Research: Tax Allowances
(asked on 7th March 2022) - View Source
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what most recent estimate HMRC has made of the level of fraud in (a) the Research and Development Expenditure Credit, and (b) the SME R&D relief.
This question was answered on 10th March 2022
2020-21 is the second financial year where an estimate of the error and fraud in relation to the Research and Development (R&D) regime has been included in the HMRC annual report and accounts. The overall estimate of the level of error and fraud is 3.6 per cent of the estimated cost of the reliefs. Within this, 5.5 per cent relates to the Small and Medium Enterprises scheme and 0.9 per cent relates to the Research and Development expenditure credit scheme. The estimate is based on historic claim data, compliance results, and Tax Gaps, and by its nature is uncertain. This estimate does not differentiate between error and fraud and covers a wide range of non-compliant behaviours.
2020-21 is the second financial year where an estimate of the error and fraud in relation to the Research and Development (R&D) regime has been included in the HMRC annual report and accounts. The overall estimate of the level of error and fraud is 3.6 per cent of the estimated cost of the reliefs. Within this, 5.5 per cent relates to the Small and Medium Enterprises scheme and 0.9 per cent relates to the Research and Development expenditure credit scheme. The estimate is based on historic claim data, compliance results, and Tax Gaps, and by its nature is uncertain. This estimate does not differentiate between error and fraud and covers a wide range of non-compliant behaviours.