The December deadline – How to ensure your R&D tax claims are ready on time

As the end of the year approaches, it is essential for advisers and accountants preparing R&D tax claims to stay on top of upcoming deadlines.

December is a critical period for R&D tax submissions, as it is one of the busiest times in the financial calendar.

Firms may see an influx of claims, driven by year-end preparations, and combined with the festive season’s typical slowdown, it can leave precious little time to get all get all their ducks in a row!

HMRC’s R&D tax scheme has a two-year claim window, and any submissions beyond the hard deadline are rejected outright, with almost no exceptions.

For eligible companies, missing a hard deadline means missing out on valuable tax relief. With potential cash benefits at stake, it is crucial that claims are submitted in good time.

The impact of December on R&D Tax claims

With many firms in the accountancy sector, and their clients, winding down operations over the extended holiday period, the combination of deadlines, heavy workloads, and time off, often leads to a sharp spike in last-minute submissions.

This rush not only increases the pressure on accounting teams but also introduces potential risks if any important information is overlooked in the haste to submit.

To help accountants and advisers deliver accurate, compliant, and timely R&D tax claims, WhisperClaims provides a solution built for efficiency and precision.

Our platform walks users through each aspect of claim preparation, offering feedback and risk assessments along the way.

Gone are the days of navigating complex and often ambiguous R&D tax guidance by hand.

Instead, our software ensures all required information for the submission and Additional Information Form (AIF) portal is captured in a clear and structured format.

Preparing R&D claims in WhisperClaims and the importance of prompt submissions

With the December deadline looming, WhisperClaims enables advisers to efficiently and accurately work through claims. Here’s how:

• Rigorous processes – Our innovative software, with its clever decision engine, guides users through the question set, ensuring that all essential details are covered and reducing the chance of errors or omissions.
• Built-in feedback, risk assessments, and the “power of no” – WhisperClaims offers real-time feedback, helping advisers assess compliance and risk. Importantly, the platform leverages the power of no – alerting users when a claim does not meet HMRC’s eligibility criteria. This feature is invaluable for risk-averse accountants, providing confidence that only claims that are on the right side of HMRC’s guidelines are submitted.
• Enhanced transparency through collaboration – By clarifying complex R&D guidance, the platform improves communication between accountants and their clients – advisers can opt to collaborate directly with their clients within the app, allowing everyone to understand the claim process, keeping the claims moving in the right direction and reducing last-minute changes.
• Easy access advice line support – Take comfort that you have easy access to dedicated experts ready to answer any scheme or eligibility-related questions via phone, email, or live chat.

The benefits of WhisperClaims extend beyond timeliness and efficiency into safeguarding the accuracy and compliance of each R&D tax claim.

As December draws near, accountants and advisers can rely on our platform to meet submission deadlines without sacrificing quality or risking rejection due to inaccuracies.

The takeaway

So, what can we take from all of this? Essentially, do not leave R&D claims to the last minute.

The December deadline is a critical reminder for advisers to start preparing claims now rather than pushing tasks into the final weeks.

With our structured approach, WhisperClaims helps you manage your clients’ R&D claims smoothly and confidently, avoiding last-minute stress and ensuring compliance with HMRC’s requirements.

As the clock ticks toward December, ensure that, particularly claims with a hard deadline, are prioritised.

Feel free to contact us to learn how WhisperClaims can support your practice with efficient, streamlined & compliant R&D tax claim preparation.

Book a demo now to experience the power of WhisperClaims.

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