TIGA, the trade association
representing the UK games industry, said the government's consultation document
on the implementation of the tax relief for video games, animation and high end
TV production contained encouraging themes.
The group which vigorously
campaigned for a new tax break for games production said it had the
potential to support new business models and could also support a wide range of
games on a wide range of platforms.
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said
it was good to see that the government wanted relief in the UK to be the most
generous in the world.
TIGA made the comments following
publication of the Coalition Government’s publication of the consultation
document on June 18.
TIGA persuaded the last Labour
Government to back Games Tax Relief in the March 2010 Budget and successfully
won cross-party support for the measure during the 2010 General Election campaign.
Games
Tax Relief was dropped by the Coalition Government in the June 2010
Budget.
TIGA
continued to campaign for Games Tax Relief and the Coalition Government adopted
the policy in the March 2012 Budget.
TIGA
predicts that the new tax relief will enable the UK games industry to compete
on a more level international playing field and it will secure 4,660 jobs and
£188 million in investment over five years.
Dr
Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, commented on the publication of the Government’s
consultation document on a tax break for video games production (set out
in Consultation on Creative Sector Tax Reliefs):
“There
are some very encouraging themes in this consultation document. Firstly, the
Government wants to ensure that its new reliefs for video games, animation and
high end TV production are among the most generous in the world. Secondly, the
Treasury recognises that the new tax relief needs to support both the
traditional, physical video games business model and the new and growing games
as a service model. It is excellent that the Government recognises that our
industry is competing in a global market for investment and jobs. It is good
that the Government wants to introduce a tax relief favourable to a different
business models and to physical and digital games.
“TIGA
will be engaging with developers, digital publishers and the Government to
ensure that tax relief is effective, straight-forward to access and supports a
wide range of studios, business models and games on different platforms. The
tax relief will be a fantastic boost for the UK video games industry, the
creative sectors and the UK economy.”
Notes
to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The
majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house
publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing
companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA won 10 business awards and was
nominated a finalist for 9 other awards during 2010 and 2011. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum. In 2011, TIGA
won eight business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered Management
Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards, including ‘Outstanding
Marketing Campaign’. Richard Wilson won
the ‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association Forum and the ‘Outstanding
Leader’ award from the Chartered Management Institute.
TIGA is an Investors in
People organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK
the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets
of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and
developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This
means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power,
their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a
material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and
improved commercial opportunities.