Workshop : Tax Shelter, Belgian public grant also for international coproduction
Anja Berlanger
Tax Shelter is a tax incentive that has been successfully financing audiovisual production in Belgium for over 20 years. Since 1 January 2023, it has been extended to video game production. In 2022 the total budget of the Belgian Tax Shelter was more than 200 million euros. The system is open to Belgian productions as well as international co-productions with Belgium that meet certain criteria.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES FOR VIDEO GAME PRODUCTION IN BELGIUM?
- The net investment return on average is +/- 25 % of the total production budget*.
- Production expenses* are eligible in all the European Economic Area.
- Producer (game development studio) receive the money upfront, once the Tax Shelter agreement and Investors contract are signed.
- Producer (game development studio) keep 100% of their revenues and full ownership of the IP. Tax Shelter Investors take no part in the game production’s development or decision-making.
* and maximum 70 % of the european eligible expenses capped at 2 500 000€
* qualifying production and exploitation expenses are eligible 6 months prior to the Tax Shelter Certificate and until the end of the production
