AVEC and Creative Industry Tax Credits — What is Supported | TinyTax Support

AVEC and Creative Industry Tax Credits — What is Supported

id: avec-creative-industry-tax-credits title: AVEC and Creative Industry Tax Credits — What is Supported category: ct600-filing tags: [AVEC, audio visual expenditure credit, creative industry tax credits, film tax relief, high-end television, animation tax relief, box 540, box 541, CT600, HETV, AVEC payable credit] applies_to: [trading] difficulty: intermediate last_updated: 2026-03-27 related: [rd-tax-credits-and-tinytax, corp-tax-return]

TinyTax files standard CT600 corporation tax returns. This guide explains what that means for film, television, animation, and other creative sector companies that need to include an Audio Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) claim.

Does TinyTax Support AVEC?

No — TinyTax does not currently support AVEC or other creative industry tax credit claims. The CT600 we file is a standard corporation tax return. It does not include:

  • Audio Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC) — Box 541
  • Legacy Creative Industry Tax Credits (Box 540)
  • Film Tax Relief (FTR)
  • High-end Television Tax Relief (HETV)
  • Animation Tax Relief (ATR)
  • Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR)
If your company needs to include an AVEC claim, the filing will need to be prepared through specialist software or an accountant — not through TinyTax.

Box 540 vs Box 541 — What is the Difference?

On the HMRC CT600 form:

  • Box 540 — Legacy creative industry tax credits (pre-April 2024 reliefs, now largely superseded)
  • Box 541 — AVEC payable credit (the newer Audio Visual Expenditure Credit, effective from April 2024)
For most creative sector companies with accounting periods ending after April 2024, AVEC is the relevant scheme and Box 541 is the correct box. Your adviser or specialist software will determine which applies.

TinyTax does not include either box in the CT600 it generates and submits to HMRC.

Can I Still Use TinyTax for the Standard CT600 and Claim AVEC Separately?

Yes — in principle, you can file a standard corporation tax return through TinyTax and then file an amended CT600 through specialist software or an accountant to add the AVEC claim on top.

The amended return adds the AVEC data to the accepted return without replacing it. Your standard income, expenses, and tax liability figures remain unchanged — the AVEC credit is applied on top.

If you take this route, note:

  • The standard CT600 must be filed and accepted first
  • The amendment must be filed within two years of the end of the accounting period
  • Your accountant or AVEC specialist will need the transaction ID from your TinyTax submission (visible on your dashboard after acceptance)

What if My AVEC Claim Offsets My Entire Tax Liability?

If the AVEC payable credit exceeds your corporation tax liability, the excess is repayable by HMRC. This repayment is calculated through the amended CT600, not through the standard return. You should work with a specialist to ensure the amended filing is correct.

Common Questions

Can I enter my AVEC claim in the Creative Tax Credits section of TinyTax?

TinyTax does not have a Creative Tax Credits section. There are no fields for AVEC, Film Tax Relief, or any creative sector reliefs in the current form.

What software supports AVEC claims?

Specialist CT600 software such as Taxfiler, Andica, and Iris handle AVEC and other creative sector reliefs. Your accountant will also have access to compliant software. HMRC's own online CT600 service includes the relevant boxes.

Will TinyTax support AVEC in future?

AVEC and creative sector reliefs are specialist areas involving film certificate validation and sector-specific rules. We do not have plans to support them in the current product.

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