The new research and development (R&D) expert advisory panel will have six independent members from industry and will be chaired by HMRC’s deputy director of the corporation tax innovation and growth (CTI&G) team.

This marks a departure for HMRC, giving it access to a panel of experts from life sciences, advanced manufacturing and AI, who will be able to advise on emerging trends, potential risk areas, and offer advice and input on how to improve guidance. But the panel will not be able to examine individual cases or the conduct of individual investigations, an area where there are often long disputes in the tax tribunals over qualifying criteria.