National statistics

Corporate tax: Research and Development Tax Credits

These statistics provide information about Research and Development Tax Credits, their cost, and the nature of the companies claiming them.

Documents

Details

Research and Development Tax Credits are a tax relief designed to encourage greater Research and Development spending, leading in turn to greater investment in innovation. They work by reducing a company’s tax bill by an amount equal to a percentage of the company’s allowable Research and Development expenditure.

Further details, including policy background, data suitability and coverage, are included in the Background information and quality report.

Archived reports

Research and Development Tax Credits Statistics for 2022 and 2021 can be found on The National Archives website.

Research and Development Tax Credits Statistics for 2020 can be found on The National Archives website.

Research and Development Tax Credits Statistics for 2019 can be found on The National Archives website.

Research and Development Tax Credits Statistics for 2015 to 2018 can be found on The National Archives website.

Published 14 September 2016
Last updated 28 September 2023 + show all updates
  1. 2023 publication and tables have been added. Previous publications are available in the National Archives.

  2. 2022 main publication and tables have been added.

  3. Added the supplementary tables for 2021 and archived statistics prior to 2021.

  4. Added the 2021 statistics.

  5. Published 2020 Supplementary tables and moved 2019 tables to The National Archives website (see section Details).

  6. 2020 main publication and tables have been added.

  7. Addition of supplementary breakdowns by region and sector for financial years 2016 to 2017 and 2017 to 2018. Also includes an update to the main region and sector tables for financial year 2015 to 2016.

  8. We have published the Research and Development Tax Credit statistics for 2019. This publication includes new statistics for 2017 to 2018 as well as revisions to tax years 2014 to 2015, 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017.

  9. Addition of further Research and Development supplementary tables

  10. Addition of Research and Development supplementary tables

  11. Updated with statistics for the 2016 to 2017 tax year.

  12. Experimental statistics released to provide a breakdown of Research and Development (R&D) tax credit claims for 2015-16, by county/unitary authority and Industrial Sector.

  13. Update with statistics for 2015-16

  14. First published.