Business Support
Research and Development Tax Credits
Many businesses invest in innovation without realising they qualify for R&D tax relief. Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants helps you find out — and claim what you're owed.
Are you missing out?
The majority of eligible businesses never make a claim
The R&D tax credit scheme exists to reward companies that invest in genuine innovation — yet a significant proportion of qualifying businesses never apply. The reasons vary: uncertainty about eligibility, unfamiliarity with the process, or simply not knowing where to start.
Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants works with businesses to cut through that uncertainty. We help you identify whether your activities qualify, estimate the potential value of a rebate, and manage the claim from start to finish.
For R&D enquiries, speak directly with Dean Ackrill, who leads this area of the firm's work.
What we do
End-to-end support for your R&D claim
We handle every stage of the process — so you can focus on the work that earned the relief in the first place.
- Eligibility review We assess your activities against HMRC's qualifying criteria — many businesses are surprised to find that routine product development, process improvement, or software work can qualify.
- Rebate estimation Before committing to a full claim, we give you a realistic estimate of the relief available — so you know what you're working towards.
- Claim structuring and management We prepare and submit the technical and financial documentation HMRC requires, managing the process on your behalf and liaising with HMRC where needed.
- Controls for future claims We help you put record-keeping and cost-tracking processes in place so that future claims are simpler, faster, and better evidenced.
Who it's for
Particularly relevant for engineering, manufacturing and technology businesses
Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants has specialist accounting expertise in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, working with businesses typically turning over between £500k and £50m per annum. These are precisely the firms whose day-to-day work — developing new processes, improving existing products, solving technical problems — often qualifies for R&D relief without the business realising it.
Technology companies, software developers, and businesses in adjacent sectors are equally worth reviewing. If your team spends time solving problems that weren't straightforward to solve, there may be a claim to make.
The scheme is administered by HMRC and the rules have evolved in recent years. We keep up with those changes so you don't have to — and we'll tell you plainly if we don't think a claim stacks up.
How it works
From first conversation to successful claim
Free initial consultation
We talk through your business activities with Dean Ackrill to get a clear picture of what you do and whether R&D relief is likely to apply.
Eligibility and scoping
We map your qualifying projects and expenditure against HMRC's criteria, identifying the strongest basis for a claim and flagging anything that needs further evidence.
Claim preparation and submission
We prepare the technical narrative and financial schedules, submit the claim to HMRC, and manage any follow-up queries on your behalf.
Ongoing controls
We help you build the record-keeping habits that make future claims straightforward — so the next one takes a fraction of the time.
How it fits
R&D claims alongside your wider tax planning
Part of a broader picture
R&D tax relief works best when it's considered alongside your corporation tax position, capital allowances, and any grant funding you've received. Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants is an ICAEW-regulated firm, and we bring that broader tax and accounting context to every claim we handle.
We'll flag interactions with other reliefs and make sure the claim is consistent with your statutory accounts and tax return.
A note on the current rules
The R&D tax credit landscape has changed significantly since 2023, with HMRC introducing a merged scheme and revised rates for most companies. The rules that apply to your claim will depend on your accounting period and company size.
We'll advise you on the current position — if you last looked at R&D relief a few years ago, it is worth revisiting, as the framework has moved on considerably.
Ready to find out if you qualify? Let's talk.
A free conversation with Dean Ackrill costs nothing and could identify a meaningful rebate for your business. Philip Barnes & Co Chartered Accountants has offices in Tamworth and Uttoxeter — call our Tamworth office on 01827 60033 or our Uttoxeter office on 01889 563550, or use the button below.