CIRD82500 - R&D tax reliefs: categories of qualifying expenditure: software

CTA09/Ss1125 & 1126 

Expenditure which is not of a capital nature and is incurred on software employed directly in R&D is a category of qualifying expenditure for expenditure incurred on or after 1 April 2004. Software means computer software. The software must be used in activity that constitutes R&D for tax purposes, which includes 바카라 사이트˜qualifying indirect activities바카라 사이트™. 

Use other than directly in R&D 

Expenditure on software not employed directly in R&D is not qualifying expenditure. 

Thus, software used by the human resources department would be included but only to the extent that the activity which it was used for was undertaken for R&D purposes (see paragraphs 31(b) and ( c) of the DSIT Guidelines). But software used, for example, to train the HR staff would not. 

Further guidance on the indirect aspects of R&D is given in the DSIT Guidelines (CIRD81900 for the 2004 guidelines). 

Apportionments 

Where software is only partly employed in direct R&D an appropriate apportionment of the expenditure should be made. 

How a suitable apportionment is to be achieved in practice depends on the specific facts of the R&D and the software. 

Wherever possible a pragmatic approach should be adopted - for example, an apportionment based on staff numbers may prove most suitable where a particular software product is used by R&D and non-R&D staff. 

If a company offers a reasonable apportionment basis HMRC do not envisage detailed enquiries being desirable to establish a slightly more accurate alternative. 

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