CA32217 - IBA: Qualifying trade: Television and radio companies

A television company’s trade as a whole is not a qualifying trade. In the late 1960s an agreement was made with the television companies that the part of a television company’s trade that consists of making videotapes is a qualifying trade. Studio buildings may be in use for that qualifying part trade.

Under the agreement the following buildings qualify for IBA on the basis that the activities in those areas are reflected in the production of videotapes:

• studio areas,
• control rooms,
• production facilities,
• videotape processing rooms etc.,
• technical areas, including workshops,
• film processing studios,
• scenery construction workshops.

Rooms or buildings, including transmission stations, where no production of programme material takes place do not qualify for IBA. Transmission aerials qualify for plant and machinery allowances.

You should treat an IBA claim from a radio company in the same way as you would treat an IBA claim from a television company. Treat its recording studios like television studios.