Tax in the UK
The "standard" rate of corporation tax in the UK is 26 per cent and applies to both resident and non-resident companies. Tax will fall by one per cent per year for the next three years to 23 per cent by 2014. This cut will mean Britain will have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7.
The Government has also announced its intention to create the most competitive tax regime in the G20, along with a new ‘entrepreneurs’ visa’, so that those with the ideas and energy to set up a company and help it grow will have a dedicated path to the UK.
For further information, please visit the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website .
Research and Development (R&D) Relief
Research and Development (R&D Relief) is a Corporation Tax relief that may reduce a company or organisation's tax bill by more than its actual expenditure on allowable R&D costs.
If a company or organisation is small or medium-sized, it may be able to choose to receive a tax credit instead, by way of a cash sum paid by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
The current rate of tax relief on allowable R & D expenses is 200%: that is, for each £100 of qualifying costs, your company or organisation could have the income on which Corporation Tax is paid reduced by an additional £100 on top of the £100 spent. It also includes a payable credit in some circumstances.
You can only claim under the scheme for SMEs if your company or organisation meets the definition of a SME for R&D Relief purposes
Subject to State aid approval, the rate of SME R&D Relief will increase to 225 per cent from 1 April 2012.