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The two-year plan, which is a response to an HMRC consultation, aims to increase take-up of research and development (R&D) tax relief through raising awareness of the relief among small businesses and making it easier for them to apply.
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Latest statistics for 2013/14 show more than 15,000 SMEs claimed the relief in 2013, an increase of around 19 per cent from the previous year, but the Government wants to go further.
The Financial Secretary David Gauke said: “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.”
The plan, ‘Making R&D Easier: HMRC’s plan for small business R&D tax relief’, sets out that:
- From November, small companies – with a turnover under £2 million and fewer than 50 employees – will be able to seek advance assurance on R&D tax relief. This will give them greater certainty and enable them to plan their finances effectively.
- HMRC will explore ways to improve its communication around R&D tax relief, including looking at ways to use data and work with other Government agencies to identify companies that have carried out R&D but have not claimed relief.
- Interactive guidance will be developed with stakeholder involvement
- HMRC evaluation shows that each £1 of tax foregone by R&D tax relief stimulates between £1.53 and £2.35 of additional R&D investment.
Background
SME R&D relief works by way of super deduction, allowing companies to reduce profits liable to corporation tax by 230 per cent of their qualifying R&D expenditure.
In 2013/14, businesses received £1.75 billion in R&D tax relief, an increase of almost £750 million since 2009/10.
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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2015
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