A compliance check is HMRC’s formal review of your R&D claim to verify eligibility and costs. It is routine, time-bound, and evidence-led. Respond quickly with a structured, point-by-point reply.
HMRC tests your technological uncertainty, the competent professional baseline, and the mapping from ledgers and payroll to claim schedules. Clear narratives and reconciled figures reduce risk, delay and clawback.
Do not ignore it. Read the scope, gather records, and plan a factual response with evidence. We can triage in 24 hours, prioritise the tasks, and manage HMRC liaison and lead an R&D claim enquiry defence that will put you in the strongest position moving forward.
Immediate steps to take
Discover how FI Group UK effectively supported FIMATIX during an HMRC R&D tax credit enquiry to secure and preserve their claim. This case study demonstrates our technical rigour, strategic engagement, and reassurance in protecting innovation funding when it matters most.
“We have been incredibly impressed with FI Group and the support they have provided as our R&D tax advisors. From the outset, they helped us carefully identify the qualifying elements of our projects, guiding us with clear advice and deep technical understanding.” – Tim Howarth, CEO of Fimatix
Read more via the link below.
Discover how FI Group UK effectively supported FIMATIX during an HMRC R&D tax credit enquiry to secure and preserve their claim. This case study demonstrates our technical rigour, strategic engagement, and reassurance in protecting innovation funding when it matters most.
“We have been incredibly impressed with FI Group and the support they have provided as our R&D tax advisors. From the outset, they helped us carefully identify the qualifying elements of our projects, guiding us with clear advice and deep technical understanding.” – Tim Howarth, CEO of Fimatix
Read more via the link below.
Most issues come from unclear uncertainty statements, weak cost mapping, and subcontractor or EPW treatment errors. We standardise the narrative, reconcile costs, and close governance gaps.
| Common risk | What HMRC sees | Our fix |
| Vague uncertainty | Marketing language without a baseline | Define competent professional baseline, state the uncertainty, show systematic work |
| Cost discrepancies | Ledgers do not match schedules | Reconcile payroll and GL, document sampling and trace tests |
| Subcontractor or EPW errors | Scope unclear, wrong category or rate | Verify scopes, categorise correctly, evidence eligibility and period treatment |
| Overseas activity | Treated incorrectly for the period | Apply period-correct rules and document decision logic |
| Missing governance | No named officer, poor audit trail | Name responsible individuals, index evidence, align with AIF requirements |
Most issues come from unclear uncertainty statements, weak cost mapping, and subcontractor or EPW treatment errors. We standardise the narrative, reconcile costs, and close governance gaps.
| Common risk | What HMRC sees | Our fix |
| Vague uncertainty | Marketing language without a baseline | Define competent professional baseline, state the uncertainty, show systematic work |
| Cost discrepancies | Ledgers do not match schedules | Reconcile payroll and GL, document sampling and trace tests |
| Subcontractor or EPW errors | Scope unclear, wrong category or rate | Verify scopes, categorise correctly, evidence eligibility and period treatment |
| Overseas activity | Treated incorrectly for the period | Apply period-correct rules and document decision logic |
| Missing governance | No named officer, poor audit trail | Name responsible individuals, index evidence, align with AIF requirements |
A complete response pack that mirrors HMRC’s questions and proves your numbers.
Included as standard
Pre-submission reviews, in-year evidence capture, and clean AIF and notification processes reduce enquiry risk and speed cash flow.
Our prevention programme
One UK-led partner coordinates your enquiry defence and incentives across jurisdictions, with local teams delivering filings and support. Your HQ sees the full picture. Your teams feel the local support.
Why CFOs choose this model
Funding Insights
We diagnose the risk, map evidence to HMRC’s questions, and prepare a point-by-point reply led by one accountable specialist in your tech field. You don’t have to be an existing FI Group client to use our R&D Claim Enquiry Defence service.
Send my HMRC letter | Get a 25-minute defence consult
According to HMRC’s “Approach to Research and Development Tax Reliefs 2023 to 2024” report