David Browne

Qualified small businesses with domestic R&D activities now have a rare, time-sensitive opportunity to unlock significant tax benefits. A recent change allows you to: ✅ Amend your 2022, 2023, and 2024 tax returns ✅ Fully expense all eligible domestic R&D costs ✅ Generate immediate cash flow This provision applies to R&D work already completed such as product development, software creation, process improvements, and other activities meeting the IRS definition of qualified research under Section 174. The critical detail: There is only a one-year window from the date this law was enacted to take advantage of this opportunity. Once that period ends, the ability to claim these retroactive benefits is gone. For eligible companies, this can mean freeing up capital to reinvest in operations, innovation, or growth without raising external funding. However, proper documentation and a clear understanding of qualification criteria are essential to maximize benefits and remain compliant. Businesses should act quickly to assess eligibility, gather records, and file amended returns with the guidance of a tax professional experienced in R&D expensing. #RDTaxCredit #TaxStrategy #SmallBusiness #StartupFunding #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #TaxPlanning #RDExpensing #AccountingIndustry

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"Cash-out" transactions are becoming increasingly common across the UK mid-market — and for good reason. Many founders are exploring ways to take some money off the table without fully exiting. In a climate where running a business is relentless, tax rules are shifting, and markets remain unpredictable, de-risking makes a lot of sense. But the right deal is about more than just valuation. The type of capital being used — whether private equity, debt-funded, or strategic investment — has major implications for cash flow, control, and long-term outcomes. Structuring the transaction in a way that protects your position, your team, and your upside is essential. At Azets, we advise owner-managers across the UK on how to approach these decisions with clarity and confidence — from understanding your value to identifying the right capital partner and negotiating terms that work for you. If you're thinking about de-risking, succession planning or growth through investment, it's worth having an early conversation. #MergersAndAcquisitions #CorporateFinance #CashOut #SuccessionPlanning #UKBusiness #PrivateEquity #Azets

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In my interview on The Big Small Business Show, I speak about the practical aspects of having a fractional CFO in your business. In particular, how a fractional CFO is positioned in an SME business and what the key focuses of the CFO would be in the business. You can watch the clip here: https://lnkd.in/eetV24qU #fractional #strategic #finance

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MTD IT IS COMING 😱 Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) is the biggest change to the UK tax system in decades 🤒 From April 2026, sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC using compliant software ✅ (PS Dext have one of those compliant softwares called Dext Solo 😂 ) As an accountant or bookkeeper, MTD IT is going to change how you price services, engage clients and manage workflows, its a lot! 🤯 But MTD IT is also about opportunities, not just obligations 🫡 The MTD Oracle (AKA Paul L.) has produced a top tier guide for free for you to use to get your head around whats to come 🤩 Interested? Link in comments! 🥳 PS Nick Charnley my good pal also works in tax and is my pal in the picture 🥸 #mtd #mtdit #hmrc

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New R&D Tax Credit statistics have dropped this week.   The latest HMRC statistics for the 2023–24 tax year speak of the larger underlying story that has been a bit of a best-seller for Founders, CEOs, CFOs, and R&D teams: - Total R&D tax relief claimed: £7.6 billion... down 2% from the previous year. - Number of claims: 46,950... down 26%. - SME-scheme relief saw a dramatic 29% drop in value claimed. - RDEC (for larger/non-SME claims) relief increased by 36%. - London & South East still dominate: 24% of claims, 31% of value. - Sector concentration remains high: Information & Communication (Software), Manufacturing, and Professional/Scientific/Technical make up ~72% of claims.   What’s really going on here? - Many SMEs are being discouraged from claiming through a variety of reasons, including lower relief generosity, higher thresholds, more administrative burden, and the increased risk profile with a higher proportion of claims being enquired into. - The barrier to entry is rising. Smaller/first-time claimants are dropping out. - Larger claimants (or those with the expertise available to them to navigate complexity) are becoming relatively more dominant.   Why this matters for your business (and how to act)? - It’s getting harder to qualify: Many claim reports that could have been viable a few years ago now require stronger narratives, clearer technical rigour, and much more stringent compliance (or may in some cases not suffice at all). - SMEs must be smarter: The days of “spray-and-pray” claims are ending. You need data, evidence, and structure, in order to ensure your claim remains robust and compliant. - Don’t let inertia cost you: We’re seeing companies lose relief simply because they didn’t adjust to the new rules in time (particularly with the Claim Notification Form, which we have spoken about several times on Linkedin). - Get ahead on compliance and audit readiness: The more you can show method, consistency, documentation, and defensibility, the better your chances of surviving scrutiny.   If your company has conducted R&D activities and hasn’t revisited your strategy in light of the recent changes, then you may already be on the back foot.   At Walmer Group, we see these shifts every day and help companies in not just preparing robust R&D claims, but navigating around the plethora of potholes that the Incentive has produced.   If you want an audit of your existing process, or simply have questions about what this means for you or your clients, then drop us a message. We'd be happy to walk through it together.   #RDTaxRelief #Innovation #UKfunding

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Your Tax Return Says One Thing. Your Instagram Says Another. Guess Who Notices? Your accounts show £14,000 of profit. Your Instagram shows a £75k Audi, a week in Dubai, and dinner at The Ivy. Spot the problem? So does HMRC. HMRC now uses AI to cross-check lifestyle against declared income. Social media, online ads, even tagged photos - it’s all data. If the maths doesn’t add up, the algorithm flags it. Sometimes it’s innocent - the Rolex was borrowed, the car was leased, the trip was business. But AI doesn’t care about context. It just kicks off an enquiry. So what should you do? • Make sure your declared income matches reality • Remember: social media is public and permanent • Be ready to explain if the lifestyle looks bigger than the numbers Tax isn’t just about receipts anymore. It’s about the story your digital footprint tells. ⸻ If you’d like a free copy of my full 89 Tax Tips guide, just send me a PM and I’ll get it over to you. #TaxTips #HMRC #DigitalTax

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