News

Patent Box Relief: HMRC’s New Compliance Guidelines
Published Date: Dec 2024
A target with the word patented in the center inside a box to depict Patent Box Relief

Patent Box Relief is a government incentive which allows UK corporations who own qualifying intellectual property, to avail of a 10% corporation tax rate, rewarding and promoting innovation within the UK.

According to HMRC statistics released in September, in the tax year 2022-2023, it is estimated that 1600 companies successfully claimed patent box relief. With a combined relief total of £1469 million. The sectors with the most significant number and also value of claims are Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities, and Information and Communication.

However, complexities surrounding submitting patent box relief claims, have led to HMRC compliance checks, due to incomplete tax computations. As a result of this HMRC have recently released updates Guidelines for Compliance, to aid companies wishing to make a claim.

It is essential to work with competent professionals and tax advisors to ensure the validity of your claim and to mitigate compliance checks.

Find out more about HMRC’s new Guidelines for Compliance here.

Who Can Claim Patent Box Relief?

  • Trading companies who are liable to pay Corporation Tax
  • Companies who make a profit from Intellectual Property rights, including patents
  • Owns or has exclusive license-in qualifying rights
  • Has undertaken qualifying development on the qualifying rights

How We Can Help You to Prepare for a Patent Box Relief Claim

  • Establish Eligibility
  • Map Qualifying Expenditure
  • Calculating the R&D Fraction
  • Beyond Your Claim
  • Maximise your benefits with integrated innovation incentives such as R&D Tax

 

Unlock the Potential of Robotic Automation in the UK through R&D Tax Relief, Grants, and Patent Box Relief

Recently, we had the privilege of working closely with a client in the robotic automation sector. While their innovative work was inspiring, it highlighted a challenge that has long hindered the UK’s progress in this critical area: the lack of sufficient investment in robotic automation.

Globally, automation is a key driver of efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Yet, the UK has historically lagged behind other leading economies in adopting advanced automation technologies. This gap not only impacts competitiveness but also the ability to maximise operational efficiency and output across industries.

 

How Can R&D Tax Relief, Grant Funding, and Patent Box Relief Help?

Financial incentives such as R&D tax relief, innovation grants, and Patent Box relief provide a vital opportunity for companies to offset costs and reinvest in their innovation. These schemes are designed to support businesses pushing technological boundaries, and robotic automation is a perfect candidate.

  • R&D Tax Relief: Encourages companies to develop new or improved automation processes, software, or hardware by offering significant tax savings on qualifying R&D activities.
  • Innovation Grants: Provide upfront funding to support the design, prototyping, and scaling of cutting-edge robotic systems.
  • Patent Box Relief: Rewards businesses that generate profits from patented technologies, reducing the corporation tax rate on those earnings.

 

What Does This Mean for UK Businesses?
By taking advantage of these schemes, companies can unlock the financial resources needed to invest in automation, whether it’s through developing smarter robotics, integrating artificial intelligence, or streamlining manufacturing processes. This not only enhances their own capabilities but also contributes to the UK’s overall technological and economic resilience.

If you’re in the robotic automation space – or any innovative sector, these incentives could be the key to unlocking your next stage of growth. At PGR Advisory, we specialise in helping businesses identify and claim these opportunities.

At PGR Advisory we believe that innovation should be rewarded. As a regulated Chartered Accountancy Firm, we have a team of Experts on hand to help, including Chartered Tax Advisors, Chartered Accountants, and Qualified Engineers to seamlessly integrate Patent Box relief with your existing R&D activities. We help you with an entirely new claim or to optimise your existing claim and help you secure the maximum benefits for your business..

Find out more about how we can help you with patent box relief claims here.