Claim your reward with R&D Tax Relief or Patent Box

The R&D Tax Relief and Patent Box schemes gives cash rewards to innovative companies to help them to continue innovating.

Zests’ specialist tax advisors help companies around the UK to quickly, and easily access these funds, and transform their business. We offer a complete R&D claim service, from initial discussions to submitting your claim to HMRC, with no-win-no-fee pricing and HMRC compliance check support included.

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Would certainly recommend

“When we started talking to Zest about R&D Tax it was clear they understood how to put in an effective claim. In the past we have used a third party company to handle our R&D Claims but it was so much easier …. with their structured approach to deciding what is eligible, how to break down the costs of the work that would make up the claim, and present the claim in a clear and unambiguous way.

Due to their in-depth understanding of R&D claims, they ensured that only eligible costs were submitted as part of the claim, but also made us aware of other costs that could be included that we were previously unaware of in order to maximise the value of the claim. We were pleased that the final rebate was exactly in line with the amount that they advised we should receive.

I would not hesitate to use them again for a future R&D claim, and would certainly recommend them to other businesses who think they may be eligible through their R&D projects.”

George Smith MD
Walford Timber Ltd.

A fantastic result

“As a specialist engineering company, our work is quite niche and doesn’t always fit the predefined categories or descriptions that HMRC use. By developing an understanding of our business and working closely with our Project Manager, Zest Research & Development/Barrie was able to submit a complaint and successful R&D tax relief submission. A fantastic result, which, before their advice and helpful support, we would not have understood or qualified for. R&D monitoring now forms part of our routine management systems – Thank you Barrie!”

Joanna Edwards
Director of Edwards Diving Services Limited

Amazing

“Amazing! After just a short visit Adam produced detailed reports on my business, submitted them to HMRC on my behalf and obtained substantial results. Extremely pleased. I don’t normally leave recommendations but in this case I do.”

Ray Methuen
Gwentec

About Zest

Zest are specialists R&D tax advisors. That means advising clients on Research and Development tax relief and Patent Box are the only thing we do. So we know everything there is to know about it.

Our purpose is to help companies around the UK do good things, and reach their potential, by maximising their use of R&D tax reliefs.

We work with Ecologi to ensure our business operations are carbon negative, and we offer reduced fees to companies working on green R&D projects.

More about us →

Frequently asked questions

Find the answers to some of the most common questions our clients ask us and links to more information.

About R&D Tax Credits

What work qualifies as R&D?

Any work where a company has made an advance in technical or scientific knowledge in their field is likely to qualify as R&D.

For more information and examples - view this page.

Who can claim R&D tax credits?

Any limited companies that have conducted qualifying work can claim R&D tax relief.

However, there are two schemes:

- the Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) which is open to all companies.

- the Enhanced R&D Intensive Scheme (ERIS) which is open to SME's who are loss making and spending more than 30% on R&D.

For specialist help with either scheme - get in touch.

How far back can you claim R&D tax credits?

You can claim R&D tax credits up to 2 years after the end of the accounting period when the R&D took place.

For example, if you conducted R&D in your accounting period ending 31st March 2025, you would need to have made your claim by 31st March 2027.

However, if you haven't submitted a claim previously, you will need to submit a Claim Notification Form within 6 months of the end of your accounting period, or you will be barred from claiming.

How much will I get back?

Use our free R&D Tax Credit calculator tool to get an estimate.

How is R&D Tax Relief calculated?

Most companies will use the Research and Development Expenditure Credit, which provides a 20% credit based on your eligible R&D expenditure. This credit is then taxed at 25% so you will receive a benefit of about 15% of your R&D expenditure.

If you claim with ERIS, the scheme for loss making companies spending 30% or more on R&D, you will receive up to 26% of your R&D expenditure as a payable credit.

What if I used a sub-contractor or freelancer for R&D?

You can generally claim for 65% of the payments made to unconnected parties.

Find out more here.

What if we've received grant funding or subsidies for our R&D?

Under the new system (from 1/4/2024) you can receive R&D tax relief even if your project has been subsidised by a grant or state aid.

What about R&D Intensive SME's

From 1st April 2024 - companies that are loss-making and spending more than 30% of their revenue expenditure on R&D will qualify for higher rates of relief. Overall they could claim a payable tax credit of up to 25% of their R&D expenditure.

