Introduction Details of the Section
2.Subsections (1) to (3) amend Chapter 3 of Part 15 of Corporation Tax Act 2009 (‘CTA’) in relation to films whose principal photography is uncompleted before the commencement date of the section (see subsections (1) and (6) of the section).
3.Subsection (2) provides that UK expenditure requirement at section 1198(1) CTA (minimum UK core expenditure) is reduced from 25 per cent to 10 per cent. UK qualifying production expenditure is that expenditure incurred on filming activities (pre-production, principle photography and post production) which take place within the UK.
4.Section 1202 is amended so that relief on the surrenderable loss is available for at a rate of 25 per cent up to the first £20 million of each production’s surrenderable loss (to a maximum of 80 per cent of the UK core production expenditure) and 20 per cent thereafter (to a maximum of 80 per cent of the UK core production expenditure), for all productions. Previously the rate of 25 per cent only applied to limited budget films i.e. those with qualifying core expenditure up to £20 million.
5.Subsections (6) to (9) of the section also make provision for the amendments to be commenced by Treasury Order. Since commencement is subject to State aid approval from the European Commission, provision is also made for the amended sections to be further amended by secondary legislation in connection with the terms of approval.