Creative industry tax reliefs overview
The UK offers generous Corporation Tax reliefs for British creative content production. These reliefs can significantly reduce your tax bill or provide cash repayments if you're loss-making.
From 1 April 2025, most creative reliefs transitioned to the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) system - a simpler above-the-line payable credit calculated directly on UK expenditure.
Available reliefs
- Film Tax Relief (AVEC): 34% credit (53% for independent films ≤£15m budget from 1 April 2025)
- High-end TV Tax Relief (AVEC): 34% credit on qualifying UK expenditure
- Animation Tax Relief (AVEC): 39% credit (higher rate reflecting animation costs)
- Video Games Tax Relief: 25% enhancement on UK/EEA expenditure
- Theatre Tax Relief: 45% enhancement (touring) or 40% (non-touring) from 1 April 2025
- Orchestra Tax Relief: 45% for all orchestra productions from 1 April 2025
- Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief: 45% enhancement (touring) or 40% (non-touring) from 1 April 2025
Film Tax Relief
Film Tax Relief supports British film production through a 34% credit (or 53% for independent films with budgets ≤£15m from 1 April 2025) on qualifying UK expenditure.
High-end Television Tax Relief
High-end TV relief supports drama, comedy, and documentary programmes costing at least £1 million per hour of slot length (broadcast time including ad breaks).
Animation Tax Relief
Animation receives a higher 39% credit rate (compared to 34% for film/TV) to support the UK animation industry. At least 51% of core expenditure must be spent on animation activities.
Video Games Tax Relief
Video games require 25% UK or EEA expenditure (higher than film/TV's 10% UK requirement), reflecting the European dimension of the games industry.
Theatre Tax Relief
Theatre productions receive enhanced relief, with touring productions (performing in 2+ venues, one ≤500 seats) receiving double the relief rate of non-touring productions.
Orchestra Tax Relief
Orchestral concerts (minimum 12 instrumentalists performing live) receive a single 45% loss-surrender rate from 1 April 2025. Orchestra Tax Relief does not distinguish between touring and non-touring productions.
Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief
Introduced in April 2017, this relief supports museum and gallery exhibitions, with touring exhibitions (2+ venues, one outside London with ≤500,000 annual visitors) receiving enhanced rates.
BFI Cultural Test certification
Film, TV, animation, and video games must pass the BFI cultural test to qualify for tax relief. This ensures government support benefits British content and production.
How to claim relief
Creative industry tax reliefs are claimed on your Corporation Tax return (CT600) using additional forms specific to each relief type:
- Film: Form CT600J
- High-end TV: Form CT600K
- Animation: Form CT600N
- Video Games: Form CT600M
- Theatre: Form CT600L
- Orchestra: Form CT600P
- Museums/Galleries: Form CT600S
Claims must be submitted within 2 years of the end of the accounting period when the production completed.
Legal basis
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