant misconceptions about R&D tax relief and who it could be available to. Over four in ten respondents believed it was restricted to specialist drug, science and technology firms.
the people in white coats? myth urgently needs to be debunked because currently SMEs are losing out, said Catax CEO Mark Tighe.
The R&D tax relief scheme was introduced in 2000 as a way to boost innovation and wealth creation in the UK economy, by encouraging development projects among businesses.
For smaller firms, the tax credit works by allowing business owners to deduct 125 per cent of eligible research and development costs from the company’s total taxable income. It a company makes a loss, the scheme is extended to allow a cash payment of up to 32.63 per cent of eligible investment in the project.
Catax research suggested 57 per cent of all small businesses could be eligible for funding, with the basic requirement for R&D tax relief simply developing a new product or service. It claimed owners of smaller firms could be missing out on hundreds of millions in tax credits every year simply from a misunderstanding of eligibility criteria.
In a statement, Tighe, explained that a broad range of industries could benefit from R&D tax relief, pointing out the average tax benefit of 39, 000 for Catax clients.
in reality, a restaurant creating a new recipe, a brewery experimenting with a new pint or a business trying to streamline its IT with some proprietary cloud technology could all be eligible for tax relief.
Low levels of awareness of R&D tax relief in the small business community continue to exist despite chancellor Philip Hammond using the Spring Budget to confirm further assistance to smaller firms in accessing the tax credit.
Praseeda Nair is an impassioned advocate for women in leadership, and likes to profile business owners, advisors and experts in the field of entrepreneurship and management.
Business owners who receive tax credits for research and development (R&D) improve their chances of succeeding in radical process innovation, according to new academic research carried out at Brighton Business School but only if employees have the skills to make the most of funding. more»
Grants expert Daniel Tenner explores the subject of R&D tax credits, outlining what it is firms can claim back and what it takes for a project to qualify. more»
The UK's entrepreneurial community is simultaneously vibrant, inclusive, and highly competitive thanks in no small part to various tax credits and reliefs. more»