FPC20510 - Film Production Companies: Taxation: Examples 1 & 2: One- period and two-period productions


The following two examples illustrate how FA06/SCH4 apply in calculating the profits/losses of a film production company (FPC) producing a film over one and two accounting periods.


Example 1

An FPC is commissioned by a studio to make a film for an agreed budget of £15.2m and agrees to sell all the rights in the film to the studio for £15.5m. The film is completed within a single accounting period. The film is not eligible for Film Tax Relief (FTR).

For the purposes of FA06/SCH4 the FPC’s profit from the trade of producing the film is £0.3m (£15.5 - £15.2m).


Example 2

The situation is similar to Example 1 but the film takes longer to complete.

An FPC is commissioned by a studio to make a film for an agreed budget of £15.2m and agrees to sell all the rights in the film to the studio for £15.5m. At the end of the first accounting period the FPC has spent £10m, and in the second it spends a further £5.2m. The film is not eligible for Film Tax Relief (FTR).

The profits in each Accounting Period are calculated as follows:

Period 1


Expenditure incurred by end of period£10mOut of total expected costs of £15.2m
Income treated as earned by end of period£10.2mExpected total income of £15.5m. The extent to which this is allocated to Period 1 mirrors the extent to which total expected costs fall within Period 1.
£10.2 = £15.5m x £10m/£15.2m
Profit£0.2m


Period 2


Expenditure incurred by end of period£15.2m
Increase in expenditure incurred over previous period£5.2m£15.2m less £10m
Income treated as earned by end of period£15.5m
Increase in income treated as earned over previous period£5.3m£15.5 less £10.2m
Profit£0.1m