George Osborne devised a UK tax incentive for the film industry while serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Posted by On with Kara Swisher, Checked
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On with Kara SwisherAug 10, 2026
Sources show Osborne, as Chancellor, announced and enlarged UK film and TV tax relief (2012 consultation, 2014 enhancements, 2015 25% rate), which supports the timing and his role.
What was said
… What can the state do more to lure those jobs back? It's you've got to start with the tax incentives. That's the main reason that you've seen places like well, actually, the UK. I mean, when the UK government, my friend and colleague George Osborne, was the Treasury Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, as it's called, and he he devised the UK tax incentive that's been incredibly successful for the UK. But now you've got other places. You've got Hungary and other countries in Eastern Europe. Within the states, you've got New Mexico, you've got Georgia's long, long-standing now, New Jersey has a really strong incentive. …
On with Kara Swisher · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. The 2014 LA Times report describes the film tax relief as an existing program, with the 2014 changes as enhancements and the prior rate as 20%, which indicates the incentive predated Osborne's changes rather than being devised by him.[2]
Supports. Osborne, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced enhancements to the UK film tax relief program in 2014, including a 25% credit on the first $33 million of qualifying spending.[2]
Supports. A 2015 government release says Osborne announced a higher 25% film tax credit, and Reuters in 2012 reported a consultation on extending tax relief to TV dramas with Osborne as chancellor.[1][3]
Supports. The Times (2023) credits Osborne, as chancellor, with offering generous tax breaks to Disney to shoot Star Wars films in UK studios.[4]
Context. No source names who originally devised the UK film tax incentive, so the sources neither confirm nor refute Osborne as its originator.
Sources
4 sources: 1 fact-checker, 3 not rated
- 1UK to consider tax relief for TV drama makersreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2U.K. to give film industry more tax relief - Los Angeles Timeslatimes.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 3Chancellor: We're backing British film industry - GOV.UKgov.uk · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4How Disney's Star Wars tax breaks gave new hope to ...thetimes.com · not rated · cited for: supports
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