The Spring Statement documents confirmed the government will issue a consultation ‘in due course’ on widening the use of advance clearances in R&D tax credits to help reduce error and fraud but did not set out a timeframe.

The Treasury claimed the new framework would provide companies with ‘greater certainty on the eligibility of their R&D claim’. HMRC sees the proposed changes as an opportunity to reduce error and risk.

The consultation discusses voluntary and mandatory assurances, including eligibility, and sets out the options currently being considered.