HMRC has launched its Research and Development Expert Advisory Panel (RDEAP), made up of six independent specialists from fields such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, AI, and technology. The goal is to bring real-world understanding into how R&D tax reliefs are administered and communicated. You can find the official announcement here: Research and Development Expert Advisory Panel (RDEAP) – GOV.UK.
The panel’s purpose is to act as a sounding board for HMRC and HM Treasury, helping them understand how R&D really happens in industry and where current rules and guidance could be improved. According to HMRC, the group will meet quarterly and focus on reviewing draft guidance, advising on sector trends, and identifying unintended consequences of rule changes. Importantly, the panel will not set policy or decide claims, but it will feed back directly to HMRC’s R&D policy and operational teams to make guidance more practical and consistent.
The members come from a range of backgrounds including artificial intelligence, MedTech, and advanced manufacturing. Between them they bring decades of experience leading complex innovation programmes. That mix of expertise should help HMRC better understand the challenges businesses face when interpreting R&D eligibility, record-keeping requirements, and technical definitions of uncertainty and advance.
This move follows a period of major reform in R&D tax relief. The merger of the SME and RDEC schemes, tighter compliance checks, and the new intensity test have all increased the complexity of the system. HMRC’s creation of an expert panel is an attempt to rebuild confidence, improve communication, and ensure that genuine innovation continues to receive support.
For companies investing in R&D, this is a positive sign that HMRC is engaging more constructively with industry. However, it also underlines just how fast the rules are evolving. Understanding what qualifies, how to evidence it, and how to structure a compliant claim has become increasingly technical.
In this changing environment, relying solely on internal knowledge can be risky. Expert advice saves time, reduces uncertainty, and ensures that claims reflect both the latest legislation and HMRC’s current interpretation. Having specialists monitor the updates from panels like this one helps businesses stay focused on innovation rather than compliance headaches.
If you would like help ensuring your next claim is fully aligned with HMRC’s latest direction, please get in touch.
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Christopher Toms MA MAAT
Compliance Director
RandDTax