Corporation Tax Act 2009 section 1179DW

When the separate trade begins

Section 1179DW establishes the point at which a production company's separate trade in respect of a film or television programme is treated as commencing for the purposes of the audio-visual expenditure credit regime.

• When a production company elects to treat a qualifying film or television programme as a separate trade, the start date of that trade is determined by this section.
• The separate trade is treated as beginning when pre-production of the film or programme starts.
• However, if the company receives any income from the film or programme before pre-production begins, the trade is treated as starting at that earlier point instead.
• The effective start date is therefore whichever comes first: the beginning of pre-production or the receipt of any income from the production.