R&D Tax Credits For The Fintech Sector

Get the sector experience you need to make a successful R&D tax relief claim

QLC helps fintech companies accelerate their R&D claims with our streamlined portal and expert team.

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Our fintech sector experience

With years of experience in R&D tax relief for the fintech industry, QLC understands the unique challenges of your sector.

Whether you're developing innovative payment solutions, enhancing data security, or leveraging AI to optimise financial services, we’ve supported fintech companies of all sizes in claiming millions through R&D tax credits.

Trust QLC to help your business unlock the benefits you deserve.

Success stories

What Our Clients Say About Us

"I am really impressed with the efficiency of your work, and the results you got for our company. A very friendly, committed and obviously hardworking team. You made the whole process very easy."

Will Tompkins (Director)

Vintage and Classic Cars

"QLC successfully claimed credits for the past 2 financial years, this year was even better. They managed the application and claimed the R&D credit prior to our annual tax bill, making the whole process quicker, easier and more efficient than last year."

Andrew Forbes (Director)

Architecture

"A massive thanks to all your team, obviously with the current situation, this money couldn’t have come at a better time."

Ian Cooke (Director)

Engineering

"From our experience we have always found QLC to be efficient and thorough in their tax appraisals, carefully guiding us through the often complex process. They have a very approachable team, all of which have been able to offer excellent advice when needed."

Ben Reed (Director)

Architecture

"They are proactive and efficient in performing their service and I have been impressed by their dynamism."

Chris Wright (Director)

Motorsport Engineering

"Your company did exactly what you said it would do. It took far less time than the other company that we had used in the past. We are extremely pleased with the outcome."

Adrian Smith (Company Sec)

Manufacturing Firm

"I am really impressed with the efficiency of your work, and the results you got for our company. A very friendly, committed and obviously hardworking team. You made the whole process very easy."

Will Tompkins (Director)

Vintage and Classic Cars

"QLC successfully claimed credits for the past 2 financial years, this year was even better. They managed the application and claimed the R&D credit prior to our annual tax bill, making the whole process quicker, easier and more efficient than last year."

Andrew Forbes (Director)

Architecture

"A massive thanks to all your team, obviously with the current situation, this money couldn’t have come at a better time."

Ian Cooke (Director)

Engineering

"From our experience we have always found QLC to be efficient and thorough in their tax appraisals, carefully guiding us through the often complex process. They have a very approachable team, all of which have been able to offer excellent advice when needed."

Ben Reed (Director)

Architecture

"They are proactive and efficient in performing their service and I have been impressed by their dynamism."

Chris Wright (Director)

Motorsport Engineering

"Your company did exactly what you said it would do. It took far less time than the other company that we had used in the past. We are extremely pleased with the outcome."

Adrian Smith (Company Sec)

Manufacturing Firm

How much could you claim?

The average R&D tax claim for SMEs

For your own quick estimate, you can use our easy-to-use R&D tax calculator:

£ 55 k

Common R&D activities in the fintech sector

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Software development

Data security and compliance

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Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Blockchain and cryptocurrency

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Process optimisation

User experience and interfaces

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Sustainability and green fintech

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Big data and analytics

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Cloud computing and infrastructure

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Emerging technologies

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Customer onboarding and personalisation

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Why choose QLC?

QLC and our portal help businesses like yours claim R&D tax credits and tax relief faster and more successfully than ever.

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End-to-end service
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Easy-to-use customer portal
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Faster payouts than our competitors
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See your money in 16 days
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Flexible comms
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All sectors and sizes
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No minimum fee
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Stakeholder transparency

Fintech sector R&D tax credit FAQ

What fintech activities qualify for R&D tax credits?

Fintech activities that typically qualify include:

  • Developing innovative payment systems or trading platforms.
  • Building blockchain-based solutions.
  • Creating machine learning algorithms for fraud detection or credit scoring.
  • Designing tools to ensure regulatory compliance (RegTech).

The key is demonstrating that these projects solve technical uncertainties or advance technology.

Do financial services firms qualify for R&D tax credits?

Yes, fintech and financial services firms can claim R&D tax credits if they engage in activities that meet the R&D definition, such as advancing financial technology, improving efficiency, or addressing technical challenges.

Do compliance-related projects qualify for R&D tax credits?

Yes, projects that address technical challenges in meeting regulatory standards, such as developing new encryption methods or automated compliance tools, often qualify.

Can we claim tax credits for failed or incomplete projects?

Yes, claims can include projects that faced technical challenges but didn’t succeed. HMRC recognises that failure or abandonment is a natural part of R&D, provided the efforts were aimed at overcoming uncertainty or advancing technology.

What costs are eligible for R&D tax credits in the fintech sector?

Eligible costs include:

  • Staff salaries for R&D-related roles.
  • Software licenses for development and testing tools.
  • Subcontractor costs (65% of the eligible amount).
  • Consumables like cloud hosting directly related to R&D.
  • Prototyping and testing expenses.

Can we claim for cloud hosting costs?

Yes, if the hosting is directly related to R&D activities, such as testing prototypes or running machine learning models. Routine operational hosting costs are not eligible.

Are costs for regulatory compliance tools eligible?

Yes, provided the tools involve overcoming technical challenges, such as automating complex reporting requirements or ensuring real-time compliance.

Can we claim for R&D conducted by subcontractors?

Yes, fintech companies can claim 65% of the qualifying subcontractor costs, provided the work involves R&D activities.

Are SaaS subscription fees eligible for R&D tax credits?

Generally, SaaS costs are not eligible unless the software is used directly for qualifying R&D activities.

Do we need to prove innovation beyond the fintech sector?

No, the innovation only needs to be an appreciable advancement for your company, not the entire industry.

What happens if we’ve received government grants?

If government grants are involved, fintech companies may need to claim under the RDEC scheme instead of the SME scheme. The benefit is typically lower, but it’s still worth pursuing.

Do cybersecurity projects in fintech qualify for R&D tax credits?

Absolutely. Developing innovative methods for encryption, fraud detection, or secure identity verification often involves R&D.

Does migrating to new financial systems or platforms qualify as R&D?

Only if the migration involves overcoming technical challenges, such as compatibility issues or optimising performance.