When people hear “R&D,” they often imagine scientists in sterile labs, white coats on, pipettes in hand. But in reality, R&D tax relief is far more accessible, and it could apply to your business even if you’ve never set foot in a laboratory.
If your company is solving problems, developing new processes, or improving systems in a unique way, you may be eligible for this generous form of tax relief. And no lab coat is required.
R&D applies to more industries than you think
You don’t need to be in pharmaceuticals or aerospace to benefit from R&D tax credits. We’ve seen successful claims from businesses in:
- E-commerce
- Construction
- Fashion
- Software
- Food production
- Creative services
For example:
- A food manufacturer creating a vegan product with the same texture as dairy cheese.
- A construction company developing a new eco-friendly insulation method.
- A software business designing a tool that integrates two systems that don’t normally “talk” to each other.
The key question isn’t what you do, but how you do it. If you’ve had to figure out how to achieve something that wasn’t readily available or obvious, that’s where HMRC starts to take notice.
Work with Strivex today
At striveX®, we support values-driven businesses to claim the R&D tax relief they deserve. Whether you’re exploring your first claim or need to strengthen an existing process, we’ll guide you every step of the way – giving you a clear understanding and confidence.
What qualifies as R&D?
R&D for tax purposes is defined as work that seeks to make an advance in science or technology, where there’s technical uncertainty. That could include:
- Building a bespoke internal system
- Developing a new product with complex features
- Improving the performance of an existing service or process
- Experimenting with new materials, technologies, or software
Even if your project didn’t succeed exactly as planned, you may still qualify. HMRC recognises that failed experiments are part of innovation.
You might be working on something completely unique to your business, and that still counts.
To qualify, your business must:
- Be a UK limited company subject to Corporation Tax
- Have carried out qualifying R&D activities related to your trade
Why most eligible businesses never claim
The biggest reason companies miss out? They assume R&D “isn’t for them.” Often, founders think their work is “just part of doing business,” but in reality, they’re solving problems others haven’t solved before and investing time, money, and headspace to get there.
Many also think the process is complicated, but with the right help, it’s straightforward.
How to know if you might qualify
Here’s a quick self-checklist:
- Did your business face a technical challenge that wasn’t straightforward to solve?
- Did you have to test, trial, or experiment with different approaches?
- Did you use skilled staff or subcontractors to overcome these challenges?
- Did the work involve uncertainty about whether it was even possible or how to achieve it?
If you ticked “yes” to these, it’s worth exploring a claim.
How to claim R&D tax relief
The process usually involves:
- Identifying eligible projects — reviewing your recent work and spotting qualifying activities.
- Calculating your costs — including staff time, materials, subcontractor fees, and certain overheads.
- Preparing the technical narrative — explaining your work in a way that meets HMRC’s criteria.
- Submitting your claim — usually alongside your Corporation Tax return.
Don’t leave money on the table. We’ve seen businesses reclaim thousands of pounds (sometimes tens of thousands) through R&D tax relief. That’s money that can be reinvested into new projects, staff, or growth.
You don’t need a lab coat, a microscope, or a chemistry set. You just need to be solving problems in a way that advances knowledge or capability in s field of science or technology.
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