HMRC clampdown on R&D tax relief ‘taking toll on startups’

Federation of Small Businesses warns that heavy-handed approach is negatively affecting small companies

The UK government’s recent drive to clamp down on the misuse of R&D tax relief, much of which has been lost to fraud in the past, is negatively affecting startups in the country, a lobby group has claimed.

Martin McTague, national chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), told Research Professional News that the added red tape had created extra work for businesses that were already struggling amid wider economic pressures.