Sam Stephens
Director
Research and Development in Civil Engineering can often by overlooked and seen as day-to-day business activity – but the sector is full of innovation, often making the work performed eligible for R&D Tax Credits.
We look at the world around us and we see the incredible results of Civil Engineering. Civil Engineers not only design beautiful structures – they’re also responsible for the essential infrastructure we rely on daily such as:
Innovation in Civil Engineering can be inspired by the existing surroundings and infrastructure in place – new procedures and processes can be designed to allow a bridge to be built in a challenging environment or a structure to be built in an existing cityscape. In addition, Civil Engineers are innovating as they adapt and implement new systems to tackle current global challenges such as the increasing population and climate change.
To better understand what Civil Engineering activities can be included in an R&D Tax Credit claim, here’s a non-exhaustive list of eligible R&D in the sector:
If your staff do something significantly differently to how it was done before and there are technical uncertainties as to whether it will be successful which are mitigated by your work, there is a good likelihood you are doing eligible R&D. In the case of SME claims, R&D work carried out by subcontractors under your instruction can also be claimed.
We’ve made some notable claims for companies that perform innovative Civil Engineering activities in a variety of industries, a few examples are:
R&D Tax specialists such as TBAT will work with you to ensure that you submit a well-evidenced and maximised claim to HMRC. We have a team of expert consultants from a variety of different scientific, engineering, and technical backgrounds with high levels of industry experience.
Their knowledge and experience allow our consultants to immerse themselves in your projects to fully understand your technology and identify all of your eligible R&D expenditure.
We also have a deep understanding of the R&D Tax legislation and where your business and the work you do fit in, and we’ll do the leg-work so that you don’t have to!
The team would love to hear from you if you’d like to discuss making an R&D Tax Credits claim for your work in Civil Engineering.
Our online R&D Tax Credit Calculator is a great place to start, if you’d like to work out how much your claim could be worth. If you’d prefer to speak to a human being, you can either get in touch, or book a consultation with one of the team.
When it comes to claiming R&D tax relief, many businesses in design-heavy industries often ask the same question: Can we claim for the cost of acquiring designs? While buying existing designs does not qualify for relief, the good news is that further work to modify, develop or improve those designs often does. If your business is undertaking technical design work as part of an innovation project, there may be significant relief available.
From 1 April 2026, all tax advisers, including those involved in R&D tax claims, must be registered with HMRC and meet new minimum standards to act on behalf of clients. This move is part of HMRC’s drive to raise professional standards, reduce fraud, and improve oversight within the tax advisory industry. Learn who will be affected by these changes and what at your business needs to do to stay compliant.
Assists organisations in accessing research and development grant funding across a range of UK and EU schemes and industry sectors.
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