How R&D Tax Credits Work | RD Tax Advisors

The Process

Start to Finish in 4 Steps

No 16-week waits. No hidden fees. No disappearing after delivery. Here's exactly what happens from your first enquiry to HMRC paying you.

Free Eligibility Check (2 minutes)

Fill in our short form. We assess your industry, your approximate R&D spend, and whether your activities are likely to qualify. This is completely free — no commitment, no payment. If you don't qualify, we tell you why, and what would qualify in future.

If you do qualify, we estimate your likely refund on the same call or in the same email. Most clients are surprised by how much they're owed.

⏱ 2 minutes your time

Pay Your Deposit & Complete the Questionnaire (45 minutes)

Once you confirm you want to proceed, you pay a £500 deposit and we send you our guided discovery questionnaire. 30 questions about your R&D projects — what you were trying to build, what uncertainties you faced, who worked on it.

You also send us: payroll summary, a brief list of R&D staff and their approximate time allocation, and any relevant invoices (subcontractors, software, consumables). That's it. We handle everything from here.

⏱ 45 mins – 2 hrs your time

We Build Your Claim (10 Working Days)

Our specialists produce two documents:

Technical Narrative — A 10–15 page HMRC-compliant report describing your R&D projects, the scientific/technological uncertainties you faced, and the advance you achieved. Written in the precise language HMRC's guidance requires.

Cost Schedule — A detailed spreadsheet calculating your qualifying expenditure: staff costs, subcontractors, software, consumables. Cross-referenced and verified against HMRC's current rules.

Both documents are reviewed and signed off by a qualified R&D tax specialist before delivery.

⏱ 0 minutes your time (we do this)

Your Accountant Files. HMRC Pays You.

You pass both documents to your accountant (or we can recommend one). They include the qualifying expenditure in your CT600 Corporation Tax return and submit it to HMRC.

HMRC processes 90% of claims within 40 days. Most of our clients receive their payment within 6–8 weeks of submission.

We remain available throughout — answering your accountant's questions, responding to any HMRC queries (rare for well-prepared claims), and supporting you until the money lands.

⏱ HMRC pays in 6–8 weeks

Flat Fee. No Surprises. No Percentage.

On a £50,000 refund, traditional firms charge £7,500–12,500. We charge £2,500. The work takes the same time. The difference is we charge for the work, not a share of your money.

£2,500 flat

Standard R&D Claim

One financial year. Single or multiple R&D projects. Most clients qualify for this tier.

HMRC-compliant Technical Narrative
Detailed Cost Schedule (Excel)
Specialist review & sign-off
10 working day delivery
Accountant handover pack
Support until HMRC pays

Check If I Qualify →

£3,000 flat

Backdated Claim (2 Years)

First-time claimants can claim up to 2 prior years. Most new clients have at least one unclaimed year. Double the refund, one fee.

Everything in Standard, plus:
Prior year claim included
Maximum refund recovery
Priority delivery (8 working days)
Year 2+ annual renewal at £2,000
Dedicated account manager

Check My Backdated Claim →

The Questions We Get Asked Most

Does my company actually qualify?

If you've spent money trying to solve a technical problem — something where the outcome wasn't certain at the start — you probably qualify. This applies to software development, construction, engineering, manufacturing, food production, healthcare, and dozens of other industries. The free eligibility check takes 2 minutes and gives you a definitive answer.

My accountant said I might qualify but doesn't do R&D claims. Can you work with them?

Yes — this is our most common scenario. We produce the two documents. Your accountant includes the figures in your CT600 and files it. We provide a clear handover pack so they know exactly what to do. Many of our clients come from accountant referrals.

Why is your fee so much lower than other firms?

Traditional R&D firms charge 15–25% of your refund because that's how the industry developed — as a percentage of the risk they perceived. We charge for the work itself. Our systemised process (guided questionnaire + specialist review) is efficient and repeatable. We don't need to charge you £12,000 to produce a report that takes 10–15 hours to complete properly.

How do I know HMRC won't query my claim?

We maintain a 96% HMRC success rate. Our claims are rejected or queried far less frequently than industry average because we apply strict intake criteria (we turn away approximately 25% of enquiries that don't qualify) and produce detailed, evidence-backed narratives. We also retain full documentation for 4 years for every claim. If HMRC does query your claim, we handle the response at no additional cost.

I haven't claimed before. Can I backdate?

Yes. HMRC allows you to amend Corporation Tax returns up to 2 years after the filing deadline. In practice, this means most new clients can claim for the current year AND the prior year in their first engagement. This is the Backdated Claim package — and it's the most common reason first-time clients see significantly larger refunds than expected.

What if I'm a loss-making company?

Loss-making SMEs can claim a cash payment from HMRC under the surrenderable loss rules — even if you owe no tax. This is one of the most valuable features of the SME R&D scheme and applies to many startups and early-stage companies. We assess your position as part of the eligibility check.

How long does the whole process take?

From receiving your questionnaire and documents to delivering your complete claim pack: 10 working days. Your accountant then includes it in your CT600 — typically 1–2 days of additional work. HMRC pays within 6–8 weeks of submission. Total from starting with us to payment in your bank: approximately 10–12 weeks.

How R&D Tax Credits Work — From Start to HMRC Payment