Irish Animation Sector Calls for Tax Relief Extension

Animation Ireland, the business group representing Irish animation studios, has called on the government to extend the Section 481 tax relief beyond 2024.

Animation Ireland Chief Executive Ronan McCabe said: “Section 481 has been crucial in the growth of the animation sector over the past ten years, and without it, we just couldn’t compete on the global stage as we do now. The relief brings a huge number of jobs and expenditure into Ireland, but it also has an enormous positive impact on creativity and culture. Without Section 481, we might not have seen amazing Irish productions telling Irish stories, such as the Oscar-nominated Wolfwalkers.”

Section 481 is a tax credit incentivizing film and TV, animation and creative documentary production in Ireland, administered by Ireland’s Department of Culture and the Revenue Commissioners. The group says that the extension is necessary “so that world-class film and television can continue to be produced in Ireland.”

Over the last few years, Ireland has been home to productions such as The Bob’s Burgers Movie, The Cuphead Show, Vampirina and Zog & The Flying Doctors. Section 481 also supports Irish productions, with recent examples such as Wolfwalkers, Two by Two: Overboard!, Jessy and Nessy, Kiva Can Do! and Pins and Nettie.

McCabe added: “We hope that the Minister for Finance will announce a five-year extension of the relief up to 2029 and confirm that Section 481 is included as part of its long-term policy for creative industries. We would also like to see an extension of the regional uplift element of the relief, which will see more productions take place outside of Dublin and make it easier for studies to attract staff, generating employment in rural towns.”