How to Find Out if Your Creative Business Qualifies for Tax Relief in 2 Minutes

The UK offers some of the most generous tax reliefs for creative businesses anywhere in the world. Film productions can claim back up to 39% of their UK spend. Theatre companies can receive 45% relief on touring productions. Video game developers, orchestras, animation studios, museums - all have access to significant government-backed funding designed to support and grow the creative industries.

But here's the problem: most creative businesses don't know what they qualify for. The system is fragmented across multiple schemes, each with different rules, different rates, and different eligibility criteria. It's not uncommon for companies to miss out on tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds simply because they didn't realise they were eligible.

That's exactly why we built our Eligibility Checker - a free tool that tells you which funding schemes match your business in about two minutes, with no jargon, no signup, and no sales pitch until you're ready for one.

The Problem We're Solving

If you're running a creative business in the UK, you've probably encountered at least one of these situations:

• You've heard about "creative tax reliefs" but aren't sure if they apply to what you do
• You've tried to research the options yourself and got lost in HMRC guidance documents written for accountants
• You've assumed your business is too small, too new, or too niche to qualify
• You've been told by a generalist accountant that "you probably don't qualify" without any detailed analysis
• You've started looking into one scheme and realised you might actually qualify for several, but you're not sure which is best

The result is that money goes unclaimed. Productions that could have been funded don't happen. Businesses that could have grown stay small. And the creative economy loses out.

What the Eligibility Checker Does

Our tool uses the same eligibility criteria that HMRC and the BFI use to determine qualification. It works in two simple steps:

Step 1: Select your creative sector

• Film Production
• Television (drama, documentary, factual, entertainment)
• Animation (animated film, TV series, shorts)
• Video Games (game development and publishing)
• Theatre (plays, musicals, ballet, opera)
• Orchestra / Live Music (orchestral concerts and performances)
• Museums & Galleries (exhibitions and displays)

Step 2: Answer the eligibility questions

Based on your sector, the tool asks you a series of Yes/No questions that directly mirror the official eligibility requirements. For example, a film production company would be asked whether they're a limited company, whether the production is intended for theatrical release or broadcast, whether it's been (or will be) certified as British by the BFI, and whether the claim is within the two-year time limit. Answer Yes to all the requirements, and you're likely eligible.

The Schemes We Cover

The checker evaluates your eligibility for the following UK creative tax reliefs:

Each scheme has specific eligibility requirements, and our checker walks you through the exact criteria for your sector. Looking for grant funding? Check out our grants page for information on BFI, Arts Council, and other funding opportunities.

How the Eligibility Check Works

The checker uses a decision-tree approach based on official HMRC and BFI criteria. Each question directly corresponds to a real eligibility requirement:

If you answer Yes to all the eligibility questions for your sector, you'll see a clear result showing you likely qualify for the relevant tax relief. From there, you can request a free consultation with our specialist partners who will verify your eligibility and help you make a claim.

What Happens After You Complete the Checker

Once you've answered all the questions, you'll see your result immediately:

• If you're eligible: You'll see the specific tax relief scheme you qualify for (e.g., AVEC for film production), with a link to learn more about how the relief works
• If you're not eligible: You'll see which requirement wasn't met, along with an explanation. Don't worry - our specialists can still review your situation as there are often nuances that a simple checker can't capture

Either way, you can request a free consultation with our specialist partners - Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisors who work on creative tax reliefs every day. They'll review your answers, verify your eligibility, and guide you through the claims process if you decide to proceed.

Why We Built This Tool

We kept hearing the same story from creative businesses: "I had no idea we could claim this" or "We've been operating for years and never knew this existed." The information is out there, but it's scattered across government websites, buried in technical documentation, and often written in language that assumes you already understand the tax system.

The Eligibility Checker is our attempt to fix that. We wanted to create something that anyone could use - whether you're a first-time filmmaker with a debut feature, an established game studio expanding into new genres, a regional theatre company planning a tour, or a museum developing a new exhibition. No prior knowledge required. No accountancy jargon. Just clear answers about what funding might be available to you.

What It Costs (Nothing)

The tool is completely free. We don't store your data. We don't require you to create an account. There's no paywall, no "premium results", and no obligation to use our services afterwards.

If you decide you want help actually making a claim, we can connect you with specialist advisors who work on creative tax reliefs every day. But that's entirely your choice - the tool gives you the information either way.

Try It Now

If you're a UK creative business and you've ever wondered whether you qualify for tax relief or grant funding, there's really no reason not to check. It takes two minutes, it's free, and you might discover you're sitting on significant unclaimed funding.