Claiming R&D Relief is Now Faster and Easier
The new Research and Development (R&D) plan, which came into effect last month, has been designed to simplify the process of R&D relief claims for small and medium-sized businesses, while making an effort to increase awareness of the relief among small business owners who are already investing in this area.
With the new Research and Development (R&D) plan the government have handed a boon to small business owners who have previously been put off by the high cost of entry into spaces and sectors that require a substantial amount of research and (ultimately) product development before they can even think about turning a profit.
Financial secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said of the new plan:
“R&D is crucial for the long-term growth of the UK economy. Over 15,000 SMEs claimed the relief in 2013, an increase of around 19 per cent from the previous year, but we need to go further to support pioneering small businesses. That’s why we’ve published a document setting out our plans to increase awareness and make it easier for people to apply.”
Claiming is Now Faster, Easier
Here at Tax Agility we believe you should claim all the tax relief your small business is owed in order to maximise your take-home pay. The new Research and Development (R&D) tax relief is no exception.
According to government figures, the 15,000 plus small and medium-sized businesses who claimed R&D tax relief in the 2013-14 tax year received £1.75 billion in tax relief during this period, a saving that is as beneficial to British innovation than it is to the companies themselves.
For this reason alone, the government are striving to make the application process faster and easier for small business owners so they can begin investing in R&D as soon as possible, safe in the knowledge that they’re receiving the tax relief they’re entitled to. Producing an infographic entitled Making R&D Tax Relief Easier, the government outlined the four areas in which they’re working to improve access to R&D tax relief (awareness, design, understanding, and administration), alongside the ways in which they’ve achieved this this year, and the ways in which they plan to continue achieving this in the next two years.
Requirements
In order for your small business to receive the R&D tax relief you must have an annual turnover under £2 million, and you must have fewer than 50 employees.
If you meet these specifications and you wish to receive the relief for any planned (or continuing) R&D in your company’s field, you can receive advance assurance on the R&D tax relief from the government, providing you with some much needed certainty surrounding the tax you’ll be paying, and the reliefs you’ll be able to claim against it, going forward.
Experienced Tax Accountants
To speak with a professional accountant to discuss the tax implications of the new Research and Development (R&D) plan, or for anything else, contact us today on 020 8780 2349 or get in touch with us via our contact page to arrange a complimentary, no obligation meeting.
For information on further government incentives in the form of tax relief, click here.
