Claims that survive an enquiry, priced as a fixed fee.
The UK merged its R&D schemes in April 2024 and tightened enforcement in the same breath. Claims now need an additional information form, a named senior officer, a technical narrative and cost apportionment that stands up. We prepare them that way, for a fixed fee, never a percentage.
The whole job, not the visible half.
Everything below is in scope on the plan that includes r&d tax credits. Nothing on this list is an add-on.
- Eligibility assessment against HMRC's definition of an advance in science or technology
- Technical narrative written with your engineers, in the structure HMRC reviews
- Qualifying cost apportionment: staff, subcontractors, software, consumables, cloud
- Additional Information Form and claim notification where required
- Computation under the merged scheme or the enhanced intensive SME regime
- Enquiry defence included in the fee
Three situations we see every week.
Software companies building something that did not exist
Resolving technical uncertainty counts. Configuring an existing platform does not. We tell you which yours is before anything is claimed.
Manufacturers and product businesses
Process improvements, new materials and prototypes often qualify and are routinely under-claimed.
Loss-making R&D-intensive startups
Where R&D is at least 30 percent of total expenditure, the enhanced regime pays a cash credit worth up to 27 percent of qualifying spend.
Four steps, then a rhythm.
Eligibility call
One hour with the technical lead. If the work does not qualify we say so and stop there, at no charge.
Narrative and costing
We write the technical report from interviews and gather the cost evidence from payroll and the ledger.
Computation and forms
The claim is computed, the Additional Information Form completed, and the CT600 amended or filed.
Defend
If HMRC opens an enquiry we respond, at no extra cost, because the claim was built to be defended.
The rules differ. So does the work.
The same service, applied to each jurisdiction's law. Figures checked September 2026.
Merged scheme from 1 April 2024: an above-the-line credit of 20 percent of qualifying expenditure, taxable, worth around 15 to 16 percent net. Enhanced R&D Intensive Support for loss-making SMEs with R&D at 30 percent or more of total expenditure: an 86 percent enhanced deduction and a 14.5 percent payable credit. Claims must be notified in advance for first-time claimants and companies that have not claimed in the previous three years. Checked September 2026.
Everything about the UK ↗One senior accountant. One flat fee. Three countries.
Group figures are Shaazford Global LLC's published numbers across all its service lines.
Why not pay a percentage of the claim?
Because it rewards inflated claims, which is exactly what HMRC is now targeting. A fixed fee means we are paid for accuracy, not size.
What is the claim notification?
First-time claimants, and any company that has not claimed in the last three accounting periods, must notify HMRC within six months of the period end or lose the right to claim for that period.
Can subcontracted R&D be claimed?
Under the merged scheme the company that decides to do the R&D generally claims, not the contractor. The rules changed in 2024 and many older claims are now structured wrong.
How long does HMRC take to pay?
Typically 40 to 60 days for a clean claim. Enquiries add months, which is why the narrative and costing matter.
Talk to us about r&d tax credits.
Thirty minutes, no pitch deck. Tell us the entities and the countries, and we will tell you honestly what applies and what it costs.