UK R&D Tax Credit Statistics 2026
UK companies made 40,325 R&D tax relief claims worth £8.2 billion in the 2024 to 2025 tax year, on £51.0 billion of qualifying R&D spending, according to HMRC's accredited official statistics published on 29 September 2026. Claims fell 17% while the value of relief rose 5%, so fewer companies are claiming, but for larger amounts.
UK R&D tax relief at a glance, 2024 to 2025
- Claims40,325Down 17% on 2023 to 2024
- Relief claimed£8.2bnUp 5% from £7.8bn
- Qualifying spend£51.0bnUp 7%
- Average claim value+27%Year on year increase
- Large company relief£4.6bnOf the £8.2bn total
- SME relief£3.6bnSME claims down 19%
- Claims of £500k+69%Of all relief, from 6% of claims
- Claims up to £50k58%Of claims, but 6% of relief
Source: HMRC, Research and Development Tax Credits Statistics, September 2026. Accredited official statistics. 2024 to 2025 figures are provisional.
How are claims split between the schemes?
The schemes split almost evenly by number but not by value. SME and ERIS claims made up most claims, while RDEC and merged RDEC claims took most of the money, largely because big companies claim through RDEC.
| Scheme group | Claims | Relief | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SME scheme and ERIS | 24,570 | £2.3bn | Relief down 29% |
| RDEC and merged RDEC | 15,760 | £5.9bn | Claims up 50%, relief up 29% |
| Total | 40,325 | £8.2bn | Claims down 17%, relief up 5% |
Within the SME and ERIS group, 11,105 claims were for a Corporation Tax deduction only, 8,495 included a payable credit, and 4,965 were R&D intensive SME or ERIS claims. 91% of merged RDEC claims came from SMEs, a sign of how the 2024 reforms moved most smaller companies into the merged scheme.
How do SMEs compare with large companies?
| Company size | Relief | Qualifying expenditure | Expenditure change |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMEs | £3.6bn | £20.7bn | Down 3% |
| Large companies | £4.6bn | £30.2bn | Up 14% |
Large companies now account for more relief and more qualifying spend than SMEs. There were 3,800 large company RDEC and merged RDEC claims, up 4%.
Which regions claim the most R&D tax relief?
London claims the most, followed by the South East and the East of England. HMRC allocates claims by the company's registered office, which may differ from where the R&D is carried out.
Share of UK claims by region
Share of UK relief by region
HMRC publishes figures for the other regions and nations in its data tables (table RD5). Find R&D specialists in London, Cambridge, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK cities.
Which sectors claim the most R&D tax relief?
| Sector | Share of claims | Share of relief |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27% | 27% |
| Information and communication | 27% | 20% |
| Professional, scientific and technical | 20% | 24% |
| These three combined | 75% | 71% |
How concentrated is R&D relief?
Very concentrated. Claims of £500,000 or more were just 6% of claims but 69% of all relief, up from 62% a year earlier. At the other end, claims up to £50,000 were 58% of claims but only 6% of relief. The number of claims of £2 million or more rose 14%, and their value 21%.
What do these figures mean for companies?
- Fewer, larger, better evidenced claims. The 17% fall in claims alongside rising value suggests weaker, smaller claims are dropping out.
- The merged scheme is now the main route for SMEs. 91% of merged RDEC claims came from SMEs.
- ERIS matters for research heavy SMEs. 4,965 claims came through the intensive SME and ERIS routes.
- Deadlines and evidence matter more than ever. See our deadlines guide and eligibility guide.
How to cite this page
R&D Tax Credit Specialists (2026). UK R&D Tax Credit Statistics 2026. https://rdtaxcreditspecialists.co.uk/guides/uk-rd-tax-credit-statistics/, summarising HMRC, Research and Development Tax Credits Statistics, September 2026. You are welcome to quote these figures with a link to this page or to HMRC's release.
Method and notes
- All figures come from HMRC's accredited official statistics published on 29 September 2026. We have not added any estimates of our own.
- 2024 to 2025 figures are provisional and will be revised next year. Figures for earlier years, from 2021 to 2022 through 2023 to 2024, were revised in this release.
- Regional figures are by registered office. Sector figures use HMRC's industry classification.
- The next HMRC release is expected in autumn 2027. We update this page when it is published.
Frequently asked questions
How many companies claim R&D tax relief in the UK?
HMRC recorded 40,325 R&D tax relief claims for the 2024 to 2025 tax year, down 17% on the previous year. The figure is provisional and will be revised as late claims arrive.
How much R&D tax relief is claimed each year?
£8.2 billion of relief was claimed for 2024 to 2025, up 5% from £7.8 billion in 2023 to 2024, on £51.0 billion of qualifying expenditure.
Which region claims the most R&D tax relief?
London, with 24% of claims and 30% of the value claimed, by registered office. The South East and the East of England follow.
Which sectors claim the most R&D tax relief?
Manufacturing and information and communication each made 27% of claims, and professional, scientific and technical activities 20%. Together they made 75% of claims and 71% of the value.
Why are R&D claim numbers falling?
HMRC's figures show fewer but larger claims. Tighter compliance since 2023, the claim notification and Additional Information Form requirements, and the 2024 scheme reforms are all likely factors, although HMRC does not attribute the fall to any single cause.
When are the next R&D tax credit statistics published?
HMRC says the next release is due in autumn 2027.
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