How do R&D tax credits work?

For accounting periods starting on or after 1 April 2024, companies claim R&D tax relief through two schemes, HMRC's guidance on the merged scheme and ERIS explains. The merged R&D expenditure credit pays 20% of qualifying costs as a taxable credit. Enhanced R&D intensive support (ERIS) lets loss-making small and medium-sized companies that spend at least 30% of their costs on R&D deduct 186% of qualifying costs and claim a payable credit worth up to 14.5% of the surrenderable loss.

Projects must meet the tax definition of R&D. Some companies must tell HMRC in advance that they plan to claim, and claims need extra supporting information, as set out in claiming R&D tax relief.

The credit cannot exceed a cap linked to the company's PAYE and National Insurance bill unless an exemption applies. For costs and claim numbers, see what R&D tax credits cost.

Official sources: HMRC: merged scheme and ERIS · HMRC: claiming R&D tax relief

When is the next figure out?

The monthly receipts bulletin is published at 7am on the 15th working day of each month (the 16th if the 15th falls on a Monday), the same day and time as the ONS Public sector finances release. The next monthly release is due on 21 October 2026. Most other HMRC statistics are annual, with dates pre-announced on the GOV.UK release calendar and changes listed on HMRC's schedule of updates. Overseas trade in goods statistics follow the uktradeinfo release calendar, with the next due on 15 October 2026.

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Where the figures come from

• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) official statistics
  Find HMRC monthly tax receipts and NICs, annual receipts, income tax liabilities, the tax gap, personal incomes and UK trade data, and how to read them.

Related questions

• How much do R&D tax credits cost?
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This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about science, research and space: all Science, research and space questions.