Rob Sowden of Bournemouth-based consultancy Business Cash Enabler reports an increase in Dorset companies benefiting under the government’s Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credits scheme.
“Many more Dorset-based businesses are now receiving an improved benefit under this generous scheme, designed to reward unique innovation activities in business. For many years the scheme has seemed too good to be true to many companies who have not applied for the credit or cashback, due to many myths and misinformation around the scheme. Many businesses have tried to self-assess whether they qualify and have assumed they don’t, many have even been notified by their professional advisors that they aren’t eligible, when in reality they are. One myth is that a business has to be profitable or has to be paying corporation tax to be eligible. Some find it hard to believe that they can receive an annual cash payment when they are loss-making and not tax-paying. Reality is, they may receive a higher cashback payment than profitable companies because the scheme is based on costs incurred, not revenue or profit.
“This increase in government funding in the region fits well with Inform Direct’s recent report ‘Review of UK Company Formations’, that was referenced in the Bournemouth Echo earlier this year, stating that Dorset “continues to provide a supportive environment, both for new business ventures and existing enterprises”. This matches my experience over the past 5 years, that Dorset is a burgeoning environment for innovation, notably in the engineering, manufacturing and digital sectors. Interestingly though, many businesses that are not in these classic innovation sectors are also benefiting from the government’s R&D cashback.
“The government paid out over £3.5bn in the latest reported tax year, with an average SME claimant receiving £53k annual benefit across the UK. Many companies that have previously claimed have received really small amounts, £5k, £10k, £15k, when they may have been entitled to 2, 3 or 4 times that amount, often a healthy six-figure cashback. Under-claiming happens when the process is mistaken for an accountancy workstream, but it really requires a technical appraisal, combined with specialist knowledge of the legislation. Maximised claims are based on a technologist-led approach to ensure all eligible innovation activities are included in a claim and, importantly, that projects that aren’t eligible haven’t been included, resulting in potential HMRC clawback later on. It is possible to claim back any shortfall for the prior two accounting periods, which can bring in an unexpected cash injection to a business.”
Business Cash Enabler provides a free service to businesses to check eligibility under the HMRC R&D tax credit scheme.