Whether you’re facing a specific challenge or have a question, our team of experts can help.
Already claiming R&D tax credits?
There’s a better way to claim
If you’re already claiming R&D tax relief, that’s fantastic. But making an R&D tax incentive claim is only the first step. ForrestBrown’s award-winning team can help your business achieve the full benefit that your innovation deserves year-on-year and protect you from risk.
We can help you with consultancy support or provide a fully end-to-end process depending on your business and its needs.
Sense check your R&D tax credit claim
Do you fully understand what you are claiming and why?
- It is vital that you do because it’s up to you to get your claim for R&D tax relief right. Whether or not you’re using an adviser, it’s still your claim and therefore your risk.
- It’s important you understand the ‘why’ and not just the ‘what’ because HMRC has substantial powers to challenge and if necessary, unpick previous claims.
- Just because you’ve had previous claims processed doesn’t mean HMRC has reviewed and approved them. They may not have even looked.
- HMRC charge penalties for errors if you can’t show you’ve taken reasonable care.
If you want to better understand your risk, we can help set you up for the future.
Martin Davis, Finance Director, Zenobe Energy
I can’t state how highly it was the right choice we came to you guys. It’s been a rare occasion that I’ve come across a firm that had mastery of their field comparable.
Are you spending too long preparing your R&D claim?
- If your claim is something that your team dreads each year, you’re probably wasting valuable company time.
- The key to saving you time and making your claim robust is deploying the right resources in the right way.
- Businesses that invest in their claim process year-on-year and use their resources strategically benefit from a more robust claim and better value for money.
If you want to free up your employees’ time, we can help.
Rob Foulkes, Founder & Managing Director, PSS Engineering
With our previous R&D tax credit adviser, it was filling in form after form. Since switching to ForrestBrown, however, the process has been much smoother because we speak to their sector specialists on a peer-to-peer level.
Are you confident your claim includes everything you’re entitled to?
- We’ve worked with many companies that have left value on the table because they weren’t properly identifying their R&D projects.
- Getting the right information from technical colleagues can be challenging, and treating your claim as an annual compliance exercise limits its potential scope.
- Ultimately, if you’re not confident that your claim includes everything you’re entitled to, then you’re not confident in your claim or aware of the risks inherent within it.
If you’re wondering if your claim could be worth more, we can help.
A recent ForrestBrown consultancy project
A healthcare manufacturer asked us to identify any untapped value in their claim. Because they were rolling forward the same process each year, they were viewing their R&D too narrowly – despite working with a top 10 accountant to prepare their claim. Our recommendations resulted in a more robust claim and a significant uplift.
Are you worried about a potential HMRC enquiry or do you need support with one?
- You shouldn’t underestimate the amount of time and resource you will need to resolve an enquiry. HMRC will scrutinise your projects, methodology and claim calculations and will expect you to be able to justify what you have claimed and why.
- With our enquiry support service, our aim is to protect your business and manage every aspect of the enquiry on your behalf so that you can focus your time on running your business.
- We are best placed to advise you and resolve your enquiry because we know exactly what HMRC are looking for in support of R&D tax incentive claims. Our policy-level insight means we understand not only what HMRC are asking, but why.
If you’re facing an enquiry from HMRC, we can help.
Tatiana Okhotina, Head of Finance, Azimo
We were quickly reassured by ForrestBrown who immediately put together a very senior and
specialist team to resolve the enquiry and handle all communications with HMRC. Their insight into HMRC’s processes and protocols enabled them to negotiate effectively on our behalf.
Have you planned for the future?
- No matter how well-established, businesses do not stand still. Transactions can materially affect your R&D claim and it is very easy to be caught out after the fact.
- It’s important to understand the impact of any planned restructuring on your future funding requirements. R&D tax incentives provide vital funding for your future innovation and business growth.
- By taking a proactive approach, you can make better informed decisions and protect your business from unexpected funding shortfalls.
If you want a strategic plan for your future growth, we can help.
A recent ForrestBrown consultancy project
An IT company wanted to understand the impact of their post-Brexit group restructuring on their R&D claim. Our work identified that their entire claim was potentially at risk, and enabled them to adapt their plans to achieve the same result and still protect the full value of their claim.
Do you fully understand what you are claiming and why?
- It is vital that you do because it’s up to you to get your claim for R&D tax relief right. Whether or not you’re using an adviser, it’s still your claim and therefore your risk.
- It’s important you understand the ‘why’ and not just the ‘what’ because HMRC has substantial powers to challenge and if necessary, unpick previous claims.
- Just because you’ve had previous claims processed doesn’t mean HMRC has reviewed and approved them. They may not have even looked.
- HMRC charge penalties for errors if you can’t show you’ve taken reasonable care.
If you want to better understand your risk, we can help set you up for the future.
Martin Davis, Finance Director, Zenobe Energy
I can’t state how highly it was the right choice we came to you guys. It’s been a rare occasion that I’ve come across a firm that had mastery of their field comparable.
Are you confident your claim includes everything you’re entitled to?
