Ireland Introduces Tax Credit for Unscripted Productions

The Republic of Ireland is launching a new tax credit for the unscripted production sector, billed as the first European tax credit dedicated solely to non-scripted titles.

The relief will take the form of a corporation tax credit for expenditure incurred on the development of unscripted programs and will be available at a rate of 20 percent of certain production expenditure up to a maximum limit of €15 million ($17.5 million) per project. It has been approved by the European Commission to run until December 31, 2028.

The credit is designed to support the expression of Irish and European culture in the unscripted sector. Therefore, in order to claim the credit, a company must first apply to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport for interim cultural certification in advance of undertaking production on a qualifying unscripted program. On completion of the cultural certificate, producers may then apply for a final certificate, which allows them to make a final claim for the tax credit.

“I am delighted, along with Minister O’Donovan, to announce the commencement of this tax credit for unscripted production, which will provide certainty and support for a rapidly growing part of our audiovisual sector,” said Tánaiste Simon Harris. “Ireland has a brilliant reputation internationally as being a center of excellence for film television and audio production. The introduction of this measure represents a further strengthening of Ireland’s tax incentives for the audiovisual sector, reinforcing the government’s long-standing commitment to supporting screen production and Irish creative industries. The tax credit for unscripted production is a natural addition to this and ensures that Ireland remains an extremely competitive location for audiovisual production now and into the future.”

“Unscripted programming is one of the most dynamic and internationally successful parts of the global audiovisual industry, and Ireland has the talent, creativity and production expertise to lead in this space,” added Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport. “This new tax credit is about backing Irish storytellers, producers and crews, while ensuring that Irish and European culture is clearly reflected on screens at home and around the world. By being the first in Europe to introduce a dedicated incentive for unscripted production, we are sending a strong signal that Ireland is open, competitive and ambitious when it comes to creative investment and cultural expression.”