HMRC statistics 2025 - has R&D tax relief turned the tide

This year’s HMRC statistics – has R&D tax relief turned the tide?

HMRC releases information on the number of companies claiming R&D tax relief and Patent Box each year. Last year we saw a dramatic fall in the number of R&D tax relief claimants, particularly amongst SMEs which were down by 28%.

On the release of the new statistics we discuss:
- What story do the statistics tell us this year?
- Have businesses been discouraged from claiming the tax relief they are entitled to?
- Have we reached the point where the schemes are rightsized leaving only legitimate claims?
- What does it mean for the future of the new merged RDEC scheme?