FinTech companies can access innovation funding through R&D Tax Relief, grants and Patent Box. Explore typical qualifying activities, practical guidance, downloadable resources and real-world examples from across the sector.
Funding and Innovation support for the Fintech sector
FinTech is one of the UK’s most innovative sectors.
Whether you’re developing payment technologies, digital banking platforms, AI-driven financial tools or regulatory software, innovation requires significant investment in technology, engineering and compliance.
Many of these activities may qualify for government innovation incentives, helping to reduce development costs, improve cash flow and support continued investment.
What funding is available?
If your business is overcoming technological challenges to create new or improved products, processes or software, you may be able to claim R&D Tax Relief.
Typical qualifying projects include software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, payment technologies and financial data processing.
Grant Funding
Grant funding can support collaborative research, feasibility studies and strategically important innovation projects that align with national funding priorities.
Funding opportunities regularly exist for areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital technologies and financial services innovation.
If you’ve patented technology developed within your business, Patent Box may reduce Corporation Tax on qualifying profits to 10%.
For fintech businesses commercialising proprietary technology, this can form an important part of a long-term innovation strategy.
Innovation within fintech often involves solving genuine technological challenges rather than simply applying existing software or technologies. Examples of qualifying activity may include:
✅ Developing AI and machine learning models for fraud detection or credit risk;
✅ Building real-time payment processing platforms;
✅ Creating digital banking platforms and customer applications;
✅ Developing Open Banking integrations and APIs.
✅ Biometric authentication and identity verification
✅ Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies
✅ High-performance transaction processing
✅ Cloud-native financial infrastructure
✅ Cybersecurity, encryption and data protection
✅ Regulatory technology (RegTech) platforms
✅ Advanced financial analytics and automation
⚠️ Eligibility depends on the technological challenges being overcome rather than the commercial objective of the project.
We’ve developed a range of practical resources specifically for fintech businesses.
White Paper
Challenges Facing UK FinTechs in 2026 and Beyond
→ An overview of the investment landscape, regulatory changes and innovation challenges shaping the sector.
Guide
Build a Tax-Smart Innovation Strategy
→ A practical guide explaining how R&D Tax Relief, grants and Patent Box can work together throughout the innovation lifecycle.
Infographic
Innovation funding throughout the project lifecycle
→ Understanding how R&D Tax Relief, grants and Patent Box work together can help businesses build a more sustainable, tax-efficient innovation strategy.
Whether you’re developing AI platforms, payment technologies, digital banking solutions or financial software, we can help you understand which incentives may be available.
✓ Our team includes software specialists, engineers and scientists who understand both the technical challenges involved in fintech innovation and the requirements of the UK’s innovation funding schemes.
✓ We support fintech businesses throughout the entire innovation lifecycle, helping them identify qualifying activity, prepare robust claims and defend them if HMRC raises questions.
