Top Mistakes in R&D Tax Claims: Are You Making These Costly Errors?

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R&D tax relief offers a powerful opportunity for innovative companies to recover significant costs. But making even minor mistakes in your claim could mean missed opportunities—or worse, HMRC scrutiny.

Our latest Director Insights Guide, “Top Mistakes Made in R&D Tax”, exposes the most common and costly errors companies make when submitting R&D claims—and shows you how to avoid them.

What You Might Be Getting Wrong

Without revealing everything (that’s in the guide), here are a few teasers:

• Misunderstanding What Qualifies as an Advance
  Many businesses wrongly assume that being “new to them” qualifies their project. But R&D tax relief depends on advancing baseline knowledge in a scientific or technological field—not just your internal expertise.

• Misidentifying Scientific or Technological Uncertainties
  Confusing operational challenges with true technical uncertainty can invalidate your claim. Learn how HMRC distinguishes between the two.

• Weak or Inappropriate Financial Methodologies
  Applying blanket percentages without justifying your apportionment? That’s a red flag. Our guide breaks down best-practice approaches to calculating qualifying expenditure.

The guide includes practical examples, HMRC-compliant definitions, and financial methodology insights to build robust claims.

This Guide is Perfect For:

• Finance Directors and CFOs reviewing R&D processes

• Technical teams supporting claim narratives

• Business owners looking to increase their tax efficiency

• Any company currently submitting—or planning to submit—R&D tax claims