Northern Ireland Corporate Tax Office (NIrCTO) has announced that it will work with local government and business to help promote corporate inward investment and business expansion. It has also published a practical guide to the Research & Development (R&D) Relief Scheme in Northern Ireland.

NIrCTO will now help with advice to a potential investor on the full range of HMRC taxes and duties affecting the proposed investment by:

• giving early certainty on the tax consequences of commercial transactions that affect the proposed investment or expansion plans in Northern Ireland
• facilitating direct access to HMRC's tax specialists
• helping to secure Clearances and Advance Agreements in respect of your plans
• providing a local point of contact for advice and, in conjunction with the specialist Research & Development (R&D) units, help with claiming Research & Development Relief
• fast tracking the service where time is important