Tell us about your R&D.

We ask about the company, the work you have been doing, what you spend on R&D, whether you have claimed before and whether HMRC has been in touch. We tell you honestly whether the work looks likely to qualify, explain how we would approach it and answer your questions. It is a conversation, not a sales presentation.

It is a short conversation, long enough to cover the company, the work and your questions. If more time is needed, for example to look at an HMRC letter in detail, we arrange a follow-up rather than rush it. You do not need documents to hand for the first call.

Yes. The first conversation is a free scoping call with no obligation. If it makes sense to work together, we quote on request for the work involved and explain the options. If it does not, we will say so and you have lost nothing but a short conversation. There is no pressure to decide on the call.

Someone who works on R&D claims, not a call centre. That is why we ask a few questions first: so the right person calls. Every claim we prepare is reviewed and signed off by a Chartered Tax Adviser, and we are open about who is advising you from the start.

Very little. A rough idea of what the company has been working on, what it spends on R&D in a year, whether it has claimed before and, if relevant, the date on any HMRC letter. Exact figures and documents are not needed for the first conversation. Anything else can wait until after we have spoken.

Yes, and please do. Say so on the form and choose a time straight away, or call or message us. Tell us the reply date on the letter. We triage the same working day, so you know where you stand before the deadline. Do not reply to HMRC before you have spoken to us, if you can avoid it, because a first reply is hard to take back.

Yes. Invite whoever you wish: a finance director, technical lead or founder, and your accountant if you prefer. For a first claim it helps to have someone who knows the technical work and someone who knows the numbers, but one person is enough for the first call. Just let us know who is coming.

Yes. Use the link in your confirmation to choose another time, or reply to the confirmation email, or message us. We would rather you move the call than miss it, particularly if there is an HMRC deadline, in which case let us know and we will work around it. Changing the time is never a problem.

Yes. After the call we send a short written note of what we discussed, our view on the next steps and what we would need from you. If you want a quote, we explain how it works. You can then decide in your own time. The summary is for you to share with your accountant or board if that helps.

Yes. The call is confidential and your details are used only to respond to your enquiry. You can describe the company's work openly, including anything commercially sensitive. If you are bound by a confidentiality agreement, speak in general terms and we can work with that. We treat what you tell us as private to the people working on your enquiry.

That is common, and it is what the call is for. R&D for tax means seeking an advance in science or technology by resolving uncertainty that a competent professional could not readily resolve. We discuss what you are doing and say honestly whether it is likely to qualify. If it is not, we tell you.

Yes. Accountants and other advisers can book for a client, or use the Refer a client form. Your client stays your client, and we agree with you who speaks to whom. We pay referral fees to accountants who introduce clients, and we always disclose them to the client. Please make sure the client knows you are doing so.

We ask about R&D spend, any HMRC enquiry, and whether you're an accountant so the right person calls; companies spending £50k+ a year on R&D, anyone with an open HMRC enquiry, and accountants can book a time straight away. Everyone else is welcome to enquire and we reply the same working day.

Tell us when you are free in the enquiry form or reply to the confirmation, and we will find a time. If it is urgent, call or message us on WhatsApp and say so. We reply the same working day, and an HMRC deadline is always treated as a priority.

If we can help, we explain the options, recommend a package and quote on request. If you decide to go ahead, we agree the scope in writing and start with the questionnaire. If not, there is no obligation and no pressure. Whatever you decide, you will leave the call knowing where you stand and what the sensible next step is.