- We’ve worked with many companies that have left value on the table because they weren’t properly identifying their R&D projects.
- Getting the right information from technical colleagues can be challenging, and treating your claim as an annual compliance exercise limits its potential scope.
- Ultimately, if you’re not confident that your claim includes everything you’re entitled to, then you’re not confident in your claim or aware of the risks inherent within it.
If you’re wondering if your claim could be worth more, we can help.
A recent ForrestBrown consultancy project
A healthcare manufacturer asked us to identify any untapped value in their claim. Because they were rolling forward the same process each year, they were viewing their R&D too narrowly – despite working with a top 10 accountant to prepare their claim. Our recommendations resulted in a more robust claim and a significant uplift.
Have you planned for the future?
- No matter how well-established, businesses do not stand still. Transactions can materially affect your R&D claim and it is very easy to be caught out after the fact.
- It’s important to understand the impact of any planned restructuring on your future funding requirements. R&D tax incentives provide vital funding for your future innovation and business growth.
- By taking a proactive approach, you can make better informed decisions and protect your business from unexpected funding shortfalls.
If you want a strategic plan for your future growth, we can help.
A recent ForrestBrown consultancy project
An IT company wanted to understand the impact of their post-Brexit group restructuring on their R&D claim. Our work identified that their entire claim was potentially at risk, and enabled them to adapt their plans to achieve the same result and still protect the full value of their claim.
Are you spending too long preparing your R&D claim?
- If your claim is something that your team dreads each year, you’re probably wasting valuable company time.
- The key to saving you time and making your claim robust is deploying the right resources in the right way.
- Businesses that invest in their claim process year-on-year and use their resources strategically benefit from a more robust claim and better value for money.
If you want to free up your employees’ time, we can help.
Rob Foulkes, Founder & Managing Director, PSS Engineering
With our previous R&D tax credit adviser, it was filling in form after form. Since switching to ForrestBrown, however, the process has been much smoother because we speak to their sector specialists on a peer-to-peer level.
Are you worried about a potential HMRC enquiry or do you need support with one?
- You shouldn’t underestimate the amount of time and resource you will need to resolve an enquiry. HMRC will scrutinise your projects, methodology and claim calculations and will expect you to be able to justify what you have claimed and why.
- With our enquiry support service, our aim is to protect your business and manage every aspect of the enquiry on your behalf so that you can focus your time on running your business.
- We are best placed to advise you and resolve your enquiry because we know exactly what HMRC are looking for in support of R&D tax incentive claims. Our policy-level insight means we understand not only what HMRC are asking, but why.
If you’re facing an enquiry from HMRC, we can help.
Tatiana Okhotina, Head of Finance, Azimo
We were quickly reassured by ForrestBrown who immediately put together a very senior and
specialist team to resolve the enquiry and handle all communications with HMRC. Their insight into HMRC’s processes and protocols enabled them to negotiate effectively on our behalf.
Are you facing a specific challenge?
If you’re looking for help on a consultative basis, our team of experts can help you. Our best-in-class specialist R&D tax credit advice will help you to make better strategic decisions for your business.
- Telephone
- 0117 926 9022
- hello@forrestbrown.co.uk
Assembling the best team for your business
From the ForrestBrown team of 140+ people, we select a team of experts with the right specialisms to suit your business and its needs.
Chartered tax advisers and accountants: to oversee your claim and analyse your costs.
Sector specialists: to identify project costs and the full extent of your R&D.
Quality assurance: from a dedicated team including ex-HMRC R&D Unit inspectors.
Client relations managers: dedicated to you to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Enquiry support: from lawyers and tax advisers to liaise with HMRC on your behalf.
An R&D tax credit partnership you can rely on
We build relationships that last. That means creating a partnership that helps your business to reap the benefits of your investment in R&D.
Done properly, R&D tax credits create a culture of innovation. Each year’s benefit allows you to double down and expand your work, setting you up for bigger, bolder projects in the future. That could mean hiring another skilled technician, buying materials for your next big project or investing in better premises to take on more ambitious work.
If your current adviser isn’t having these strategic conversations with you, it’s time you considered switching to one that will. Why not speak to us about a potential consultancy project?
What are ForrestBrown’s fees?
- For consultancy work, we will charge a fee that reflects the value that we bring to your organisation. This is informed by our initial discussions with you and agreed in advance.
- Our fee for our end-to-end R&D tax credit claim process is contingent on our success. We don’t charge unless you receive a benefit. It is calculated as a percentage of the benefit you receive.
- We don’t tie you into fixed-term agreements and there are no hidden extras.
Unleash your claim’s full potential and get the credit you deserve
With the right advice, R&D tax incentives have the potential to transform your business. Don’t settle for less. Speak to our team of chartered tax advisers, sector specialists and former HMRC inspectors today to find out how we can improve your R&D tax credit claim.
Our insights
We believe there is no substitute for specialist advice, however our KnowledgeBank and articles provide guidance and answer some common questions about R&D tax credits.
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