R&D Tax Relief Firms in Birmingham: Guide to Specialist Companies (2026)
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·12 min read
Choosing an R&D tax relief adviser in Birmingham is more than a matter of preparing a tax claim – the right support can help businesses identify eligible activities, meet HMRC requirements and make informed decisions about their R&D expenditure.
Birmingham is home to a wide range of accounting firms and specialist R&D tax advisers supporting businesses across different sectors. Each firm brings different strengths, technical expertise and approaches to R&D tax relief claims, compliance and innovation-related tax advice.
This guide highlights a selection of R&D tax relief companies operating in Birmingham. Rather than ranking providers, the aim is to offer practical context – outlining who these firms are, the types of businesses they typically support, and the R&D tax relief services they provide.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants providing R&D tax relief services to innovative companies across a range of sectors, including software and technology, engineering and manufacturing, life sciences, and technical product businesses.
The firm works with organisations from growing owner-managed businesses and startups through to larger companies with documented experimentation and systematic development activity. R&D tax relief claims are prepared on an evidence-led basis, aligned to HMRC expectations under the merged scheme that applies for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2024. Acumon provides these services across the UK, including in Birmingham.
Under the merged scheme a single 20% taxable expenditure credit applies to qualifying R&D spend for companies of all sizes. Loss-making, R&D-intensive SMEs – those spending at least 30% of total expenditure on qualifying R&D – can instead claim Enhanced R&D Intensive Support (ERIS). The firm identifies the appropriate route, quantifies the benefit, and builds claims designed to withstand HMRC’s increased scrutiny.
Claims require a mandatory Additional Information Form detailing projects, costs and contacts. First-time or recent non-claimants must also notify HMRC of their intention to claim within a strict window after the accounting period ends. Qualifying work must seek an advance in science or technology by resolving scientific or technological uncertainty through systematic investigation; routine development, styling or purely commercial innovation does not qualify. Eligible costs include staff costs (salaries, employer NIC and pensions), materials and consumables, software, data and cloud computing costs, and certain subcontracted or externally provided workers, all directly attributable to the qualifying activity.
Acumon works with technical leads and finance teams to deliver a structured process: scoping workshops to identify qualifying projects and the correct scheme; technical narratives that are specific and measurable, focused on uncertainties and advances; cost identification and computation with a documented basis for inclusion; preparation and filing of the Additional Information Form alongside the corporation tax return; and structured support if HMRC raises an enquiry. R&D claims are coordinated with related reliefs such as Patent Box and wider corporation tax planning by the same team.
R&D Tax Relief Capabilities:
Acumon provides R&D tax relief services across a wide range of organisational structures and sectors.
These include:
Software and technology companies developing novel platforms, tooling or data-driven systems
Engineering and manufacturing businesses improving processes, materials or performance
Life sciences and technical product companies with documented experimentation
Startups and owner-managed businesses with genuine technological uncertainty
Finance teams seeking a predictable, auditable and repeatable claim process
These services enable companies to claim under the merged scheme or ERIS where they qualify, with claims built to survive HMRC scrutiny and coordinated with the firm’s wider tax and advisory support.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations:
Acumon holds several audit registrations that enable it to support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
These include:
UK statutory audit registration
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence
Jersey audit licence
Isle of Man audit licence
Cayman Islands audit licence
British Virgin Islands audit licence
These registrations allow the firm to provide audit services to groups that include entities in both the UK and key international financial centres.
Core Services:
In addition to statutory external audit, Acumon provides a range of services that support financial reporting and governance.
These include:
Statutory external audit
Group and subsidiary audits
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits
Charity and not-for-profit audit
Audit of international group structures
Internal audit and governance reviews
Risk management and compliance support
Audit work is often delivered alongside discussions with management and boards regarding financial reporting processes and governance frameworks.
Many organisations initially encounter statutory audit requirements as they grow and exceed the audit exemption thresholds set out in the Companies Act.
Acumon works with businesses that are:
Approaching their first statutory audit
Preparing for external investment
Expanding into international markets
Operating within corporate group structures
Early engagement with an audit firm can help ensure that financial reporting systems and documentation are aligned with statutory audit requirements.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
PKF Smith Cooper
PKF Smith Cooper has a dedicated R&D tax team serving businesses across the Midlands, with R&D specialists based in Birmingham. Their work covers identifying qualifying projects, assessing eligible expenditure, preparing technical narratives, and helping clients respond when HMRC examines a claim.
