What Should You Pay Your Creative Tax Relief Adviser?

It's a common problem: many creative studios are unsure what's normal to pay for a creative tax relief adviser. 

Getting this right is much easier with an expert taking the reins. We're here to demystify that process and clear up what you can expect to pay.

What does a creative tax relief adviser actually do?

Creative tax reliefs include the new Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (for film, TV and animation studios) and the Video Game Expenditure Credit (for video game development companies), as well as the continuing Orchestra, Theatre and Museums & Galleries Exhibition tax relief schemes. They're generous incentives provided by the UK government, but require intense reporting, from trade schedules to BFI certification.

A creative tax relief adviser specialises in any of the above reliefs and their role is in identifying qualifying costs, preparing HMRC-compliant claims, and navigating certification processes. Their role goes beyond basic tax preparation.

Typical services include:

• Eligibility review - assessing whether your production qualifies under the relevant scheme
• BFI certification preparation and submission - handling the BFI cultural test application for film, TV and video game productions
• Trade schedule preparation - itemising qualifying costs in the format HMRC requires
• HMRC compliance - ensuring all aspects of the submission meets current regulations, including the Additional Information Form
• Audit support - representing you if HMRC opens an enquiry into your claim

Using a specialist adviser isn’t required, but can result in additional benefits, from extra unclaimed costs to peace of mind about the compliance of your claim.

For example, one of our clients, a film production company, hired us to prepare a Film Tax Relief claim. Our review increased the claim value by nearly 100% over what they had estimated through accurate qualifying cost identification.

How much do creative tax relief advisers charge in 2025?

Pricing models vary considerably across the industry. Here's what you can expect:

Percentage-based fees (15-25%)

This is the most common approach in the market. Your adviser takes a percentage of the total claim value or relief received. The fee scales with your claim size, which means larger productions pay more, but you're only paying based on what you actually claim.

You can expect a minimum fee from most advisers to cover the basics of making a claim. The percentage fee may be tiered, as in Myriad’s standard pricing structure, to more accurately reflect the additional work required by an adviser as a claim grows.

Fixed-fee models (£4,000-£10,000+)

Preferred by companies with repeat claims and certainty in project costs. You'll know exactly what you're paying upfront, regardless of the final claim value. This structure incentivises your adviser to deliver efficiently, as their fees don’t scale with the claim size nor the time spent.

However, fixed-fee models often require you to pay a portion up front, which may not be desirable for productions on tight budgets.

Hourly consultancy (£150-£400/hour)

Used for straightforward claims that need minimal guidance or reviews from tax experts. If you've got an experienced finance team handling most of the work internally, you might only need a few hours of specialist input to sense-check your approach.

The right model depends on your claim size, project complexity, and level of support needed.

What affects the cost of your creative tax adviser?

Several factors influence what you'll pay for creative tax advisery services:

Complexity of production

International shoots, complex cost allocation or multi-production claims structured through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) increase the workload. Your adviser needs to track costs across different entities and ensure everything's allocated correctly.

Size of claim

Larger budgets or mixed funding sources (private investment, soft money, grants) require more detailed cost analysis. If you're blending multiple funding streams, your adviser needs to separate qualifying from non-qualifying expenditure with precision.

Experience and reputation

Seasoned advisers with proven track records in your specific sector charge more, but they often reduce risk and claim more efficiently. They've seen HMRC enquiries before and know exactly what documentation stands up to scrutiny.

Workload undertaken

Some advisers only take on part of the process. They might prepare trade schedules or tax computations but not handle BFI certification, for example. Others offer end-to-end service. Make sure you're clear on what's included before you commit.

How can you tell if you're getting good value?

HMRC doesn't regulate advisers or their fees directly, but all claims must meet compliance standards. To be sure they will meet your needs, ask potential advisers these questions before you engage them:

• Do you offer a fixed fee or percentage?
• What's included in the service? Is BFI certification preparation covered?
• How do you ensure HMRC compliance?
• Can I see examples of successful claims in my sector?
• What happens if my claim is audited or rejected? Is support included?
• Are you accredited by chartered organisations?

Their answers will reveal whether they're offering genuine expertise or just processing paperwork. Good advisers should be transparent about their pricing, explain their process clearly, and provide evidence of their experience with productions like yours.

Should you use an accountant or a creative tax relief specialist?

There's an important distinction between a general accountant and a creative-sector tax specialist.

Accountants can handle corporation tax returns, but the preparation of trade schedules usually goes beyond their scope of service. BFI certificate applications require specific knowledge of the cultural test criteria that general practitioners don't typically have.

Specialists offer additional insights for structuring your claim and will often include compliance check support in their service, giving you peace of mind if HMRC comes knocking. They understand the nuances of what qualifies, how to present borderline costs, and what documentation HMRC expects to see.

However, production companies that have been around the block with their creative tax relief claims may only need an accountant to sense-check their claim and submit it, particularly if their BFI application is secured in a previous accounting period. If you've got experienced internal resources and you're making repeat claims for similar productions, an accountant's review might be sufficient.

It depends on your confidence in your understanding of the scheme and the resources you have internally to prepare your claim.

Key takeaways

• Creative tax relief adviser fees typically range from 15-25% of claim value, £4,000-£10,000+ fixed fees, or £150-£400/hour for consultancy.
• Your adviser should handle eligibility assessment, HMRC compliance, BFI certification, trade schedules, and audit support.
• Always ask about what's included in the service and what happens if HMRC challenges your claim.

• Specialists bring deeper sector knowledge, but experienced production companies with repeat claims might only need an accountant's review.

To check out Myriad’s pricing structure for creative sector tax relief claims, click here.

Transparent pricing doesn't just save money; it protects your studio from compliance risk. If you'd like us to review your creative tax relief claim or compare quotes, get in touch with our team.