Key findings from HMRC’s R&D tax credit statistics
HMRC’s latest Research and Development (R&D) tax credit statistics, published in September 2026, give the first view of how businesses have claimed relief since the merged R&D expenditure credit (Merged RDEC) and enhanced R&D intensive support (ERIS) schemes replaced the previous regime. The provisional figures are based on the 2024-25 financial year and show how much relief companies claimed, how many claims HMRC received and which sectors and regions account for the most activity.
With fewer claims being made but the value of relief continuing to rise, these figures show how the reformed regime is changing who benefits from R&D tax relief. How much relief did businesses claim? How has the move to the merged scheme affected SMEs? And what does the growing concentration of relief amongst the largest claims mean for businesses preparing their own claims?
“The 2026 statistics mark a watershed moment for the UK’s R&D tax relief regime. For the first time, HMRC has reported on claims under the merged scheme and ERIS, giving businesses and advisers an early indication of how the post-2024 regime is operating in practice. Equally important is the continued emphasis on claim quality and compliance, reinforcing the need for robust technical justification and accurate claim preparation. Claims which cannot be substantiated or supported upon HMRC enquiry appear to be rapidly falling away.”
Gemma Thake, Partner, Tax team
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