Corporation Tax

Corporation tax is rarely just a compliance exercise. Rates now range from 19% to 25% depending on profit levels and group structure, and the reliefs on offer — losses, capital allowances, R&D, Patent Box — reward companies that plan ahead. We'll help you navigate the legislation, avoid the traps and pay only what you owe.

Why Choose Acumon for Corporation Tax Advice

Strategic tax management demands more than compliance — it takes planning, technical depth and an understanding of how HMRC operates.

HMRC experience: several of our tax staff previously worked for HMRC, giving us unusual insight into how the tax authority approaches enquiries and disputes.

Chartered Tax Advisor: our team includes an in-house Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), qualified by the Chartered Institute of Taxation — the UK's highest tax qualification.

Corporation Tax Rates and Marginal Relief

For 2026/27 the main rate is 25% on profits over £250,000 and the small profits rate is 19% on profits up to £50,000, with marginal relief tapering the effective rate between the two bands. The thresholds are divided by the number of associated companies, so group and ownership structure directly affects the rate you pay — something we review as part of every engagement.

Corporation Tax Claims and Reliefs

Losses: trading losses can be carried forward, carried back or surrendered as group relief, subject to restrictions — we identify the route that saves the most tax, considering timing, group structure and anti-avoidance rules.

Capital allowances: we maximise claims through the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance, permanent full expensing (100% first-year relief on new main-rate plant and machinery), the new 40% first-year allowance available from January 2026, and writing-down allowances — noting the main rate fell to 14% from April 2026.

Patent Box: an effective 10% corporation tax rate on profits from qualifying patented inventions. We handle eligibility, profit allocation and the interaction with R&D relief.

R&D relief: under the merged scheme, a 20% taxable expenditure credit on qualifying R&D, with enhanced support for loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs. We identify qualifying activities, maximise claim values and build robust documentation.

Corporation Tax Case Studies

Case Study 1: The Music Manager. A prominent music manager split time between the US and UK with minimal UK personal income but significant UK corporation tax obligations. Our treaty analysis demonstrated that the income should be taxed in the US, not the UK — and the client received a substantial corporation tax refund from HMRC.

Case Study 2: Fleet Management Data Company. A comprehensive review identified overlooked R&D work; we prepared the technical documentation and financial calculations, secured an initial HMRC tax credit and then ongoing annual tax credits of approximately £100,000.

Comprehensive Tax Planning

Integrated strategy: effective corporation tax planning has to work alongside your personal tax, VAT and payroll position — our integrated approach makes sure one saving doesn't create a cost elsewhere.

Group planning: group relief, consortium relief and tax-efficient group structures, considering intra-group transactions, transfer pricing and reorganisations while staying on the right side of anti-avoidance rules.

Our Senior Tax Team

Your corporation tax work is delivered by highly qualified tax professionals, including a Chartered Tax Advisor, former HMRC inspectors and experienced corporate tax advisors — with deadlines managed so returns and payments are made on time, every time.

What You Get With Acumon

• Tax staff with prior HMRC experience
• In-house Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), qualified by the Chartered Institute of Taxation
• Rate planning around the 19%/25% bands, marginal relief and associated companies
• Loss utilisation: carry forward, carry back and group relief
• Capital allowances, Patent Box and merged-scheme R&D claims
• Group planning: group relief, consortium relief and reorganisations

Why Acumon for Corporation Tax?

• Team includes an in-house Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), qualified by the Chartered Institute of Taxation
• Team includes former HMRC inspectors
• Case study: secured ongoing annual R&D tax credits of approximately £100,000 for a fleet management data company
• Case study: obtained a substantial corporation tax refund for a music manager under the UK-US double taxation treaty

Get a Fixed-Fee Quote

Tell us what you need and we'll come back within one business day with a clear scope and a fixed price — no hourly-rate surprises. Call 020 8567 3451 or use the form and we'll be in touch.