Noting that the UK game industry continues to shrink, even as the worldwide videogame market continues to grow, TIGA has prepared a Pre-Budget Report outlining the steps it would like to see implemented in order to grow the UK game developer population.
TIGA CEO Richard Wilson called Games Tax Relief “absolutely essential,” claiming that unless such a program is implemented, employment in the game sector will fall by 5% in each of the next five years. If tax breaks were introduced, TIGA says the industry could grow 2% in 2011 and 4% in each of the three following years. They estimate that the tax measure would cost “cost £192 million but would deliver £415 million in tax receipts” over five years.
TIGA is also calling for a freezing of corporation tax rates and National Insurance Contributions for the coming year (and a one percent cut in the future for both), extending research and development tax credits, stimulating investment into firms that generate intellectual property and bumping up the value of corporation tax losses.
Wilson added, “The UK Government has a clear choice: invest in an inherently successful industry to perpetuate our leading position in the world, or preside over the decline of a key knowledge industry.”
As part of Games Tax Relief, TIGA suggest three tiers of breaks: 20 per cent of core expenditure for budgets above £6,000,000, 25 per cent for budgets over £3,000,000 but less than £6,000,000 and 30 per cent for budgets of over £100,000 but under £3,000,000.
The game industry group made its report in advance of the government’s December 9 Pre-Budget Report, noting that, “This is the last serious chance to demonstrate a commitment to the sector in the life of this Parliament.”
The full report can be downloaded here (PDF).
