One minute with R&D tax relief expert David O'Keeffe.
What makes Aiglon Consulting different?
Aiglon Consulting is the product of 28 years’ experience in tax. Most of that time was spent with KPMG, where I was a tax partner for just over ten years before leaving to set up Aiglon. I am bringing all of the knowledge, expertise and experience gained in those 28 years and making it available to my clients in a way that they value. They get the experience and expertise of a ‘big four’ partner but with a personal, hands-on approach.
You advise on the R&D expenditure credit (RDEC). Will it make a big difference for large companies?
I believe it will, but for different reasons for different companies. For years, many large companies ignored R&D relief as either they had insufficient taxable profits or their overseas parent didn’t want them reducing UK tax as it would flow through to higher domestic taxes in the parent jurisdiction. These companies should now find that the RDEC is beneficial as it offers a payable credit to the company with insufficient taxable profit and the above-the-line accounting means that foreign tax credits for the parent should not be reduced.
Unfortunately, for companies who undertake a lot of ‘cost-plus’ contracting work, the above the line nature of the RDEC may cause them problems.
What’s happening on the patent box?
It now looks certain that the patent box will have to be changed to comply with some form of ‘modified nexus’ approach. Indeed, the government has already agreed that the current form of patent box in the UK will be closed to new patents from June 2016 and withdrawn altogether by June 2021.
There is no news yet on the design of the new patent box – I half expected some comment from the chancellor in his Summer Budget – but I feel confident that we will hear something from him in the Autumn Statement.
Comment on a recent trend in tax.
Public opinion – as reported in the media – is playing a much greater part in the direction and design of tax policy. In principle I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing per se, but what I fear is happening is that policy is now being developed in a much more knee-jerk manner. In my opinion, this can only lead to more ‘bad legislation’ as changes are introduced quickly and without proper consideration.
This ‘court of public opinion’ is also leading some businesses to be wary of taking advantage of legitimate reliefs. Frankly, this is just as much a frustration of Parliament’s intention as tax avoidance.
Aside from your immediate colleagues, whom in tax do you most admire?
One minute with R&D tax relief expert David O'Keeffe.
What makes Aiglon Consulting different?
Aiglon Consulting is the product of 28 years’ experience in tax. Most of that time was spent with KPMG, where I was a tax partner for just over ten years before leaving to set up Aiglon. I am bringing all of the knowledge, expertise and experience gained in those 28 years and making it available to my clients in a way that they value. They get the experience and expertise of a ‘big four’ partner but with a personal, hands-on approach.
You advise on the R&D expenditure credit (RDEC). Will it make a big difference for large companies?
I believe it will, but for different reasons for different companies. For years, many large companies ignored R&D relief as either they had insufficient taxable profits or their overseas parent didn’t want them reducing UK tax as it would flow through to higher domestic taxes in the parent jurisdiction. These companies should now find that the RDEC is beneficial as it offers a payable credit to the company with insufficient taxable profit and the above-the-line accounting means that foreign tax credits for the parent should not be reduced.
Unfortunately, for companies who undertake a lot of ‘cost-plus’ contracting work, the above the line nature of the RDEC may cause them problems.
What’s happening on the patent box?
It now looks certain that the patent box will have to be changed to comply with some form of ‘modified nexus’ approach. Indeed, the government has already agreed that the current form of patent box in the UK will be closed to new patents from June 2016 and withdrawn altogether by June 2021.
There is no news yet on the design of the new patent box – I half expected some comment from the chancellor in his Summer Budget – but I feel confident that we will hear something from him in the Autumn Statement.
Comment on a recent trend in tax.
Public opinion – as reported in the media – is playing a much greater part in the direction and design of tax policy. In principle I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing per se, but what I fear is happening is that policy is now being developed in a much more knee-jerk manner. In my opinion, this can only lead to more ‘bad legislation’ as changes are introduced quickly and without proper consideration.
This ‘court of public opinion’ is also leading some businesses to be wary of taking advantage of legitimate reliefs. Frankly, this is just as much a frustration of Parliament’s intention as tax avoidance.
Aside from your immediate colleagues, whom in tax do you most admire?
