An innovative electronics business with a manufacturing operation in Poole, Dorset, has received a whopping £250k as tax relief from the government via the HMRC research and development tax credit scheme – all within 21 months.
Rob Sowden, of Bournemouth-based Business Cash Enabler writes:
“I visited this company less than two years ago and explained the government scheme to the owning director. The R&D tax credit scheme enables a business to recoup a large proportion of costs incurred for any form of unique innovation that requires overcoming technical or scientific uncertainty. The qualifying expenditure can generate tax rebates, a cash payment even when the business is loss-making, a deduction to offset tax on account or an enhancement of losses to reduce future tax liability arising. Whichever way the client receives the credit, it is a bottom-line contribution to the business.
“A trading company that carries out any form of unique innovation may qualify year-on-year for this cashback from HMRC under this very generous scheme. A company can claim back two years, or must have at least their first set of trading accounts. The £250k this company received was based on two retrospective claim years plus their current year. A business does not have to be profitable to get this cashback, in fact a loss-making company can obtain an enhanced cash payout, up to 33% of qualifying staff costs. Some businesses have previously claimed and received small amounts, maybe £20k or £30k, which is much less than they are entitled to. What catches many businesses out is that they believe this claim opportunity is an accountancy work-stream, whereas it is really about technology. The service I introduced this client to required a specialist technical analyst to identify all of the qualifying activities permitted within the government’s scheme rules.”
Business Cash Enabler provides a free service to businesses to check eligibility under the HMRC R&D tax credit scheme.