The team combines tax knowledge with technical backgrounds and works with sectors including engineering, manufacturing, construction, automotive, IT and software, agriculture, aerospace, and food and beverage. This structure can suit companies whose R&D activity is technically complex and requires more than a finance-only review.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Businesses with engineering, technology, manufacturing, or other technically complex R&D projects
Core services: R&D tax relief claims, qualifying expenditure reviews, technical narratives, HMRC enquiry support
Address: Cornerblock, 2 Cornwall St, Birmingham B3 2DX, United Kingdom
Phone: 03333446306
Gondal Accountancy
Gondal Accountancy provides a Birmingham-based R&D tax credit service covering both the technical and financial elements of claim preparation. Their process includes an eligibility review, assessment of qualifying costs, preparation of the information required for submission, and support with the corporation tax return.
They also help clients organise evidence around staff costs, software, consumables, subcontracted work, cloud computing, and other potentially qualifying expenditure. The service is particularly practical for smaller and mid-sized businesses that want their R&D work handled by the same practice that can support their wider tax and accounting responsibilities.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: SMEs wanting local R&D tax and accounting support
Core services: R&D eligibility reviews, qualifying cost analysis, claim preparation, corporation tax support
Claim support: Technical and financial documentation, Additional Information Form preparation, HMRC support
Location: Hall Green, Birmingham
Notable strength: R&D support integrated with day-to-day accountancy services
Address: 1126A Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8AE
BDO
BDO has a specialist Innovation and R&D Tax Incentives practice covering R&D tax relief, R&D allowances, Patent Box, and related innovation incentives. Their Birmingham team includes specialists who work specifically with businesses carrying out research, engineering, product development, and other innovation activity.
The firm uses tax professionals alongside people with technical backgrounds, including engineers and scientists, to assess whether projects meet the relevant requirements. Birmingham-based R&D specialists work with sectors such as manufacturing, technology, construction, and property, making BDO particularly suited to businesses where technical project details form an important part of the claim.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Mid-sized and larger businesses with technically complex R&D activity
Specialization: Technical and tax-led R&D claim preparation
Location: Birmingham
Notable strength: Access to engineers, scientists, and tax specialists within the R&D team
Contact Information:
Website: www.bdo.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bdo-llp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bdo_uk
Address: Two Snowhill, Birmingham, B4 6GA, United Kingdom
Phone: 0121 352 6200
Onyx Accountants
Onyx provides R&D tax relief support from its Birmingham practice alongside accounting, tax planning, funding, and business advisory services. Their R&D work covers identifying projects that may qualify, examining relevant expenditure, preparing claim documentation, and organising information in a format suitable for HMRC.
The wider Onyx service offering also covers areas such as Patent Box, capital allowances, and funding support. That combination may be useful for growing companies that are investing in new products, systems, or processes and want to consider R&D relief as one part of a broader financial and tax strategy.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: SMEs and growing businesses seeking local R&D and wider advisory support
Core services: R&D tax relief, tax advice, accounting, Patent Box, capital allowances, funding support
Location: Birmingham
Notable strength: R&D relief can be considered alongside other business tax and funding options
Address: Onyx House, 12 Phoenix Business Park, Avenue Close, Birmingham, B7 4NU
Cooper Parry
Cooper Parry runs a dedicated R&D Tax Incentives service that manages claims from initial technical discussions through cost analysis and submission. Their process includes technical workshops, assessment of qualifying expenditure, preparation of the required supporting information, and assistance if HMRC raises questions after submission.
The firm also advises on Patent Box and other innovation-related tax matters, which can be useful for companies with intellectual property or several forms of innovation expenditure. Cooper Parry has a Birmingham location at Two Chamberlain Square, giving Midlands businesses access to its wider national tax team while retaining a local point of contact.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Growing and established businesses with structured R&D programmes
Morgan Reach provides R&D tax relief services from its Birmingham office in Edgbaston. Their advisers work with companies to identify qualifying development work, assess expenditure, prepare supporting documentation, and submit the claim as part of the company’s corporation tax position.
Because Morgan Reach also covers accounting, audit, corporate finance, and general tax work, businesses can keep the R&D process connected to their wider financial reporting. This is particularly useful for owner-managed businesses and SMEs that do not want to coordinate a separate R&D consultancy and accountancy practice for the same accounting period.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Birmingham SMEs and owner-managed businesses
Jerroms has a specialist R&D tax team serving Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Their consultants help businesses identify qualifying R&D projects, gather financial information, and prepare the technical report needed to explain the advances and uncertainties behind the work.
