Rockstar and games industry trade association UKIE have responded to a report that the Grand Theft Auto developer claimed £37.6m in video game tax relief for the 2018/19 financial year, accounting for 37 per cent of all UK games industry tax relief claims.
According to think thank TaxWatch, the figure, which is believed to relate to development of a new Grand Theft Auto game, means that Rockstar North has now claimed a total of £80m in UK Video Games Tax Relief, equating to a quarter of all relief claimed since the government scheme launched in 2014 following extensive industry lobbying.
It also means, as per TaxWatch’s report, that Rockstar has paid no Corporation Tax for the fourth year running in the UK, despite the developer’s GTA5 having amassed more than an estimated $6bn USD in sales since releasing in 2014.
Responding to TaxWatch’s story, Rockstar told VG247 that tax reliefs have enabled the developer to “significantly [increase] its investment in the UK, creating over 1000 highly skilled and long-term jobs across London, Lincoln, Yorkshire, and Scotland”.
“This investment and the success of British video games supported by the program not only significantly contributes to the economy, and to UK tax receipts, but also helps solidify the UK’s position at the forefront of video game development well into the future,” it continued.