A client has an HMRC letter about an R&D claim. Pass it to us.

Yes. Send us the HMRC letter and tell us the reply date. We triage it the same working day, tell you what it means and what happens next, then review the claim and the evidence before anything is sent. This applies whether we prepared the claim or not. We also defend R&D enquiries on claims prepared by others.

Yes, if that is what you want. We can prepare the technical case and the written responses for you to send, or correspond with HMRC ourselves once the client has authorised us as agent. We agree the arrangement with you first. Either way the client sees and approves what goes to HMRC.

We start with an independent review of the projects, the costs and the records, then tell you plainly how strong the claim is. If the firm that prepared it has gone quiet, or its evidence is thin, we rebuild the technical case from the company's own people and records. It does not matter to us who prepared the claim.

We read the HMRC letter first, then the claim, the additional information form and any technical report. We then speak to the people who did the work. Within the first working days we can say whether the projects look sound, which costs are exposed and whether anything needs correcting. HMRC's reply date drives the plan.

That is agreed with you and the client before anything is sent. The usual options are that we write the response and the company or your practice sends it, or that we are authorised as agent and send it ourselves. Whoever sends it, nothing goes to HMRC without the client's sign-off, and every agent acting is named.

You see the letter, our review and each draft response before it is sent. We tell you the reply dates, what HMRC has asked and what we propose to say. If you prefer short written updates at set points, or a call after each HMRC contact, we do that. You are never left guessing where the enquiry stands.

Yes. HMRC sometimes asks to speak to the people who did the work. We prepare the client's competent professionals beforehand, explain what to expect, attend with them and follow up in writing. You are welcome to attend too. Preparation matters, because the technical story has to be told accurately and consistently.

We tell you and the client first, in confidence, and explain the options. If a claim has been overstated, the full overclaim must be repaid, even if the agent took a fee from it. HMRC has an online R&D disclosure service for use when it is too late to amend. Telling HMRC unprompted generally leads to lower penalties.

Yes. HMRC has sent general letters to groups of claimants, and several of a practice's clients may receive one. We triage each case separately the same working day, because the right reply depends on the claim. We can set up a simple log so you can see every client, reply date and status in one place.

HMRC considers inaccuracy penalties where an error is careless or deliberate, and the level depends on behaviour. Penalties are lower where the company tells HMRC about the error unprompted. We review the claim honestly at the start so that if there is a problem, the way it is disclosed gives the client the best position.

The company is responsible for its own return. Your exposure depends on what you did, what you were engaged to do and the terms of your engagement letter. HMRC does not regulate R&D agents, but it can refuse to deal with them. We cannot advise on your professional position, but we can tell you plainly what the claim looks like.

No, but they still need care. A nudge or one-to-many letter suggests a claim may contain an error and asks the company to review it. The reply should be based on a proper look at the claim against the points raised, not a standard response. We review the claim and advise on a reply, and our Assured package includes help with nudge letters.

We can review the claim and tell you whether it was prepared properly, which may be useful evidence. Whether a client has a right to recover fees is a legal question for the engagement terms and a solicitor. We do not give legal advice, and we would not want the enquiry itself to be delayed while a dispute is argued.

HMRC invites reports of poor R&D tax relief service standards at wmbciandrclaimstandards@hmrc.gov.uk. Whether to report is your decision, with the client. It is usually better to deal with the enquiry first, because the immediate task is to protect the client's position. We can tell you what to keep as evidence.

Use the Refer a client form, choose the HMRC enquiry option and say HMRC has given a reply date. Or book a call and say you have a letter. We reply the same working day and triage the case then. If you send the letter and the claim at the same time, we can tell you what it means within that working day.