HMRC’s R&D tax credit data fails to measure success

Accountants and their clients are being let down by the government’s research and development tax credit data reporting, missing the opportunity to reveal whether it works, while reducing the risk of fraud, according to ForrestBrown’s Jenny Tragner

At the end of September, HMRC published its annual data showing the number of companies claiming research and development (R&D) tax credits and the cost to the Exchequer of providing this support. In doing so, it underlined the woeful inadequacy of the figures.

This annual survey should be giving us valuable insight into the state of business R&D in the UK, but it fails to do so.

Your free features:

Breaking news and expert analysis
Customisable daily newsletters
Six free CPD learning modules each year
Personalised CPD tracker
Top 75 Firms league tables
Regulatory changes
Hardman’s Tax Data

Tax | Should your business be registered for VAT?

Tax | Treasury consults on £2m council tax surcharge

Business | King’s Speech outlines closer trade ties with EU, less red tape

Tax | Personal tax changes from 6 April 2026

Tax | Half of £2bn Patent Box tax break goes to 10 companies

Navigate

Tax Services

Your free features:

Sign up to Business & Accountancy Daily