The Chartered Institute of Taxation recently issued an updated version of its guidelines for choosing an advisor for R&D tax claims (click here to view).
Much of the guidance comprises general good business practice. However, in addition to an advisor’s industry, technology and tax expertise there are some specific points we think are worth expanding on:
- The guide stresses that marketing promises that ‘look too good to be true,’ or any claim to be using an ‘HMRC-approved methodology,’ should be viewed with extreme caution. It points out that HMRC does not approve tax advisors, nor tax claim methodologies.
The ‘too good to be true’ point is important; in the same way that it is tempting to go with the estate agent that is prepared to ask the highest price for your house, it is tempting to go with the R&D tax advisor that claims that it will ‘maximise the claim’.
The risks here range from, as with the estate agent, the disappointment of the benefit being lower than expected to the much more onerous situation of a dispute with HMRC. It is much better, especially from an accounting provision perspective, to work with the advisor to develop a realistic and sustainable estimate of the benefit up front.
- The guide also emphasises the value of contacting a few firms and arranging to meet in order to evaluate how you might be able to work with them.
Unfortunately, the R&D tax scheme is viewed by some as providing ‘free money’ in the same vein as something along the lines of personal injury claims. This is evident in the use of phrases like ‘no win, no fee’ or ‘100% success rate’ in the sector.
We have heard examples of some advisors taking advantage of the client’s expectation of receiving money that they otherwise would not by proposing fees that are wildly disproportionate to the amount of work involved in managing the claim process. While a fair fee for the work done is of course right and proper, it is in place to reward the companies doing the R&D in order to stimulate the UK economy, not to channel money to advisors.
- Another key consideration is the nature of the aftercare services provided by advisors in cases where HMRC’s initial review of the R&D tax credit claim results in follow-up enquiries.
This is critical. HMRC, while promoting the scheme to stimulate R&D in the UK, also has to manage taxpayers’ money carefully. As advisors, a proportion of our activity involves clients that have approached us because HMRC is querying their claim and their existing advisor is either unable or unwilling to help.
This generally involves unravelling and re-presenting the claim in a way that presents HMRC with a clearer view of the R&D activity undertaken, sometimes excluding any projects and costs claimed in error.
Our view has always been that it is much better to submit a strong claim first time.
- Finally, the guide recommends that customers seek clarity on whether the adviser is happy to be reappointed each year, or expects a multi-year service contract. In the latter case, what are the conditions for terminating the contract before it formally ends?
Why do clients get ‘locked into’ multi-year contracts? One rationale might be that the annual fee for the advisory service is either lower to reflect the multi-year relationship, or that the fee reduces each year as the advisor and the client grow increasingly familiar with the process and the type of work being claimed for.
However, our experience with clients that have come to us following the expiration of such relationships is that this is not the case – ever – with the same disproportionately high fee repeated year after year.
Also see point 2 above regarding fee levels.
There is no need for a client to be locked into a multi-year relationship, especially as the experience of its own staff involved in R&D tax claims will grow and the service provided by the advisor is likely to change year-on-year accordingly.
