(1)For the purposes of this Chapter a company meets the R&D threshold in an accounting period if its qualifying Chapter 5 expenditure for the period is at least—
(a)£10,000, if the accounting period is a period of 12 months, or
(b)the amount given by subsection (2), if the accounting period is a period of less than 12 months.
(2)The amount referred to in subsection (1)(b) is—
where X is the number of days in the accounting period.
(3)A company's qualifying Chapter 5 expenditure is “for” the accounting period if it is allowable as a deduction in calculating for corporation tax purposes the profits for the period of a trade carried on by the company.
(4)Expenditure allowable as a deduction for the purposes of subsection (3) includes expenditure so allowable because of section 61 (pre-trading expenses).
(5)For the meaning of “qualifying Chapter 5 expenditure” see section 1076.