Film & TV Accountants
Specialist production accounting, tax credit and cross-border advisory for studios, producers and creative talent working between the UK and the United States.
Accountants built for the screen industry
Jungle Tax provides film and TV accounting for production companies, independent producers, post houses, directors, actors and freelance crew. We run production budgets and cost reports, maximise UK and US tax credits, and keep talent compliant with both HMRC and the IRS — so the money side never slows the shoot down.
34%
Headline AVEC credit for film & high-end TV
53%
Enhanced rate for qualifying UK independent film
US + UK
One team for IRS and HMRC compliance
Where we add value
- Production accounting & cost reporting
- AVEC and Independent Film Tax Credit claims
- US Section 181 & state incentive planning
- US-UK co-production structuring
- Loan-out companies for talent
- Cross-border payroll & withholding
What does production accounting involve?
Production accounting is the financial engine of a film or TV project. From the moment a budget is greenlit, we build the cost structure, track spend against every line item, and produce the weekly cost reports that financiers, completion bond companies and broadcasters expect. Accurate reporting is what keeps a production bankable and audit-ready.
We manage crew and cast payments, per diems, kit hire, location costs and vendor invoices, alongside VAT in the UK and sales and use tax in the US. Because the paperwork we produce during the shoot is the same evidence used to claim tax credits, getting it right from day one protects both cash flow and the eventual relief.
Across the production lifecycle
Development & budgeting
Structuring the budget, chart of accounts and finance plan.
Principal photography
Weekly cost reports, payroll, purchase orders and cash flow.
Post-production
Reconciling spend and preparing qualifying expenditure schedules.
Wrap & credit claim
Final cost statements, tax credit filing and audited accounts.
How do UK film and TV tax reliefs work?
The UK replaced its long-standing film and TV tax reliefs with the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC), an above-the-line credit claimed through the corporation tax return. Productions must pass the BFI cultural test or qualify as an official co-production, and meet minimum UK spend rules. High-end TV also has a minimum core cost per broadcast hour. We handle certification, qualifying spend calculations and the claim itself.
Film & high-end TV
A 34% headline AVEC credit on qualifying UK expenditure, giving an effective net benefit of roughly a quarter of eligible spend.
Animation & children’s TV
A higher 39% AVEC rate reflecting the additional support for these genres, subject to the same certification requirements.
Independent film
The Independent Film Tax Credit offers an enhanced 53% rate for qualifying lower-budget British films within a budget cap.
Credit rates, budget caps and minimum spend thresholds are set by legislation and change over time. We confirm the figures that apply to your specific project before you budget.
What US film tax incentives can producers claim?
In the United States, incentives operate at two levels. Federally, Section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code lets producers deduct qualifying film and television production costs in the year they are incurred, rather than capitalising them, subject to per-project caps. This can significantly improve early-stage cash flow for a production company.
On top of that, individual states run their own programmes — Georgia’s transferable credit, California’s allocated programme, New York, Louisiana and many others — each with different rates, caps and qualifying-spend rules. Because these change frequently, we model the combined federal and state position and keep the substantiation the IRS and state film offices require.
US planning we handle
- Section 181 elections and qualifying cost analysis
- State credit selection, applications and transfers
- Loan-out corporations for cast and key crew
- Withholding on non-resident talent and foreign investors
- Worldwide filing for US citizens working abroad
How are US-UK co-productions structured?
International co-productions let a single title qualify as a national production in more than one country, unlocking incentives in each territory. This is powerful, but the structuring is intricate: entity choice, where intellectual property sits, how financing flows, and how talent is paid all affect the tax outcome. A poorly structured deal can forfeit a credit or trigger double taxation.
We design special purpose vehicles for each production, apply the relevant co-production treaty rules, manage transfer pricing between related companies, and use the US-UK tax treaty to relieve double taxation on cross-border talent and royalty payments. The result is a structure that satisfies both HMRC and the IRS while protecting the producer’s margin.
Entity design
The right SPV in each territory for the finance and credit plan.
Treaty relief
Applying co-production and tax treaties to avoid double taxation.
Transfer pricing
Arm’s-length intercompany terms that stand up to scrutiny.
Talent withholding
Correct withholding and treaty claims on cross-border pay.
