Tax breaks to keep TV drama British

Tax breaks to keep TV drama British NEWS

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Big budget TV dramas including Downton Abbey could be offered 25% tax breaks for filming in the UK, the chancellor is expected to announce in his Budget.

George Osborne will say too many 'cinematic' UK TV shows are filmed abroad because of tax incentives. An example of this is perhaps the forthcoming TV series Titanic, written by Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) which was filmed in Hungary. Lord Fellowes has commented to the BBC this week that tax relief would be a fantastic move forward for both the industry and the country.

A forthcoming Titanic TV show, written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, was filmed in Hungary. Lord Fellowes said tax relief would be 'a fantastic move forward' for the industry and country as a whole.

While global hit Downton Abbey was filmed in the UK, other major TV dramas filmed abroad include Tom Stoppard's forthcoming BBC/HBO adaptation of Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End, which was shot in Belgium.

Sky1's Strike Back, based on the novel of the same name by former SAS man Chris Ryan, was produced in South Africa, which offers tax relief of 15% for foreign and 25% for home grown productions.

Hungary and France offer tax relief of up to 20% of production costs while Ireland offers up to 28%, a Treasury source said.

'One of the ways the world sees Britain at its best is through world-class films and television made in Britain. They not only help us showcase the country but are also an important part of a dynamic and diversified economy. Existing tax relief for British films had been critical in 'ensuring that industry continues to thrive', it was added.

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