HMRC has published the first annual statistics for the Theatre Tax Relief.

• In 2016-17, £46 million of Theatre Tax Relief was paid out relating to 1,570 productions, of which 490 were touring and 1,080 were non-touring.
• Since Theatre Tax Relief was introduced in September 2014, £60 million has been paid out relating to 1,750 productions.

Theatre Tax Relief was announced in Finance Act 2014 and effective from 1 September 2014. Production companies (which can include charities and charity trading subsidiaries) are eligible to claim Theatre Tax Relief if:

• it is a qualifying production company engaged in the making of theatrical productions
• its primary focus is to play before a live audience of paying members of the general public or for educational purposes
• it has a minimum 25% EEA expenditure
• it has 2 rates of payable credit, 25% for touring productions, and 20% for others.

We would welcome feedback from charities and advisers as to whether they have made a successful claim, their experiences in doing so, and whether the claim was made via a charitable company or a trading subsidiary. Please send any comments to info@charitytaxgroup.org.uk.