Transactional Tax Planning Partner Charlotte Sallabank was quoted by TechRound and Edward Fennell’s Legal Diary regarding the upcoming Autumn Budget (Budget) in November and its treatment of innovation and small tech businesses. TechRound reported that while the UK government has previously mentioned helping homegrown startups compete globally, there has been little clarity on tax incentives or digital infrastructure investment, which the upcoming Budget could provide by giving direction on funding and business rates.
Charlotte made the following commentary:
“Rachel Reeves has stated that she is committed to supporting growth and investment, and to cutting ‘red tape’. Whether this will extend to tax red tape is another matter — the increased paperwork required to substantiate R&D credit claims, since the press exposure of the exploitation of R&D Credit claims by unscrupulous advisers, is a very real handicap for genuine R&D credit claims in the tech industry. Some relaxation here would be very helpful. Specific tax incentives for technology adoption have also been hinted at, but it is important that the incentives are not so hidebound by conditions as to make them unattractive for investors, who may choose to seek easier markets for their funds.
"For SMEs, 15% employers' secondary Class 1 National Insurance Contributions (NIC) are a heavy burden — introducing a reduced/zero rate of secondary Class 1 NIC for certain industry sectors such as tech (in addition to the current incentives in Freeport or Investment Zone special tax sites) could also help stimulate growth and investment in the tech sector."
"Experts Share: How Can The Autumn Budget Better Support Tech Growth?" TechRound, October 22, 2025
"TOPIC: Potential support for technology-based companies in the forthcoming budget," Legal Diary, October 24, 2025
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