Support for Professional Corporations

Specialist R&D tax credit expertise when your clients need it.

Accountants, bookkeepers, lawyers and other professional advisers often have the closest view of a business's financial affairs, commercial activities and emerging challenges.

That puts them in an excellent position to recognise situations where specialist grants and incentive expertise could make a difference.

A client's unusually large development expenditure might indicate a potential R&D tax credit opportunity. An existing claim might raise questions during a financial review, financing arrangement or corporate transaction. A legal dispute may require a detailed understanding of the technical and financial issues underlying an R&D tax credit claim.

We work alongside professional advisers to evaluate these situations, provide independent technical and financial analysis, and help clients understand their options.

When might your client need specialist support?

You've identified significant R&D expenditure.

Your client's financial records show substantial spending on software development, engineering, product development or experimental work.

There may be an opportunity to claim SR&ED incentives, but determining eligibility requires an understanding of the actual technological work undertaken.

We can investigate the potential opportunity and, where appropriate, assist the client in preparing a supportable claim.

A client has an existing claim that raises questions.

Perhaps a claim has been prepared internally or by another adviser, and you would like a second opinion on its eligibility, financial treatment or supporting documentation.

We can review the work and expenditures, assess material areas of uncertainty and identify matters requiring attention.

Your client is facing a review or dispute.

The authorities may be questioning the technical eligibility of work, the allocation of expenditures or the quality of supporting evidence.

We can work with you and your client to assess the issues, prepare responses and provide representation or specialist support through reviews and objections.

You're advising on a transaction or financing arrangement.

An R&D tax credit claim or expected refund may be relevant to lending, due diligence, financial reporting or a corporate transaction.

We can provide an independent, evidence-based assessment to help establish the strengths, uncertainties and risks associated with the claim.

A legal matter requires specialist technical evidence.

Disputes involving R&D tax credit claims can raise complex questions about technological uncertainty, the work performed, eligible expenditures and the evidence available to support them.

We can assist legal counsel in examining the technical and financial issues, reviewing documentation and developing an understanding of the relevant facts.

Where appropriate and subject to the requirements of the engagement, this may include expert consulting or expert witness services.

How we work with professional advisers

A scope that fits the need

The scope of our involvement depends on what you and your client need.

Sometimes the appropriate response is a short preliminary assessment to determine whether further investigation is warranted.

In other cases, the work may involve a detailed review of an existing claim, technical interviews, expenditure analysis, preparation of supporting documentation, or ongoing assistance during proceedings.

Starting with the evidence

Our starting point is always the available evidence.

We examine what the business actually did, what was claimed or could be claimed, and how the supporting information relates to the statutory and administrative requirements.

Considering the context

We also consider the commercial and procedural context.

An approaching filing deadline, an outstanding information request, an objection period or an imminent transaction can all affect which issues need to be addressed first.

Where we identify weaknesses or gaps, we aim to explain their significance and recommend proportionate, practical steps to address them.

The objective is to help the client make better-informed decisions and, where possible, reduce avoidable exposure.

Working alongside your existing client relationship

We recognise that professional advisers have established relationships with their clients.

Our role is to provide specialist support in the areas where our expertise is useful, while working within a clearly defined engagement and respecting the responsibilities of everyone involved.

We can work directly with the client, alongside their existing accountants or advisers, or in a supporting capacity to the referring professional.

Where legal proceedings are involved, we can work under the direction of legal counsel, subject to the appropriate engagement arrangements and professional obligations.

What does the first engagement look like?

We begin by discussing the circumstances that prompted your enquiry, the nature of the assistance required and any immediate deadlines.

We then identify the information needed for an initial assessment. This might include financial records, development expenditure summaries, existing claims, technical documentation, correspondence or relevant legal materials.

Where possible, we meet with the claimant's technical and financial personnel to understand the work and clarify the evidence.

From there, we can recommend a scope of work, identify significant issues and explain the practical steps available.

Some matters require a focused written opinion or risk assessment. Others may lead to claim preparation, representation during a review, or specialist support in a dispute.

The appropriate level of involvement is determined by the facts and the client's needs.