Practical guide Finance, Risk Management & Fundraising Cultural Tax Reliefs

Cultural Tax Reliefs

  • Organisations may qualify for one of eight cultural tax reliefs. They include theatre, orchestra and exhibition schemes. The tax reliefs are processed through the corporate tax system, even though the organisation may not be liable to corporation tax. This means that a qualifying cultural organisation can enhance its expenditure which creates an additional deduction for tax purposes, thus reducing any profit or surplus to such an extent that a payment becomes due to the organisation. Non corporate bodies (such as trusts and societies) do not qualify.
  • From 1 April 2025, the rates for Theatre Tax Relief, Orchestra Tax Relief and Museums & Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief are permanently set at 40 % for nontouring productions/exhibitions and 45 % for touring productions (and all orchestral productions.

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