The Claims Process

How long will a claim take?

We aim to complete your R&D tax claim documentation within 2 weeks of our review meeting and receiving the required information from you.

Your claim will then need to be submitted to HMRC. Once submitted, claims are normally paid out within 40 calendar days.

To find out more about the claims process - try this page.

What is the Additional Information Form?

The Additional Information Form (AIF) is a digital form that needs to be submitted to HMRC before your R&D Tax Relief claim is submitted in your companies tax return. We complete this form as part of our service.

What is the Claim Notification Form?

The Claim Notification Form needs to be submitted if you haven't made an R&D claim within the last 3 years. It tells HMRC that you intend to submit a claim, and gives you until 2 years after the end of the accounting period to make the submission. Without submitting it, you will need to make your R&D Tax Claim submission within 6 months of the end of the accounting period.

How much time will I need to spend on a claim?

When you work with Zest, our goal is to make the claims process as easy as possible for you. Some clients spend less than half a day on their claim, including time for meetings, information gathering, and reviewing their claim documents. But in reality, it will always depend on your scenario, the quality of your records, and the number of projects in your claim.

For more information on the claims process - try this link.

Will the R&D tax relief be made as a payment to me?

If you are profit making you will receive a reduction in your corporation tax bill or liability. If you have already paid your corporation tax this should lead to a payable refund.

If you are loss making you will receive a payable credit from HMRC.

How do Zest charge?

Zest charge with a single, simple and competitive fee which is based on a percentage of your successful R&D tax credit claim. In the unlikely event that HMRC decide to open an enquiry on your claim, we'll defend it at no extra cost.

What records will Zest produce?

We'll create a document that explains what R&D tax scheme your company qualifies for, why the R&D work you do qualifies for relief, and how much cost can legitimately be claimed.

We'll also determine how much you will receive, work with your accountant to submit the claim to HMRC, and support you with chasing HMRC for payment if required.

Will Zest work with my accountant?

Yes - once you've given us your consent to work with your accountant - we can obtain your annual accounts, corporation tax computations and payroll which we will require for your claim. We will also provide guidance for your accountant when they submit your R&D Tax Credit claim.

Can HMRC open an enquiry and will you defend it?

Part of our job is to help you minimize the risk of HMRC opening an enquiry into your R&D tax claim. However, they can't always be avoided.

Where an enquiry is instigated, we will defend it at no extra cost.

The Latest R&D News

Find out the latest news and views, in the world of R&D Tax Credits with our blog articles, or jump straight to our blog page.

R&D Tax Relief for Engineering Firms: Which Projects and Costs Qualify

A guide to R&D tax relief for engineering firms: which projects and costs qualify, how the merged scheme and ERIS work, and how to make a claim that survives HMRC.

HMRC’s Targeted Advance Assurance Pilot (2026): Get Certainty on Your R&D Claim Before You File

HMRC’s targeted advance assurance pilot (from 18 May 2026) lets eligible SMEs get HMRC’s view on up to 2 high-risk areas of an R&D claim before filing. Here’s how.

HMRC’s R&D Enquiry Team Just Changed: What WMBC Taking Over From ISBC Means for Your Claim

HMRC has moved R&D enquiries from ISBC to its WMBC directorate in 2026. Here’s what the change means for your claim — and how to prepare.

R&D Claim Notification Form: June 2026 Deadline — Act Now

If your company has a December 2025 year-end, you must submit an R&D Claim Notification Form to HMRC by 30 June 2026 — or lose the ability to claim. Here’s what to do.

RDEC vs ERIS: Large Company Case Studies

Compare RDEC and ERIS for large groups: eligibility, tax treatment, cash benefit and when loss‑making SMEs may prefer ERIS.

HMRC R&D Claim Processing Times 2026

2026 guide to HMRC R&D processing times by claim type, causes of delays and practical steps to speed up your claim.

Find out how much you could claim

Speak to one of our specialist tax advisors to find out in 15 minutes whether you could claim.

At Zest, we make claiming easy and stress-free. We work for you, doing all the heavy-lifting, so you can focus on growing your business.

So don’t wait any longer. Use the number, email, or contact form provided to turbo-charge your businesses journey.