Research and Development (R&D) tax relief represents one of the most significant cash flow opportunities available.
No jargon. No pressure. Just expert advice to help your business move forward with confidence. Get in touch today or apply to become a client.
For UK companies turning over £1m to £15m, Research and Development (R&D) tax relief represents one of the most significant cash flow opportunities available – often returning £25,000 to £150,000+ annually in reduced tax liabilities or cash credits.
Whether you’re developing new software architectures, engineering advanced manufacturing processes, or creating patented products, if your work resolves technological uncertainty, you likely qualify for substantial government incentives.
#Key Opportunity: The 2024 merged R&D scheme now simplifies claiming for all businesses, while introducing enhanced 14.5% credit rates for R&D-intensive companies (those spending 30%+ of total costs on research). For scaling manufacturers and tech businesses, this often means significantly improved returns compared to the previous system.
Two schemes, one route in: Most companies now claim through the single merged scheme, which pays a 20% above-the-line credit on qualifying costs. Loss-making, R&D-intensive SMEs sit in a separate, more generous track (Enhanced R&D Intensive Support), which is why getting your company classification right at the outset matters as much as the technical case itself.
Why the detail matters now: HMRC has significantly increased compliance scrutiny on R&D claims in recent years, enquiry rates are up, and claims built on rough estimates or generic templates are the ones most likely to be challenged or delayed. A well-evidenced claim, prepared alongside your actual accounts rather than as a one-off exercise, is both faster to process and far more defensible if HMRC asks questions.
We specialise in identifying qualifying expenditure often missed by generalist accountants. Common qualifying projects include:
Software & Technology
Manufacturing & Engineering
The Critical Test: Your project must resolve technological uncertainty – meaning the solution wasn’t readily available or obvious to competent professionals in your field. Routine product development using established methods does not qualify.
Common exclusions we help clients avoid claiming for:
Getting this boundary right matters, since HMRC enquiry teams focus heavily on claims that stretch the definition of qualifying work, so we scope every project against the technological uncertainty test before it goes anywhere near a claim.
Tell us a little about your business and goals, and we’ll review whether StriveX is the right fit for your next stage of growth.
While R&D tax relief reduces the cost of innovation, Patent Box reduces the tax on its commercial success. Once your R&D generates patented products or processes, you may pay just 10% corporation tax on related profits—half the standard rate.
Strategic Integration: We advise scaling businesses to align R&D claiming with IP strategy. Companies with £1m+ turnover often benefit from coordinating their R&D tax relief claims with Patent Box elections, ensuring the innovation funding cycle (research → patent → commercialise → reinvest) is fully tax-optimised.
Eligible businesses typically include:
Unlike generalist firms who treat R&D as a year-end afterthought, we understand that for scaling businesses, timing is cash flow.
Quick Turnaround: Where we handle your year-end accounts and corporation tax return, we guarantee R&D claim submission with a quick turnaround. This accelerates HMRC processing and gets cash back into your business faster – critical for funding growth or bridging to investment rounds.
Specialist Technical Review: All claims are reviewed by our R&D tax specialists (not junior staff) to ensure they meet HMRC’s evolving criteria. We provide:
The most common missed opportunity: many businesses that already claim R&D tax relief never elect into Patent Box, simply because nobody flagged that their patented product or process qualified. Ownership is not always straightforward either, since if your IP sits with a group company or is held under an exclusive licence, it is still worth checking whether you can elect in, rather than assuming you cannot.
Because a Patent Box election affects how profits are calculated for years to come, we model the numbers before you elect, so you can see the expected saving and confirm it is the right time to bring a patent into the regime.
One thing worth acting on quickly: R&D tax relief claims must be submitted within two years of the end of the accounting period they relate to. If that window is approaching, it is worth getting in touch now rather than risking the claim falling out of time.
Complete our short enquiry form so we can understand your business, goals, and support requirements.
We assess your details to understand the best route and whether StriveX is the right fit for your needs.
If striveX is the right match, we’ll arrange a consultation; if not, we’ll connect you with a trusted partner.
Once approved, we’ll guide you through onboarding and put the right support in place for your business.
