The number of SMEs claiming R&D tax incentives has more than doubled; 34, 060 made a claim for 2016-17 compared to just 15, 585 three years earlier. Are you making the most of the tax breaks for innovation?
As recently as June 2018, research into how UK businesses were responding to the government’s efforts to incentivise innovation through R&D tax credits revealed that up to 55% of eligible SMEs are still not claiming what they’re entitled to. A quarter said they didn’t know what they can claim for, and an estimate of unclaimed relief totalled a staggering 74bn.
According to figures released by HMRC today, UK’s small businesses have rapidly caught up. Last’september, there had been 26, 255 R&D tax credit claims worth almost 2.5bn. The September 2018 report reveals this has climbed to 39, 960 claims worth 3.5bn using a year-on-year comparison.
What are R&D tax credits?
R&D tax credits are a tax relief designed to encourage greater spending in research and development, leading in turn to greater investment in innovation. They work by either reducing a company’s liability to corporation tax or by making a payment to the company. There are three schemes for claiming relief: The Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Scheme; The Large Company Scheme; and Research and Development Expenditure Credits (RDEC). An SME may claim a higher rate of relief than a large company. Also, an SME which has no tax bill to reduce may claim a cash payment instead. R&D tax credits were introduced for SMEs in 2000 and extended to large companies from 2002. An additional top-up? relief for vaccines research was introduced in 2003 known as Vaccines Research Relief (VRR).
today’s figures reveal that, following HMRC’s successful campaigning, awareness of R&D tax incentives has increased substantially. Most importantly, the figures indicate that HMRC has received double the number of claims compared to previous years, ” saysjenny Tragner, director at R&D tax credit consultancy ForrestBrown and member of HMRC’s R&D Consultative Committee.
For SMEs, the average claim value has continued to increase year-on-year. For the most recent period (2016-17), the average SME claim value is now at 53, 876. “However, what is interesting is that HMRC has made significant revisions to last year’s statistics. In the 2017 report, the average claim value was stated to be 61, 514, but new claims received this year bring that figure down to 47, 664, ” she explains.
“This is brilliant news for the economy, given that we know the purpose of R&D tax credits is to promote private sector innovation and investment in STEM jobs.”
What does this spike in claims actually mean? Is the UK truly ramping up innovation?
Although the average claim value has increased, Tragner says it is now not as high expected last year, and with increasing numbers of SMEs claiming, she believes that lots of business are making small claims. More than 75% of claims made were worth less than 50, 000.
“While it’s fantastic to see this increase in SMEs benefitting from claiming R&D tax credits, we are concerned that some businesses may not be getting the full value that they deserve, ” she adds.
we urge businesses not to be complacent and to review their claim each year to ensure it is maximised, and incorporates the full extent of their qualifying costs. As a first-time claimant it is not always easy to identify all of your relevant activities and costs. Getting your claim right is important as an SME as many use the benefit they receive as a vital source of funding to further grow their business.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Making the most of the tax system to fund your innovation Tax reliefs are often grossly under-claimed due to a lack of awareness by eligible businesses. Here’s how to make the most of the UK’s tax credits.
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For Mark Tighe, CEO of tax relief specialists Catax, this 52.2% rise in the number of claims year-on-year is a sign that the government’s incentive scheme is finally catching fire. “Britain is moving from being a nation of shopkeepers to a nation of entrepreneurs, ” he says.
The R&D tax credit scheme was launched at the turn of the century but British businesses have now finally taken up the cudgel, Tighe explains. “They are ploughing into investment just as the chancellor has been urging them to do.”
the fact that it is Britain’s army of SMEs that have fixed bayonets, driving this incredible growth, bodes extremely well for the state of the nation’s employers as Brexit approaches.The government is aware that Britain has a global reputation for innovation and so is actively trying to encourage firms of all sizes to invest in R&D. The importance of exporting innovative tech, pharma, engineering and manufacturing cannot be overstated in current climate.”He believes that these figures prove that Britain is an attractive place to invest in R&D and the government will be hoping big multinationals take notice.
Growing through R&D tax credits: Mapmyhealth
Mapmyhealth is a pioneering Oxfordshire-based small business that has grown since claiming R&D tax credits.Mapmyhealth was formed six years ago with a vision.
Diabetes costs the NHS 10bn each year, which is why Mapmyhealth’s founders launched their app, Mapmydiabetes, to provide self-management support programme for patients with type 2 diabetes. Innovation
The innovation at the centre of the app is its instant accessibility for users. This means patients can access the information and tools they need through a range of digital devices without the needfor regular appointments at busy hospitals or GP surgeries.
GPs are now able to refer and manage their patients? education and set targets through the Mapmydiabetes app, while patients have a lot more information to understand their condition, take control of it, and share progress with their doctors, all while staying updated on new solutions to help with their illness. R&D tax credits for a financial boost for any SME looking to establish itself, the early years can be a struggle as companies look to develop and sell a proposition. There is often a period of time before you can start generating sustainable revenue from new products, particularly if you are working in a new field as Mapmyhealth is, or with large institutions such as the NHS, ” Mapmyhealth CEO Iain Brogan says.”The funds claimed back have gone straight to the bottom line, enabling us to reinvest in the innovation we are driving forward and support our growth plans.
The fact remains that the number of SMEs claiming R&D tax incentives has more than doubled; 34, 060 made a claim for 2016-17 compared to just 15, 585 three years earlier. If current trends are enough to go by, there’s no time like the present to make the most out of every tax relief available to you today.
The number of SMEs claiming R&D tax incentives has more than doubled; 34, 060 made a claim for 2016-17 compared to just 15, 585 three years earlier. Are you making the most of the tax breaks for innovation?
As recently as June 2018, research into how UK businesses were responding to the government’s efforts to incentivise innovation through R&D tax credits revealed that up to 55% of eligible SMEs are still not claiming what they’re entitled to. A quarter said they didn’t know what they can claim for, and an estimate of unclaimed relief totalled a staggering 74bn.
According to figures released by HMRC today, UK’s small businesses have rapidly caught up. Last’september, there had been 26, 255 R&D tax credit claims worth almost 2.5bn. The September 2018 report reveals this has climbed to 39, 960 claims worth 3.5bn using a year-on-year comparison.
Making the most of the tax system to fund your innovation
