VGDC55110 - Calculation: surrenderable losses and Video Games Tax Credit - examples - single-period developments

The following example illustrates how Video Games Development Companies (VGDCs) that sustain a surrenderable loss can surrender that loss in return for a payable tax credit (VGDC55100). In each case the development is completed within a single period.

Example 1

A VGDC makes a video game with total core expenditure of £1m, all of which is European expenditure. The video game was commissioned by a publisher that pays £900k for it.

- Amount Amount
Income - £900k
Expenditure - £1m
Pre-VGTR profit (loss) - (£100k)
Enhanceable expenditure (European core expenditure of £1m x 80%) £800k -
Additional deduction - (£800k)
Post-VGTR profit (loss) - (£900k)

The surrenderable loss is the lesser of:

  • the trading loss: £900k and
  • the enhanceable expenditure on which the additional deduction for period: £800k.

In this case, the VGDC can surrender up to £800k.

The amount of credit due is:

  • the payable credit rate: 25%
  • multiplied by
  • the loss surrendered: £800k

giving a payable credit of £200k. This is equal to 20% of the total core expenditure. The VGDC is not obliged to surrender the entire loss, but it will most likely do so.