Operators not reaping the creative benefits from tax relief
Operators experimenting with new recipes and techniques could gain the competitive edge by taking advantage of Research and Development (R&D) tax relief, according to research by Catax.
Over 50% of respondents said they have spent time and money "developing a new product over the past two years" whether it be creating new recipes or food preparation processes.
However the survey of 500 bosses found that three in five (60%) restaurant owners and managers in the UK have never heard of R&D tax relief.
Nearly half (46%) of restaurant owners and managers that had heard of it thought it was restricted to specialist tech, drug and science companies and not available to hospitality businesses.
R&D tax credits are government tax relief rewards for companies investing in innovation. Therefore, hospitality operators that spend time and money developing new products, processes or services or improving existing ones may be eligible for a tax reduction or cash reimbursement.
Almost half of UK restaurant owners also said they thought any eligible R&D activity must be successful and end up on the menu for a claim to be made. This is not true - the outcome of the R&D is irrelevant.
Mark Tighe, chief executive of Catax, said: "Not enough restaurant and gastro pub owners are aware that a big part of what they do, experimenting with new recipes and food preparation techniques to differentiate themselves, will often be eligible for R&D tax relief. What's more, they don't even need to actually sell the recipes they are experimenting with or use the cooking or preparation methods they trial: what matters is the time and money spent trying to do something new and innovate. Importantly, cash can also be realised in as little as eight weeks for reinvestment in future food experimentation."
One restaurant client of Catax received R&D tax relief against the cost of developing a new process for removing fish skin on wild sea trout, without damaging the flesh.
Another client received tax relief against the time and money spent testing the ageing process of beef, and density of the marinade required to affect the flavour.
R&D tax credits can help to reduce a limited company's corporation tax bill or be claimed as a cash sum as a reimbursement from the HMRC. R&D tax relief only applies to those businesses that are liable for corporation tax.
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