One Team Powering Your Film & TV Tax Strategy
One team for the whole production
Most productions juggle a UK accountant, a US accountant and a payroll bureau who never speak to each other. We bring production accounting, tax credits and dual US-UK compliance under one roof, so your reliefs are maximised and nothing falls between the jurisdictions. We speak the language of the set and the language of the tax code.
› Get a ConsultationCredit specialists
We live in AVEC, the Independent Film Tax Credit, Section 181 and state incentives — not as an afterthought.
Genuine cross-border
IRS and HMRC handled together, with treaty relief so talent and producers never pay twice.
Production fluent
We understand cost reports, completion bonds and the pace of a live shoot.
From indie to studio
Whether it is a first feature or a returning series, our approach scales to the project.
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Accounting built around the way creative businesses actually work.
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Coordinated US-UK planning so income is never taxed twice.
Learn more →US Tax Services
IRS filing, Section 181 and state incentive planning.
Learn more →UK Tax Services
HMRC compliance, AVEC claims and corporation tax.
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Tax for on-screen and online talent building a brand.
Learn more →High-Net-Worth
Wealth and tax planning for successful creative talent.
Learn more →Ready to keep the cameras rolling?
Talk to a specialist film and TV accountant about your production budget, tax credits and US-UK compliance. We will show you exactly where the reliefs are and how to claim them.
Maximising film and TV reliefs on both sides of the Atlantic
From UK expenditure credits to US federal and state incentives, the value in a production budget often hinges on how carefully qualifying spend is tracked and certified. We build the cost evidence during the shoot, not after it, so the eventual claim stands up to scrutiny.
Because reliefs are legislated and revised over time, we confirm the rules that apply to your specific project before you commit numbers to a finance plan.
- ›AVEC and Independent Film Tax Credit certification and claims
- ›US Section 181 elections and state incentive planning
- ›Audit-ready qualifying expenditure schedules
One team across the IRS and HMRC for every co-production
International co-productions can unlock incentives in more than one territory, but only when the entity structure, financing flows and talent payments are designed with both tax systems in mind. We coordinate the whole picture so nothing falls between jurisdictions.
Using the US-UK treaty and careful residency planning, we help producers, cast and crew avoid paying tax twice while keeping both sets of filings fully compliant.
- ›Special purpose vehicles and treaty-based structuring
- ›Loan-out companies and cross-border payroll
- ›Withholding and treaty relief on talent payments
Official resources & further reading
Authoritative guidance from the relevant tax authorities and regulators. Always confirm current thresholds and deadlines on the official source.
Questions & Answers
Film and TV accountants manage production budgets, cost reports, cash flow and payroll across pre-production, principal photography and post. They handle crew and loan-out payments, VAT, sales tax, and prepare the cost statements needed to claim production tax credits. They also file year-end accounts and coordinate US and UK compliance for producers, studios and freelance talent.
The Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) gives a headline 34% credit on qualifying UK expenditure for film and high-end TV, and 39% for animation and children’s TV. Because the credit is taxable, the effective net benefit is roughly a quarter of qualifying spend. Please verify current rates before relying on them, as reliefs change.
Yes. The Independent Film Tax Credit (IFTC) offers an enhanced AVEC rate of 53% on qualifying expenditure for lower-budget British films, subject to a budget cap and BFI certification. This meaningfully improves cash flow for indie producers. Thresholds and eligibility criteria apply, so confirm the current cap and rules with us before budgeting.
US producers may deduct qualifying production costs under Internal Revenue Code Section 181, and can stack state incentives such as Georgia’s transferable credit or California’s programme. Rates, caps and rules differ by state and change frequently. We help you model the combined federal and state benefit and keep the documentation the IRS and state agencies require.
Co-productions are typically structured through official co-production treaties or the European Convention, letting a project qualify as national in more than one territory and access multiple incentives. We advise on entity setup, the loan-out and special purpose vehicle model, withholding on cross-border talent payments, transfer pricing and treaty relief to avoid double taxation.
Not usually. The US-UK tax treaty and foreign tax credits are designed to prevent double taxation, but US citizens must still file worldwide, and non-residents face withholding on location earnings. Correct residency planning, treaty claims and loan-out structuring keep the overall bill efficient. We coordinate both IRS and HMRC filings so nothing is missed.
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