Updates: Creative Industries Expenditure Credit Manual
2026
Updated latter half of example, on CT600 boxes, to also cover CT600P.
Added references to CT600P. Updated guidance on individual boxes. Removed guidance on box 650 (no longer required).
Claims: Company Tax Return overview
Removed reference to CATO (decommissioned). Added requirement to complete CT600P.
Added requirement to complete CT600P.
Removed reference to credit redemption in step 1 (no longer included in additional information form). Added requirement to complete CT600P in step 3.
Claims: additional information form: supporting evidence
Removed references to expenditure credit redemption (no longer included in form)
Claims: additional information form: section 5 - credit redemption
Removed credit redemption section (no longer included in form). Explained that it is now included in the CT600P.
Claims: additional information form: section 5 - expenditure reporting
Removed references to expenditure credit redemption (no longer included in form) and expanded guidance on breakdown of production expenditure
Claims: additional information form: section 5 - specific production details
Removed references to expenditure credit redemption (no longer included in form)
Claims: additional information form: sections 1, 2 and 3 - business, applicant and claim information
Added guidance on first time claims, email contact, original/amended forms and R&D claims.
Expenditure credit calculation: steps 1-2
Added section 'transitional video games'. Added pointers in step 1 and step 2 guidance to check additional guidance below.
Expenditure credit redemption: treatment of amounts surrendered to group members
Added section 'Payments in return for surrendered credit'
Losses: completion period and later periods
Updated section on losses brought forward from pre-completion periods, and added new section on losses for transitional productions.
Claims: additional information form: supporting evidence
Expanded guidance on production expenditure breakdown to clarify the information and level of detail required.
Commencement and transition: opting in
Added new section on treatment of losses in split accounting periods.
2025
Expenditure credit calculation: additional credit for visual effects costs: contents
Updated to add new page CREC061460
Added rotoscoping and tracking to the list of common VFX services; added link to guidance on expenditure recognition timing.
Added note at end recognising possible departure from previous practice.
Updated to include new CT600 boxes for 2025/26.
Updated throughout to add guidance for new boxes and amend guidance for repurposed boxes.
Claims: Company Tax Return overview
Added new boxes for 2025/26 CT600 to boxes list.
Updated to clarify UK used or consumed section and the distinction between vendors and production companies.
Added line to section 2 about how the save timer works on the form.
Claims: additional information form: section 5 - credit redemption
Added introductory section to explain new format of online form.
Claims: additional information form: section 5 - expenditure reporting
Updated throughout to reflect new format of the online form.
Claims: additional information form: section 5 - specific production details
Updated throughout to reflect new layout of online form.
Claims: additional information form: overview
Removed line about expenditure information on a per production type basis - it is now required for each individual production.
Eligible expenditure: UK expenditure: film and TV examples: post-production services
Added section on visual effects costs.
Expenditure credit calculation: overview
Added lines regarding additional VFX credit.
Expenditure credit calculation: step 5
Added note about additional VFX credit after percentage table.
Expenditure credit calculation: steps 1-2
Added note about relevant VFX expenditure to end of Step 1 section.
Expenditure credit redemption: overview
Added references to additional VFX credit in 'total amount of expenditure credit to be redeemed' section. Minor formatting changes.
Commencement and transition: commencement
Added section on additional VFX credit.
Chapter 6 - Expenditure credit calculation: contents
Added 'Additional credit for visual effects costs: contents' page to contents.
Qualifying productions: British productions
Added 'Certification as low-budget film' section
Qualifying productions: switching between theatrical release and broadcast intention
Added text to say that if a production changes type, companies may want to notify HMRC of this using the online form.
Qualifying productions: Overview
Added reference to new guidance on independent films.
Removed content relating to unpaid amounts. This guidance is now in CREC051000.
Eligible expenditure: relevant global expenditure
Added guidance on unpaid amounts.
Eligible expenditure: avoidance: recognition of expenditure and unpaid amounts
Updated unpaid amounts section and example to reflect changes made by the Finance Act 2025.
Expenditure credit calculation: step 5
Added independent films to the percentage table and clarified guidance on switching between productions.
Expenditure credit calculation: steps 1-2
Added 'Independent films' section and example.
Commencement and transition: commencement
Added 'Independent film' section
Chapter 2 - Qualifying productions: contents
Added independent films to contents.
Expenditure credit calculation: examples: contents
Added CREC063300 to contents.
2024
Creative Industries Expenditure Credit Manual
Adding Chapter 5 contents page
Creative Industries Expenditure Credit Manual
Adding Chapter 3 contents page
Creative Industries Expenditure Credit Manual
Adding Chapter 2 contents page
Creative Industries Expenditure Credit Manual
Adding Chapter 4 contents page
Expenditure credit redemption: treatment of amounts withheld at Step 2
Improved formatting for clarity
Claims: additional information form: overview
Adding webinar link.
Creative Industries Expenditure Credit Manual
Publish manual on GOV.UK
Publish to gov.uk
Adding Chapter 1 contents page
Chapter 6 - Expenditure credit calculation: contents
Publish
Chapter 7 - Expenditure credit redemption: contents
Publish
publish
Chapter 9 - Commencement and transition: contents
publish