Consulting and HMRC Enquiry support
Ziliant: Your innovations partner
Innovations and tax advisory
Given the number of tax reliefs or allowances, it can be challenging to understand which could benefit you, when you should apply or combine them.
This is where our advisory experience can benefit your company, not just now, but many years into the future.
Our experts will partner with you to understand how your business works and where it seeks to grow, then deliver a robust plan to ensure you maximise your tax efficiency and stay compliant.
HMRC enquiry support
HMRC is bound by its charter to ensure R&D tax credits are applied fairly. To enforce this, the Revenue engages in compliance checks, sometimes called “enquiries”. HMRC has powers to launch these enquiries on historic R&D tax credits.
How enquiries work
Typically the taxpayer will receive a letter from HMRC explaining that a case has been opened and asking for further information. If this happens, don’t panic. It does not mean the claim was invalid. We will never submit an invalid claim on your behalf. At this stage HMRC merely needs clarification before it can satisfy itself that the claim meets all the criteria. At Ziliant, we stand by our work and that means our fees include support for HMRC compliance actions.
Correspondence with HMRC
We will review the letters, assist you to gather the additional information required and draft responses. Typically, an initial letter will ask for clarification around the ways in which the claim meets the criteria. This is where Ziliant’s technical expertise can reduce the amount of correspondence needed to settle an action. Sometimes this can be covered via a videoconference with the HMRC case workers.
Mediation
If HMRC still disagrees about the qualifying nature of the claim, then it can sometimes be beneficial to widen the discussion to include an HMRC-appointed mediator, through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Although it follows a formal structure, mediation is a neutral and friendly way to clarify points that may have been missed in written correspondence.
Tribunal
In rarer cases, HMRC may still disagree about how to interpret the statutory guidance, in which case it can be beneficial to have the case heard at the First Tier Tribunal. Taxpayers have won a number of high-profile R&D cases at Tribunal in recent years, giving solid legal precedent to some greyer areas of the statutory instrument and obliging HMRC to adjust its guidance.
In all of these cases, Ziliant will work with you to find a resolution.
Have you already received a letter from HMRC?
We are also happy to assist with compliance actions where we were not the initial advisor. We have had significant successes in this area, closing out enquiries for clients whose advisors did not, or could not support the enquiry stage.
Other Services
R&D Tax Relief
We help UK innovators—small and large—access funding through HMRC-backed R&D tax credits. Since 2007, our team has built a trusted process and developed deep expertise across industries. From identifying eligible projects to compiling technical reports and submitting to HMRC, we handle it all.
Research & Development Allowances
Businesses can claim a 100% tax deduction for capital expenditure related to R&D, such as buildings, hardware, and equipment. We review your capital spend to ensure you’re maximising every opportunity.
Patent Box
Reduce your corporation tax to 10% on profits made from patented products. We help you assess eligibility and navigate the complexities of claiming Patent Box relief.
Creative Industry Tax Reliefs
From film and TV to video games and exhibitions, Ziliant (in partnership with Creative Tax Reliefs Ltd) helps producers claim incentives across the UK’s vibrant creative sector. We bring industry-specific expertise, built on deep HMRC experience.
Unlock Your Innovation Potential
Speak to our experts today and discover how much you could claim.