R&D Tax Credits & Claims in Manchester, UK
R&D tax credits provide a valuable cash boost for companies that successfully claim them for their research and development efforts. If your business has invested time and money into developing new products, processes, or services — or improving existing ones — you may be eligible to claim significant tax relief through HMRC’s R&D tax credit scheme.
At Esperta, our specialist R&D tax consultants help businesses across Manchester and the UK identify qualifying R&D activities, prepare robust claims, and maximise the relief available — while ensuring full compliance with HMRC’s current rules.
The relief gained can be reinvested into your business — whether to fund further innovation, hire new staff, or upgrade equipment and facilities. To find out how much your business could claim, get in touch with our team today.
The Merged R&D Tax Relief Scheme
Since April 2024, the SME and RDEC R&D tax relief schemes have been merged into a single scheme with unified rates and rules. Under the current merged scheme:
These changes mean that even businesses who previously assessed themselves as ineligible, or who claimed under the old rules, may now find they qualify for a different — and sometimes more generous — level of relief. Esperta’s R&D specialists stay up to date with all HMRC guidance to ensure your claim reflects the current rules.
Enhanced Relief for R&D Intensive Loss-Making SMEs
Loss-making small and medium-sized businesses that invest heavily in research and development may qualify for enhanced support under the R&D Intensive scheme. To qualify as “R&D intensive,” a company must spend more than 30% of its total expenditure on qualifying R&D activities — this threshold was reduced from 40% in April 2024, meaning more loss-making SMEs now qualify than before.
Companies that meet this threshold can benefit from an enhanced rate of relief — currently around 27% — significantly higher than the standard merged scheme rate. If your business is loss-making and investing heavily in innovation, it’s worth having your R&D intensity assessed by our team, as this enhanced rate could make a substantial difference to your claim.
Is Your Business Eligible for R&D Tax Relief?
To qualify as an SME for R&D tax relief purposes, your business must:
It’s important to note that linked and partner enterprises are factored into these totals and can affect your SME status. Eligibility is also influenced by voting rights your business holds in other companies, as well as external voting rights held in your business. Our team can help you assess your eligibility, taking all of these factors into account.
What Activities Qualify for R&D Tax Credits?
Under the current R&D tax relief scheme, businesses can claim Corporation Tax relief on projects that meet HMRC’s definition of research and development. A project may qualify if it meets the following criteria:
Many business owners don’t realise just how broad this definition can be
What Can't Be Claimed Under R&D Tax Relief?
While R&D tax relief covers a wide range of activities — many of which business owners may not initially recognise as qualifying — there are some exclusions. R&D tax relief does not cover:
Our team will help you clearly identify which of your costs qualify and which don’t, ensuring your claim is both maximised and fully compliant.
How Do I Claim R&D Tax Credits?
R&D tax credits are claimed by submitting a Company Tax Return (CT600) to HMRC, along with the required additional information form. Claims can generally be made for up to two years after the end of the accounting period in which the R&D expenditure was incurred.
While the process can be complex — particularly with the recent changes to the scheme — Esperta has a team of specialist R&D tax consultants based in Manchester who can identify your qualifying activities, calculate your claim accurately, prepare the supporting documentation, and submit your claim to HMRC on your behalf.
Why Choose Esperta for Your R&D Tax Claim?
R&D tax relief is a specialist area, and getting it wrong — whether by under-claiming or over-claiming — can have significant consequences for your business. Here’s why businesses across Manchester trust Esperta with their R&D claims:
We take the time to properly understand your business and the technical details of your projects, ensuring we identify every qualifying activity and cost. Our team stays fully up to date with the latest HMRC guidance and the ongoing changes to the R&D scheme, so your claim is always prepared in line with current rules. And because we work closely with you throughout the year — not just at claim time — we can help you keep the right records in place to support future claims too.
Find Out How Much You Could Claim
If your business has invested in developing new products, processes, software or services, you could be eligible for valuable R&D tax relief — even if you’ve never claimed before, or if a previous claim wasn’t prepared by an R&D specialist.
Contact Esperta today for a free, no-obligation assessment. We’ll review your activities and give you a clear indication of whether you’re likely to qualify and how much you could potentially claim.
