Industry SpecialistsInstitute of Financial Accountants (IFA)

Accountants for Technology Companies & Startups in Glasgow

QA FinTax are specialist accountants for Glasgow’s technology sector — SaaS, software and digital companies. We handle the reliefs that matter most to tech: R&D tax credits, SEIS/EIS to raise investment, and EMI share options to attract talent, all built around a fast-moving, often loss-making business.

Glasgow has the largest digital and tech cluster in Scotland, and tech companies have a tax profile unlike anyone else — heavy on R&D, reliant on investment, and paying key people in equity. Get the reliefs right and they are transformative; get them wrong and you leave serious money on the table or fail HMRC scrutiny. We make sure your tech business claims everything it is entitled to.

Call +44 7768 911170
accountant for tech companies Glasgow — QA FinTax, Glasgow

The Tax Opportunities (and Traps) for Tech Companies

  • R&D tax credits — often the single biggest cash injection for a young tech company
  • SEIS and EIS — making your shares attractive to investors
  • EMI share options — rewarding your team tax-efficiently
  • Software development costs — when to capitalise and when to expense
  • Managing cash and burn while pre-profit

Reliefs for Tech Companies at a Glance

Three reliefs do most of the heavy lifting for a Glasgow tech business — one rewards your development, one helps you raise money, and one helps you hire.

Key reliefs for technology companies (2026/27)
ReliefWhat it doesHeadline numbers
R&D tax reliefRewards resolving technical uncertaintyMerged RDEC 20%; ERIS up to ~27p per £1 for R&D-intensive loss-makers
SEIS / EISIncome tax relief for your investorsSEIS raise £250k (50% relief); EIS £10m/year (30% relief)
EMI share optionsTax-efficient equity for staffUp to £250k of options per employee; company limit £6m
EMI limits expanded from 6 April 2026 (company assets up to £120m, under 500 staff, 15-year exercise). See our R&D tax credits and corporate finance pages for the detail.

How We Help Glasgow Tech Businesses

  • R&D tax relief claims that stand up to HMRC scrutiny
  • SEIS/EIS advance assurance and compliance for fundraising rounds
  • Setting up and valuing EMI share option schemes
  • Advice on capitalising versus expensing software development
  • Cloud accounting and investor-ready management accounts
  • Corporate finance support for funding rounds and exits

Who We Work With

SaaS and software companies, app developers, fintech and health-tech startups, digital agencies, and hardware and deep-tech businesses. From a two-founder pre-seed startup to a scaling company raising a Series A, the reliefs are the same — and getting them right early sets the whole business up well.

The Services Technology & Startups Businesses Need

Technology & Startups in Glasgow — Frequently Asked Questions

Very likely, if you are resolving genuine technical uncertainty — new architectures, hard integrations, performance problems, novel algorithms. You do not have to be doing pure research. Our R&D page explains the schemes and rates; we run a free eligibility check.
They give your investors generous income tax relief — 50% under SEIS, 30% under EIS — which makes investing in your company far more attractive. SEIS lets you raise up to £250,000 and EIS up to £10 million a year. We handle the advance assurance so investors get the relief they expect.
EMI is the most tax-efficient way to give employees equity — generally no income tax or NIC on grant or exercise of market-value options. You can grant up to £250,000 of options per employee. From April 2026 the company limits expanded, so more scaling companies qualify. We set the scheme up and value it.
It depends on the nature of the spend and your accounting policy — some qualifies to be capitalised as an intangible asset, some is better expensed, and the choice interacts with your R&D claim. We advise on the treatment that is both correct and most beneficial.
Yes — many of our most valuable pieces of work are for early, loss-making companies, because that is when R&D credits, SEIS and EMI matter most. Getting the structure right at the start avoids expensive fixes later.

Official sources

Rates and thresholds are stated for the 2026/27 UK tax year and are for general guidance only. They are not a substitute for advice on your own circumstances.

Accountants who understand technology & startups

Book a free 15-minute review with a Glasgow adviser who knows your sector.

Other Industries We Serve

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