Research and Development (R&D) activities

Who can apply for Research and Development (R&D) Relief?

To apply for R&D Relief you must be a 'key' employee. This means you, as an employee:

• must not be, or have been, a director of your employer's company or an associated company
• must not be connected to a director of your employer's company or an associated company
• do not, or did not, have any material interest in your employer's company or an associated company
• and
• must not be connected to anyone who has a material interest in your employer's company or an associated company. A material interest means an individual holding of more than 5% of the shares of the company.

In the accounting period for which your employer was entitled to claim the R&D Relief:

• you must have performed 50% of your duties in the conception or creation of new knowledge, products, processes, methods or systems
• and
• your employer must be entitled to claim at least 50% or more of the cost of your wages as R&D expenditure.

If you are a company, you can find more information on this Research and Development Relief in the Companies and charities section.

Next: Research and Development (R&D) Relief limit for employees