According to HMRC guidelines, you can claim R&D tax credits for specific activities directly related to your research and development projects. These activities include:
1. Qualifying Activities:
- Resolving scientific or technological uncertainties.
- Developing or improving a process, product, or service that involves overcoming challenges not readily deducible by a competent professional.
- Prototyping, testing, or trialing innovative concepts to ensure they work as intended.
2. Supporting Activities:
- Indirect Support: Activities necessary to enable R&D, such as maintenance of R&D equipment, utilities, or IT services.
- Feasibility Studies: Research to assess the viability of a project.
- Design and Planning: Planning the approach and designing models or systems.
- Testing and Analysis: Testing prototypes, conducting simulations, and analyzing results to refine your solution.
3. Software Development:
- Writing, testing, and modifying software directly linked to R&D objectives.
4. Clinical Trials and Experimental Development:
- Specific to the pharmaceutical, life sciences, and biotech sectors, where clinical trials are integral to overcoming uncertainties.
Exclusions
Certain activities are not eligible, including:
- Routine updates or maintenance of existing systems.
- Commercial and administrative tasks, such as market research or sales.