R&D Tax Credits forSystem Integration and Automation Projects

Technology & Taxation

A No-Win No-Fee opportunity to receive Cash

Rebates and Corporation Tax savings for

System Integration and Automation projects

undertaken in the last 3 years.

Technologies Claimed

• Machine Vision / Automated Visual Inspection

Systems

• PLC controlled Bespoke Automation Systems

• Conveyor Systems for Materials Handling of challenging products

• Control of plastic injection moulding process

• Control / Process improvements of plastic extrusion process

• Development of machinery for plastic extrusion

• Development of software codes for unique label printing

• Control of machinery / processes in furniture making

• Control of machinery / processes in food processing lines

• Wireless control of industrial processes

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

No-Win No-Fee. We only invoice a % of the tax saving when you receive it.

Only one year commitment period.

An awareness of industry norms for claim values and track record in achieving payouts in excess of

these norms.

Reduced HMRC inquiry rates of 1 in 100 (estimated industry norm is 1 in 25).

Specific experience in uplifting and correcting filed claims and advising clients facing an HMRC enquiry

from previous claims.

Start-ups offered additional support.

May Figures Ltd

St Albans - Exeter - Leeds

Tel: 01727 751 080www.mayfigures.co.uk info@mayfigures.co.uk

May Figures Ltd Science and TechnologyChartered Tax Advisers

The Research and Development Tax Credit Funding Scheme

is a part UK/part EU Grant administered by HMRC which

provides UK companies undertaking R&D activities to claim

additional tax relief beyond their actual expenditure – a

“super-deduction”.

This creates a refund of overpaid Corporation Tax.

The average claim per company per annum is £40,000

according to HMRC statistics.

The end result is a Tax Saving, a stronger Balance Sheet and

in some cases an increase in EBITDA.

A robust and defendable claim requires a detailed knowledge

of your technology, combined with an attuned mind and

experience of writing and negotiating claims in the Systems

Integration and Automation space.

With our experience in the System Integration and Automation sectors May Figures regularly undertakes successful claims for companies that have been previously advised that they could not claim.

If advised that your company doesn’t qualify, get a free second

opinion. It is worth the call. Cash refunds can be generated

within 30 days of you getting in touch.

Many companies are not maximising their claim potential due

to the complexity of the rules underlying what appears to be a

straightforward process. May Figures can simplify the process

and provide reliable advice about your company’s eligibility.

Whether the project is internally driven, client inspired or fully client funded for their business, there is almost always a valid R&D claim that you as the technology team can claim. Levels of tax relief vary but it is unusual to be excluded entirely from the ability to claim. Despite common misconceptions, system integrators can in many circumstances claim for client work.

Determining where a Systems Integration / Automation project would be considered by HMRC to be a “routine commercial development” (not eligible) rather than R&D requires considerable Systems Integration / Automation sector knowledge as well as experience of preparing hundreds of successful claims to fully understand the legislation and how individual HMRC inspectors in different regions interpret the legislation.

Special complications occur when there is a considerable amount of software development associated with a Systems Integration / Automation project. Despite efforts by HMRC to provide guidance as to which software projects can be considered as R&D (new computer operating systems, artificial intelligence algorithms) and which projects are generally not considered R&D (user interfaces, routine data manipulations) in reality many system integration projects have elements of software R&D and some elements of routine software development. A skilled advisor understanding the software coding is required in order to identify and maximise the claim value.

May Figures have successfully filed multiple claims in all of the software areas which HMRC advise as not typically being considered as R&D.

By undertaking technical discussion and detailed analysis of the technical challenges faced by the developer, we can often reveal some technical insight which can be used as the basis of constructing a successful claim.

We have prepared over 450 successful claims saving

technology and manufacturing companies over £18 million in

tax and cash rebates.

Senior Partner Julia May is not only a

prize winning Chartered Accountant and

Chartered Tax Advisor (ex Big 4) but has a BEng Honours Degree in

Engineering Science and has broad based industry experience at an

international geospatial software house, an IT consultancy and other

cutting edge businesses. She will liaise with your in-house finance

team to ensure underlying commercial contracts do not inadvertently

reduce your claim value, ensure all possible costs are claimed

and will work with your external accountant on the tax planning,

accounts disclosures and HMRC filing. She has specialist knowledge

in preparing claims for IT consulting companies – a surprisingly

complex area where clients are often led to understand that they

either cannot claim or claim too little.

Senior Technical Analyst Dr Mark Graves has

a PhD in Machine Vision and spent 15 years

developing and integrating vision systems / checkweighers and RFID/

labelling systems as a systems integrator within the food packaging

industry, co-editing a textbook on the use of Machine Vision in

Automated Product Inspection before moving into R&D Tax Credits 5

years ago. Having researched your particular field, he will spend time

with your lead developer to assess the projects at a technical level in

order to prepare a technical report for submission to HMRC justifying

the Systems Integration / Automation as qualifying R&D. Having

defended a number of clients during an HMRC enquiry into their

claims he has a detailed understanding of what HMRC Inspectors

look for in determining the technical eligibility of a claim.

What are R&D Tax Credits? Client & Internal Projects About Us

Julia May FCA, CTA, BEng(Hons)

Dr Mark Graves MEng(oxon), PhD, MIET.