This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Please read our policies for more information.

10 Chartered Accountants

News

R&D Tax Credit system to be reviewed in light of fraudulent claims
06 November 2018

According to figures released in the Autumn Budget, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has prevented around £300 million of fraudulent R&D tax credit claims since the relief was introduced.

In a bid to prevent further abuse of this tax relief, Philip Hammond has promised to clamp down on fraudulent claims by reintroducing a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) restriction for the small and medium-sized companies scheme.

This is part of a wider promise by Mr Hammond to clamp down on avoidance, evasion and unfair outcomes in the tax system, which the Treasury estimates will raise an additional £2 billion over the next five years.

Under the new rules, due to be enacted from 1 April 2020, the amount of payable R&D tax credit that a qualifying loss-making company can receive in any tax year will be restricted to three times the company’s total PAYE and National Insurance Contributions liability for that year.

While this may upset some SMEs, the Chancellor did offer some alternative incentives to business, including a two-year increase in the Annual Investment Allowance from £200,000 to £1 million from January 2019 and a commitment to invest £1.6 billion in advanced technologies in the UK.

Link: Budget 2018

Other recent news

Autumn Budget 2025
26 November 2025

The Government faced a difficult job going into the Autumn…
Read more

The signs of digital wallet abuse you need to look out for
05 November 2025

Digital wallet abuse is on the rise as criminal networks…
Read more

Preparing for Plan 5: The newest student loan payment structure
05 November 2025

Students who started their undergraduate and advanced learner loan courses…
Read more

The UK’s residency rules explained – Six months on from the change
05 November 2025

In April 2025, the UK’s ‘non-domicile regime’ was replaced with…
Read more

Bank and building society interest – What needs to be reported under Self Assessment?
05 November 2025

HMRC has confirmed it is changing the way it will…
Read more

»

Case Studies