Is HMRC the appropriate arbiter for qualifying R&D activity?

One of the key tenets of the UK’s Research and Development (R&D) tax credit scheme is that the claimant company must undertake R&D activity that seeks to advance the existing knowledge or capabilities in the field.

The company needs to do this by resolving a technical or scientific uncertainty. This uncertainty is measured against the knowledge or capability of the competent professional working in the field. The idea being that if someone who knows what they are doing in relation to that specific field of science and/or technology is not able to provide a solution to the problem, then it is likely to be a qualifying R&D activity.  

Read more here from Stuart Weekes, Partner, Corporate Tax, Crowe