Tiga issues call to action over tax breaks

Tiga is today encouraging game developers to write to the Government to urge it to introduce a tax break for games production.

Following an open letter to Lord Mandelson, Richard Wilson called on all businesses in the games industry to write to the chancellor of the Exchequer and to the secretaries of state for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Culture, Media and Sport.

“In the run up to the Budget on April 22nd, the games industry needs to emphasise to the Government how vital it is to introduce a tax break for games production," said Wilson.

"With a 20 per cent tax break for games production in place, similar to the European Union approved scheme in France, the UK games industry can expect to remain one of the leading centres for games development in the world. If the Government fails to adopt this measure one of the UK’s critical knowledge economy sectors will contract, more creative jobs will be lost overseas, and our leading position in the global games development industry could be lost.

“So today Tiga is encouraging all games developers and other businesses involved in the games industry to write to Alistair Darling MP, the chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Mandelson, the secretary of state for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Andy Burnham MP, the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport, to urge them to introduce a tax break for games production in the April Budget.”

The addresses of the chancellor and the two secretaries of state are detailed below:

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH

The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
Horse Guards Road
London
SW1A 2HQ

Rt. Hon. Lord Mandelson
Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET

To read Wilson’s open letter, click here.