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R&D Tax Credits
Fuelling Innovation for Startups
Turn your innovation costs into cash with up to 27% back from HMRC
Research & Development (R&D) tax relief is a valuable government incentive designed to reward companies that pursue scientific or technological advancements. It can reduce your company’s Corporation Tax bill or even provide a cash credit of up to 27% of your qualifying expenditure, effectively subsidising your innovation efforts. For high-growth tech startups in particular, these reliefs offer meaningful financial support, often covering a significant portion of R&D costs, which can be reinvested into further product development or hiring talent to drive growth.
When applied correctly, R&D tax relief enables founders to accelerate progress without bearing the full cost of innovation alone. You gain critical funding that can be channelled into building new features, refining prototypes, or expanding your technical team.
Research & Development (R&D) tax relief is a valuable government incentive designed to reward companies that pursue scientific or technological advancements. It can reduce your company’s Corporation Tax bill or even provide a cash credit of up to 27% of your qualifying expenditure, effectively subsidising your innovation efforts. For high-growth tech startups in particular, these reliefs offer meaningful financial support, often covering a significant portion of R&D costs, which can be reinvested into further product development or hiring talent to drive growth.
When applied correctly, R&D tax relief enables founders to accelerate progress without bearing the full cost of innovation alone. You gain critical funding that can be channelled into building new features, refining prototypes, or expanding your technical team.
Challenges We Solve
The R&D tax regime is highly technical. Many startup teams are unsure which projects or activities actually qualify as “R&D” within the legislation. Identifying eligible R&D requires technical expertise and robust knowledge of the rules and guidance.
The legislation itself is complex and nuanced, with specific criteria around advancing science or technology and resolving technical uncertainties that must be met for a project to qualify. This complexity leaves room for error, and misunderstanding the rules can lead to missed opportunities or incorrect claims.
The legislation itself is complex and nuanced, with specific criteria around advancing science or technology and resolving technical uncertainties that must be met for a project to qualify. This complexity leaves room for error, and misunderstanding the rules can lead to missed opportunities or incorrect claims.
Your Claim, Our Expertise
Preparing a robust claim also means presenting the right evidence in the right way. There is always a requirement of evidence that companies need to provide, but we make that process as straightforward as possible.
We guide founders and their team through what's required, help collate and structure the information, and manage the submission end to end. The result is a claim that is comprehensive, well-documented, and gives you confidence that your innovation is being fully and fairly recognised.
We guide founders and their team through what's required, help collate and structure the information, and manage the submission end to end. The result is a claim that is comprehensive, well-documented, and gives you confidence that your innovation is being fully and fairly recognised.
Why Growing Companies Choose Onside
The vast majority of our new clients come through referrals – because our clients trust us enough to recommend us
We enjoy long-term partnerships with our clients, who stay with us because we deliver, not because they are locked in
We provide specialist tax expertise that fuels growth – from R&D and EMI schemes to SEIS/EIS and cross-border VAT
We feel like part of your team – instant access via Slack, proactive advice, and a tax partner that’s always there
We navigate HMRC enquiries with expertise and care – securing positive results
Our Approach
At Onside, we combine meticulous attention to detail with in-depth R&D tax expertise to remove the burden from you and deliver the best outcome.
Our specialist R&D tax team has extensive experience in tax legislation, HMRC guidance, and innovation across sectors. We act as your dedicated partner to ensure your claim is complete, correct, and fully aligned with the R&D rules.
Here’s how we work with innovative businesses and their founders:
Our specialist R&D tax team has extensive experience in tax legislation, HMRC guidance, and innovation across sectors. We act as your dedicated partner to ensure your claim is complete, correct, and fully aligned with the R&D rules.
Here’s how we work with innovative businesses and their founders:
First Steps
Identify Eligible R&D Activities: Through detailed discussions and workshops with your competent professional(s)/technical teams, we pinpoint all qualifying projects and activities. Our experts work flexibly with you to ensure no eligible R&D work is overlooked. We help you recognise the advancements and uncertainties in your work that meet the R&D criteria, giving you confidence that every qualifying activity is captured.
Assess Qualifying Expenditure: We perform a precise review of all relevant costs associated with your R&D projects. This includes staff salaries, software subscriptions, subcontractor fees, prototyping expenses, and more. Every cost is carefully evaluated in line with the current legislation so that you claim the full amount you’re entitled to.
Assess Qualifying Expenditure: We perform a precise review of all relevant costs associated with your R&D projects. This includes staff salaries, software subscriptions, subcontractor fees, prototyping expenses, and more. Every cost is carefully evaluated in line with the current legislation so that you claim the full amount you’re entitled to.
Documentation and Compliance
Prepare Robust Documentation: Our team compiles a clear, comprehensive technical report to accompany your claim, along with all necessary evidence to substantiate it. Our reports grounded in R&D rules and guidance, explaining how your projects overcome technological uncertainties and achieve advancements. This documentation is tailored to meet HMRC’s stringent guidelines, so your claim stands up to scrutiny.
We also work with you to ensure that you are documenting and keeping clear and robust records on an ongoing basis to support your R&D claim.
Manage Compliance and Communication: We handle the end-to-end claim process with HMRC on your behalf. We prepare the tax computations and submission of the claim, and where needed, manage any follow-up questions or HMRC enquiries. Our experts will liaise with HMRC, providing clarifications and additional information as needed, to resolve any issues promptly and keep your claim on track.
We also work with you to ensure that you are documenting and keeping clear and robust records on an ongoing basis to support your R&D claim.
Manage Compliance and Communication: We handle the end-to-end claim process with HMRC on your behalf. We prepare the tax computations and submission of the claim, and where needed, manage any follow-up questions or HMRC enquiries. Our experts will liaise with HMRC, providing clarifications and additional information as needed, to resolve any issues promptly and keep your claim on track.
Expert Support - Claim with Confidence
Our process is thorough and grounded in expertise at every stage. We build a well-structured, well-supported case for your innovation, to demonstrate why it is eligible for tax relief. This means you can claim with confidence, knowing that every figure is backed by evidence and every statement is rooted in the legislation.
Having Onside as your R&D partner ensures you avoid unnecessary complications and navigate your claim with confidence. We pride ourselves on being a strong partner for fast-growing businesses, sharing your passion for growth and innovation, and empowering you with the financial boost to keep pushing boundaries.
Having Onside as your R&D partner ensures you avoid unnecessary complications and navigate your claim with confidence. We pride ourselves on being a strong partner for fast-growing businesses, sharing your passion for growth and innovation, and empowering you with the financial boost to keep pushing boundaries.
Our Team
From incorporation to expansion, we deliver expert finance and tax support that scales with you – Giving founders clarity, confidence and control over their growth.
Meet The Team
