Although many enquiries can be routine spot-checks or simple requests for additional information, in recent years there has been an increase in fraud and abuse of the R&D incentives. HMRC are focused on bolstering their internal compliance team to crack down on abuse of the tax credits; this means R&D claims are subject to increased scrutiny.
As a self-assessed benefit, abuse of R&D tax credits is not always deliberate, but common misconceptions or wrong interpretations of the R&D legislation can land companies in hot water.
Claims that HMRC choose to investigate are called ‘enquiries’. This process typically results in your tax credit or repayment being delayed, giving inspectors time to better understand the submission and aligned costs. Even if you’ve been claiming successfully for years, or it’s your first time, enquiries can happen to anyone.
Need support on your existing R&D tax claim?
These are just some of the areas where we can add value to your R&D claim. Whatever you need, our experts can help.
Misconceptions or wrong interpretations of the R&D legislation are common and can land companies in hot water with HMRC.
Our Focus service utilises our team of experts to support your claim wherever you need it most. R&D tax credits are all we do, ensuring we can give you the best possible service.
If you receive an enquiry, your business will be notified by a letter from HMRC. The time and resources needed to close an enquiry cannot be underestimated. Without support, the enquiry process can be time-consuming and technically demanding.
Our experience with HMRC on helping to shape R&D policy means we can understand what they are asking, and why. This can help minimize delays and generate productive relationships with HMRC for future claims.
We’ll work to defend your claim until any enquiry is resolved.
Olly studied at the universities of Warwick and Oxford and has over a decade of technical writing experience, beginning his career writing instruction manuals for smartphones and devices. Olly has worked in specialist R&D claim preparation for over 5 years, including direct support for businesses of all sizes in their correspondence with HMRC.
His role involves providing claim support and specialist expertise surrounding the R&D legislation. He also takes a lead role in the team’s ongoing technical training.
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Riley has a background in Theoretical and Computational Physics, completing his MSc in the subject at King’s College London. His specific areas of focus include Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Computation, Numerical Modeling and Simulation. During the course of his degree, he had the opportunity to work with the Rosaland supercomputer cluster as well as investigate solutions to PDEs involved in Electromigration using random walk methods.
In his free time he enjoys exploring London, and when he returns to his hometown Devon enjoys surfing and longboarding.
Farheen joins us with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics with Theoretical Physics from King’s College London. Her favourite topics include cosmology, general relativity, and condensed matter physics.
In her free time, Farheen likes to upcycle furniture and visit different towns and cities with her family. She is also a sports enthusiast and enjoys swimming and playing tennis.
With a background in law, Andy worked in legal insurance for several years, before pursuing a career in tax. His most recent role was tax manager for the UK’s largest specialist R&D credit agency. Andy plays a vital role in communicating R&D tax strategies to ensure optimal client value, whilst providing practical solutions to highly technical tax legislation. His proactive approach is key to us remaining ahead of the curve, keeping the team constantly active in learning new skills and expanding our knowledge.
In his spare time, Andy enjoys walking the dog, writing geography-related quiz questions and spending time with his daughter.
With experience from both academia and industry, Arwyn joined Kene Partners from an agri-tech start-up using materials science. Prior to this role, he graduated with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London, having worked on an industrial project funded by BP-International Centre for Advanced Materials (ICAM).
Using his core expertise, Arwyn has extensive experience preparing claims for our construction clients, with an unrivalled ability to grasp technical language to fully quantify relevant R&D activities.
During his spare time, he enjoys running or can be found following any form of rugby, football or cricket.