Software as a Service (SaaS)

BC&A Innovation

R&D Spotlight

Software as a Service (SaaS) has become the go-to delivery model for everything from customer relationship management (CRM) systems and project management tools to industry-specific platforms for sectors like healthcare, finance, and logistics. But while SaaS platforms often appear seamless to the end-user, developing reliable, secure, and scalable cloud-based software presents real technical challenges.

R&D tax relief is available to UK companies pushing scientific or technological boundaries by overcoming technical uncertainties. In SaaS development, this could mean optimising system architecture, enhancing security, solving scaling problems, or improving real-time data handling — particularly when no off-the-shelf solution meets your specific technical or performance requirements.

Here are some examples of qualifying activities in SaaS development:

Developing Scalable Multi-Tenant Architectures

Engineering SaaS platforms that can handle multiple clients securely and efficiently, particularly when overcoming challenges in data separation, resource management, or system performance.

Solving Real-Time Data Processing Challenges

Building or improving systems that handle real-time data streams, notifications, or live collaboration features, particularly when balancing performance and reliability at scale.

Improving System Integration and API Performance

Developing complex integrations with third-party platforms, legacy systems, or customer-specific environments, especially when overcoming compatibility, latency, or security issues.

Enhancing Security and Compliance

Engineering advanced security features such as encryption, secure authentication, or role-based access controls, particularly when meeting UK data protection laws (e.g., GDPR) or sector-specific compliance requirements.

Developing Advanced User Management and Access Control

Creating systems that manage user roles, permissions, and workflows for complex business processes, particularly when providing customisation without compromising security or performance.

Optimising SaaS Infrastructure and Cloud Resource Usage

Improving the way your platform scales across cloud environments, balances loads, or reduces operational costs through technical changes to architecture or deployment processes.

Advancing AI and Machine Learning Capabilities

Integrating or developing machine learning models for features such as automated insights, predictive analytics, or natural language processing within your SaaS platform.

Improving User Experience Through Technical Innovation

Engineering complex front-end features that require real-time rendering, data visualisation, or multi-device synchronisation, especially when standard frameworks or libraries fall short.

If your business is overcoming technical challenges like these in the development or improvement of SaaS products, you could be eligible for R&D tax relief. This incentive helps UK software businesses recover part of their development costs, supporting continued investment in scalable, innovative, and market-leading cloud solutions.

Our Process

What to expect when working with
BC&A Innovation

1. Discovery Call

Book your FREE 15 minute discovery call today to discuss your R&D activity and we'll guide you on best next steps and estimated claim value.

2. Information gathering

Our technical experts and industry specialists will work with you to uncover all areas of work activity eligible under the R&D scheme, ensuring we have everything we need to support a robust, defensible and maximised claim.

3. Create R&D Tax Claim

Our technical experts will write your claim and supporting documents with a clear assessment of your eligible activity and costs, ensuring compliance with the scheme's governance throughout.

4. Approval & Submission

We'll share, for your approval, the claim draft and supporting documentation. We'll explain in detail how we have arrived at our assessment of your claimable activity, costs and claim value. When you're happy, your claim can be submitted as part of your standard end-of-year processes.

5. Liaising with HMRC

Should HMRC require any further information or have queries regarding your claim, we'll liaise with them to ensure speedy payment without any reduction in claim value.

6. Payment

Once your payment is received, we'll send it across the same working day and advise you on processes that can be put in place to make future claims even more hassle-free. Don't worry about claims going forward, we'll be in regular contact to remind you what is needed and when.

About BC&A Innovation

We've helped hundreds of businesses like yours secure millions in Research & Development tax relief

Our team recognises the importance of R&D in advancing UK businesses, big and small, and we understand the time burden, resources and complexities of claiming tax relief for that R&D. These constraints often leave companies failing to get the tax relief they’re entitled to or underclaiming significantly due to unclear, often confusing guidelines about what constitutes R&D. As experts in R&D tax relief, we’re here to unblur the lines and create robust, defensible and maximised claims on your behalf.

We’re experienced tax professionals, accountants and technical experts with a deep understanding of the R&D tax relief regulations. We’ve worked in many of the industries we now serve and are ideally placed to understand your business’ R&D Activities. As part of HMRC’s panel on R&D, we stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the guidance, to provide our clients with the most accurate and up-to-date advice.

At BC&A Innovation we take the burden of claim generation away from the business so you can do what you do best, while we do what we do best. We pride ourselves on our integrity, professionalism and commitment to our clients.

Not sure if you qualify for R&D tax relief? Book a FREE discovery call today.

Many of the businesses we work with were unsure if they qualified for R&D tax relief at first. A few had even been told by other agencies that they could not claim. Yet, with our help they were able to correctly identify eligible R&D projects and claim back vital funds.

As experts in HMRC’s definitions of Research & Development, we’ll be able to tell you if you should make a claim or not. We’re success fee based, which means it isn’t in our interest or yours to take forward claims that won’t pass HMRC’s stringent checks. If we say it’s worth doing, you can take that to the bank.

Ready for a discovery call? Think of it as a no-obligation chat where we can discuss the work you’ve undertaken and identify tax-saving opportunities. Our expert consultants are keen to speak with you.