A summary of the key tax changes coming for businesses from 1st April 2023

Increase in Corporation Tax rate

For companies with profits of £250,000 or more, the main rate of corporation tax will be 25%

For companies with profits of £50,000 or less, the main rate of corporation tax will remain at 19%

For companies with profits between £50,000 to £250,000, the main rate of corporation tax will be 25% less Marginal Small Companies Relief (MSCR).  MSCR tapers the effect of the increased rate so the higher the profits between £50,000 to £250,000 then the higher the effective tax rate.

A simpler way to consider the taxation of profits between £50,000 and £250,000 is to treat the first £50,000 as being taxed at 19%.  Any profits falling within £50,000 to £250,000 are effectively taxed at 26.5%

The limits are proportionately reduced for short accounting periods and where there are associated companies.  Two companies are associated if one is under the control of the other, or both are under the control (51% or more) of the same person or persons.

Our tax experts say:

Companies should consider bringing forward income and/or gains to before 1^st April 2023 so that they are taxed at the lower 19% rate.  They could also delay expenditure until after 1^st April 2023 to obtain tax relief at the higher rates, however expenditure that qualifies for the super deduction allowance should still be incurred before 31^stMarch 2023.

End of Super Deduction

The 130% super deduction allowance for expenditure on new plant and machinery will end on 31^st March 2023, along with the 50% first year allowance for qualifying special rate assets.  If companies need to invest in new equipment, they should look to do this by 31^st March 2023 to take advantage of these reliefs.

The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) will remain at £1m.  Purchases of equipment after 31^st March 2023 should qualify for AIA and obtain 100% tax relief.

Research and Development (R&D)

R&D tax relief for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will reduce from 1^st April 2023.  Relief can be obtained either as an enhanced deduction of a percentage of qualifying R&D costs or receiving a cash payment of an R&D credit in exchange for surrendering R&D related losses.

From 1^st April 2023 the enhanced deduction for R&D expenditure for (SMEs) will decrease from 130% to 86%.

From 1^st April 2023 the SME credit rate will decrease from 14.5% to 10%.

Although the reduction of the relief is bad news, the scope of qualifying R&D expenditure has been extended to include the cost of data licences and cloud computing.

The process for making R&D claims is also changing.  A company making an R&D claim for the first time (or has not made a claim in the previous 3 accounting periods) will need to inform HMRC of the intention to make an R&D claim within six months of the end of the accounting period.  The notification will need to include details of the R&D adviser.

When making the actual R&D claim, further additional information relating to the R&D project, costs involved, workers involved and details of the agent will need to be provided.  The claim will need to be endorsed by a named senior official of the claimant company.