Why this site exists
The R&D tax relief landscape changed substantially in April 2024. The old SME scheme and the large-company RDEC scheme were replaced by a single Merged Scheme — and most of the guidance you will find online still reflects the old rules. That creates a real problem for owner-managed businesses and small finance teams trying to make sense of what they can actually claim.
The eligibility grader on this site is designed to give you a clear, honest indication of whether your business is likely to qualify — and roughly what a claim might be worth — before you spend time talking to anyone. The information you receive from the grader is useful regardless of whether you proceed further. There is no obligation attached to using it.
If the grader indicates you are likely eligible, we connect you with a specialist R&D adviser who can assess your claim properly and handle the submission. Those advisers work on a no-win-no-fee basis — you pay nothing unless a successful claim is made.
Who we are built for
This site is built for UK SMEs — owner-managed businesses, small to mid-sized companies with in-house development work, and growing businesses that may not have specialist R&D tax expertise in-house. It is not aimed at large corporates with dedicated tax teams, or at accountancy practices looking for software.
The businesses that tend to get the most from RDClaim are those where the managing director or finance manager is the one doing the research — who wants to understand the picture before committing time to a specialist conversation. The grader is designed for that person.
How we approach accuracy
Current scheme rates
All rates and rules are verified against GOV.UK guidance and updated when HMRC publishes changes. We display the date of last verification on every page.
Conservative estimates
The eligibility score and claim estimates from the grader are deliberately cautious. We would rather you are pleasantly surprised by a larger claim than disappointed by a smaller one.
No pressure
The grader gives you a result whether or not you choose to proceed to a specialist assessment. The result is yours — there is no obligation attached to it.
Transparent referrals
When you request a free assessment, we connect you with a specialist firm. We may receive a referral fee if a claim proceeds successfully. This is disclosed clearly in our terms.
Who we connect you with
We introduce eligible businesses to specialist R&D tax advisory firms. These are professionals with established track records under both the old SME scheme and the current Merged RDEC Scheme. They operate on a no-win-no-fee basis — you do not pay unless a claim is successfully made.
We do not work with firms that charge upfront fees or that we have reason to question. The introduction is based on the quality of the lead — our pre-qualified enquiries come with an eligibility score, an estimated claim range, and a risk indicator, which allows the adviser to assess quickly whether to proceed.
What we are not
RDClaim is not an R&D tax advisory firm. We do not review accounts, prepare claims, or communicate with HMRC. The grader result is an indication based on your answers and sector data — not a professional determination of your eligibility. A qualified specialist makes that assessment.
Important notice
The information on this site is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Tool results are indicative estimates based on typical industry data and your responses — they are not a guarantee of eligibility or claim value. You should seek professional advice before making any decisions based on information provided here.
Data and privacy
The eligibility grader runs entirely in your browser. We do not store your answers or transmit them anywhere unless you actively choose to request a specialist assessment. When you do, your contact details and a summary of your answers are shared with our specialist partner. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.