Series

How We Work

Why we assess eligibility before preparing anything, and what a genuinely robust R&D claim involves.

Why the Right R&D Partner Isn't the One Who Says Yes

I could have built PSS Tax to say yes to everything. More yeses mean more claims, more fees and more growth. It isn't a conspiracy. It's just incentives doing what…

6

min read

Building Long-Term Value for Accountants, Not Just R&D Claims

I started this series by explaining why I built PSS around being willing to say no. I want to close it by explaining what I actually want the relationship to look…

2

min read

Preparing an R&D Claim Is One Thing. Defending It Is Another.

Most conversations about R&D claims focus on preparation. Is the project eligible, is the expenditure calculated correctly, is the narrative written well. All fair…

2

min read

What 60+ HMRC Enquiries Have Taught Us About Good R&D Claims

Somewhere along the way of dealing and working on HMRC enquiries, patterns start to repeat themselves. Not in the projects, which are all genuinely different, but…

2

min read

Why Modern R&D Tax Relief Has Become a Specialist Discipline

There was a period when much of the R&D market treated a claim as a tax calculation with a bit of technical colour added around the edges. That period has passed…

2

min read

The Difference Between Innovation and Qualifying R&D

I have this conversation often enough that I can predict roughly how it goes. A business has built something genuinely impressive, the accountant is confident it…

2

min read

What Makes an R&D Claim Truly Compliant?

“Compliant” gets used a lot in this industry, often as a word that sounds reassuring without actually meaning very much. I think it's worth being specific about…

2

min read

Why Good Evidence Beats Good Writing

A well-written technical narrative reads convincingly. It flows, it sounds confident, and on first read it can be genuinely persuasive. None of that matters much if…

2

min read

Choosing the Right R&D Specialist for Your Clients

Referring a client to an R&D specialist is a decision that reflects on you, not just on them, so it's worth being genuinely deliberate about who you choose. Here's…

2

min read

Why We Include HMRC Enquiry Defence in Our Standard R&D Service

Preparing an R&D claim properly is one thing. Defending it when HMRC starts asking detailed questions is another.

3

min read