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We help SMEs secure valuable R&D tax relief for their innovative projects. Our team of accounting and technical experts have helped hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses save millions of pounds through R&D Tax Credits.
If your SME is looking to claim for research and development projects, there are two main types of R&D Tax Credits available. These include:
As long as this is not your first time claiming R&D Tax Credits, you may also still be able to make a retrospective claim through the original R&D SME scheme, but only for accounting periods beginning prior to 1 April 2024. Claims can usually be made up to two years after the end of the relevant accounting period.
Our experts can let you know which scheme is best for your situation.
If you’re an SME carrying out R&D that seeks to make an advance in science or technology, and you are looking to claim retrospectively using the R&D SME scheme, you must meet the following thresholds:
– Claiming for an accounting period beginning before 1 April 2024
– Staff headcount of less than 500
– Turnover is less than €100m, or your balance sheet total is less than €86m (regardless of your headcount).*
If you pass these criteria, and you’re a limited company that’s subject to UK corporation tax, then it’s likely that you’ll qualify. If you don’t meet these criteria, but you’re still conducting R&D, get in touch with us for a free no-obligation review and we’ll find the most suitable scheme for your business.
*All calculations should convert turnover from Sterling to Euros. HMRC retained the Euro currency within guidance due to origins in EU legislation and for consistency.
The R&D SME scheme lets your company deduct an additional 86% of qualifying expenditure from your trading profit for tax purposes, on top of the standard 100% deduction. This gives you a total potential deduction of 186%. Additionally, if your company has claimed this relief and incurred a loss, you can claim a payable tax credit worth up to 10% (giving you a net benefit of 21.5%).
R&D tax relief
Leadership, Quantified
Business supported in the UK
Years of Expertise
Countries
Of UK Claims submitted by Leyton
in R&D Tax Credits claimed in 2025.
To qualify for R&D tax relief, your project must:
For retrospective claims under the original R&D SME scheme, you can’t claim for a project if the R&D work has been subcontracted to you, or if you’ve received state aid. You also can’t claim for any subsidised work (e.g., work paid for by a grant). However, you may be able to claim for a portion of your work if not all of your expenditure was subsidised.
There are a variety of different costs that qualify for SME R&D relief. These include:
*There are restrictions on overseas expenditure. Find out more: Everything you need to know about the rules for overseas R&D expenditure
Some costs can’t be claimed. These include:
how we work
You’ll meet your dedicated consultancy team and together we’ll identify the key stakeholders for your claim. We’ll then carry out an R&D claims assessment and agree timelines.
We’ll work with your team to review your eligible projects and select the strongest examples to include in your claim.
We’ll identify your qualifying R&D expenditure and prepare the financial documentation needed to support your claim.
We’ll compile all the technical and financial documentation, including an internal quality audit, and then we’ll resolve any remaining queries before we submit your claim.
Once your claim is ready and signed off, we’ll agree the tax benefit option and then guide you through the final submission. Afterwards, we’ll provide you with ongoing support for any HMRC questions or formal enquiries.
Our services
We offer support for all of the UK’s core innovation incentives and tax relief schemes, including:
Claim with Leyton
We’re here to help! Book a free assessment with our team and take the first step toward maximising your tax relief with the merged R&D scheme.