The team includes tax professionals alongside people with scientific and engineering experience, giving them a useful combination when a claim involves technical manufacturing, product development, software, or process improvement. Jerroms also handles communication with HMRC where questions arise, reducing the need for the company’s internal finance or technical team to manage the enquiry alone.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Companies with technically detailed R&D projects
Specialization: Tax support combined with scientific and engineering knowledge
Location: Birmingham area and wider West Midlands
Notable strength: Dedicated specialist R&D team rather than general tax-only support
Contact Information:
Website: www.jerroms.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Jerroms
Twitter: x.com/JerromsUK
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jerroms
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thejerromsgroup
Phone: 0121 693 5000
Address: Lumaneri House, Blythe Gate, Blythe Valley Park, Solihull B90 8AH
Forvis Mazars
Forvis Mazars advises businesses on innovation and R&D tax relief through a specialist UK tax practice. Their support can begin with an initial assessment of potentially qualifying activity before progressing to project analysis, claim preparation, submission requirements, and correspondence with HMRC.
The firm has a substantial Birmingham operation at Three Chamberlain Square, giving companies in the city access to both local tax professionals and broader national specialist resources. This structure is more likely to suit businesses with complex corporate tax positions, several R&D projects, or requirements that extend beyond the R&D claim into areas such as international tax, audit, transactions, or wider business advisory.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Mid-market and larger businesses with complex tax requirements
Address: 3 Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3AX, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 121 232 9500
OnTheGo Accountants
OnTheGo Accountants provides R&D tax credit support alongside accounting and tax services for startups and growing businesses. Their team can manage the preparation of the R&D report, coordinate submission to HMRC, and respond to questions related to the claim. They can also work alongside a company’s existing accountant rather than requiring the whole finance function to move to them.
The firm has a Birmingham office at The Colmore Building. Its broader focus on technology startups and high-growth businesses can make the service particularly relevant where R&D work is connected with software, product development, or a rapidly changing business model.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Startups, technology companies, and growing SMEs
Core services: R&D tax credits, tax advisory, accounting, financial support
Delivery: Can manage R&D work alongside an existing accountant
Location: Birmingham
Notable strength: Experience working with startup and high-growth business models
Crowe UK provides R&D tax relief advice through its corporate tax and innovation teams, with tax specialists based in its Birmingham office. Their work covers identifying qualifying activities, preparing R&D claims, considering the tax treatment of R&D-related losses, and supporting companies during HMRC enquiries.
The Midlands corporate tax team works with owner-managed companies, private equity-backed businesses, UK subsidiaries, and family businesses, including companies operating in technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy. Crowe can therefore be a practical option where R&D tax relief forms part of a more complicated corporate tax position rather than an isolated annual claim.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Established and mid-market companies requiring broader corporate tax support
KPMG advises businesses on R&D tax relief through its Innovation Reliefs and Incentives practice. Their specialists help companies assess projects against the relevant R&D criteria and prepare claims, with the service sitting within a much broader corporate tax and business advisory operation.
KPMG’s Birmingham office at One Snowhill serves businesses across the Midlands. The scale of the wider firm makes this option more suited to organisations whose R&D position interacts with other complex tax, governance, international, or corporate matters. Companies with multiple business units or substantial development programmes can also draw on specialist teams beyond the local office where needed.
Key Facts:
Ideal for: Larger companies and groups with complex R&D and corporate tax requirements
Notable strength: Access to specialist innovation tax resources within a large multidisciplinary firm
Contact Information:
Website: kpmg.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KPMG
Twitter: x.com/kpmguk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kpmg-uk
Address: One Snowhill, Snowhill Queensway, B4 6GH , Birmingham, UK
Phone: +44 (0)121 232 3000
Conclusion
R&D tax relief providers in Birmingham differ most in how they combine technical claim work with wider tax and accounting support. Some use dedicated innovation teams with engineers or other technical specialists, while others integrate R&D claims into an ongoing relationship covering corporation tax, accounts, audit, and business advice.
Before choosing a provider, businesses should compare who will review the technical work, how qualifying costs will be assessed, what evidence will be required, and whether HMRC enquiry support is included in the engagement. The right choice depends on the complexity of the R&D activity, the company’s internal finance resources, and how much wider tax support is needed alongside the claim.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
This practical guide provides an overview of companies offering R&D tax relief services in London, helping readers understand the different types of support available in this area. Rather than…
Research and development tax relief remains one of the UK's most valuable incentives for innovative businesses, helping companies recover part of the costs of developing new products, processes…
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is the minimum an employer must pay an employee who is too ill to work. For 2026/27 it is £123.25 a week or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings, whichever is…
Read article
Get in Touch
Ready for Accountants Who Move Your Business Forward?
Tell us what you need. Within one business day, a qualified accountant will be in touch to talk it through and give you a clear, fixed-fee quote — no obligation.
We use essential cookies to run this site, plus Google Analytics and Google Ads to
understand how visitors use it and measure our advertising — only with your consent. See our
Privacy Policy.
