ForrestBrown launches ‘Claim Clarity’ to help businesses identify missed R&D tax relief value and enquiry risk

Posted on 31 July 2026

• Claim Clarity gives businesses a free, independent assessment of whether their R&D tax relief 
claims are fully optimised and fit for scrutiny
 
• The service aims to support businesses navigating increased complexity following greater 
compliance activity and the introduction of the merged R&D scheme 

July 2026 – ForrestBrown, the UK's leading innovation incentives consultancy, has launched Claim 
Clarity, a free and independent review designed to help businesses identify potential missed 
opportunities and risks within their most recent R&D tax relief claim. 

The launch comes in the aftermath of changes to the UK’s R&D tax relief regime. The introduction of 
the merged scheme, new rules governing contracted-out R&D and restrictions on overseas 
expenditure have made it more complex for businesses to understand what activity can be claimed, 
and who is entitled to claim it. 

For some companies, these changes are also reducing the value of their relief compared with claims 
prior to the merged scheme, placing greater scrutiny on R&D budgets and their role in supporting 
investment, recruitment and innovation. 

Claim Clarity provides an objective five-point diagnostic covering opportunities to optimise claim 
value, areas that are working well, potential risks, alignment with best practice and performance 
against industry benchmarks.  

The service does not assume that additional relief will be available or recommend changes for the 
sake of it. Instead, it helps businesses understand whether eligible activity or expenditure may have 
been missed, while identifying areas of uncertainty that could leave a claim exposed to HMRC 
scrutiny. 

The review requires a company’s most recent claim documents, tax computation and accounts. It is 
typically completed within two weeks, with minimal disruption to the business. ForrestBrown then 
presents its findings and recommendations during a feedback call, while any further work is scoped 
and agreed separately. 

Tom McDanell, Managing Director at ForrestBrown, said: 

The R&D tax landscape has evolved significantly in recent years through a series of piecemeal 
changes. We are now entering a period of greater stability, but lower credit rates, legislative reform 
and increased HMRC scrutiny mean businesses need more confidence than ever that their claims are 
both complete and compliant.  

For many managing directors and finance directors, reduced credit values are already a boardroom 
issue, with potential implications for hiring, investment and future innovation. Claim Clarity provides 
proactive, independent review to help businesses understand whether they are claiming what they 
are entitled to, while identifying any areas that could attract HMRC attention.  

''Claim Clarity is available regardless of who prepared the original R&D tax claim, providing an 
objective review designed to enhance claims while strengthening compliance.”