UKIE lays out games tax relief recommendations

September 10th, 2012, 20:00 Posted By: wraggster

Trade association UKIE has today revealed its response to government on how the UK's tax relief for videogame companiesshould be structured. The association's suggestions are based on a two-month consultation with over 200 UK companies.
Heading that list is the recommendation that relief extends to all parts of the industry, covering small indies as well as established studios and, in a clear bid to attract inward investment, any new UK businesses that are set up by companies overseas.
UKIE further suggests that relief be set at 30 per cent for all companies, with no restrictions on the size of an eligible project's development budget. It also recommends that the game industry set up a team to deal with tax returns and cultural test applications.
Perhaps the smartest suggestion of all is that the relief not only apply to pre-release development, but that government instead recognises that games are services and applies in development of DLC or post-release updates.
UKIE CEO Dr Jo Twist said games tax relief represents "a real opportunity to grow all parts of the UK game industry - from small, to medium, to big businesses - and will help people make even more distinctive and innovative games.
"Having a system that recognises the new innovative business models and production processes in our industry, allowing developers to claim for DLC and continued development, post going live to the public, gives the UK a real advantage over other countries."
UK chancellor George Osborne confirmed government's intent to introduce games tax relief in March. It is scheduled to come into effect in April 2013, subject to parliamentary approval.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/ukie...ecommendations

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