Actors and entertainers

Expert advice on the most favourable business structure to help reduce your overall tax bill, tailored to you and your personal circumstances.

Central to an actor’s life is moving around. When you work in another country we take care of all cross-border taxation matters, applications and assessments. We ensure you benefit from all relief available under double tax treaties and social security agreements to protect you from double tax. We also review local tax rules and make arrangements to reduce your tax bill in the overseas territory, including the use of US ‘loan outs’.

If you are coming to the UK to work, our highly-experienced advisers for non-resident entertainers will ensure you have all bases covered.

For theatre, TV & film production companies

If you are engaging foreign entertainers either directly or indirectly for work in the UK, there is a requirement to deduct and account for withholding tax from fees and expenses paid to non-resident entertainers. The rules can be very complicated particularly where there are payment chains involved. We have a wealth of experience in this area and can guide you through the rules and assist with the reporting requirements to ensure you meet your obligations on time.

For individuals

As a foreign entertainer you are liable to UK tax even if you are not resident in the UK. You will be subject to basic rate tax deductions from both fees and expenses. We can assist with reviewing the position in advance, submitting an application for a reduced rate of tax to be deducted where appropriate and ensuring that you only pay the tax that you need to. Working closely with your overseas advisers, we will work towards an outcome that ensures your worldwide tax position remains as efficient as possible.

Watch our video on Foreign entertainers: UK tax obligations.

If you wish to branch out into production, our TV and film specialists can advise on how best to build your production brand within the industry, including forming a company to hold Intellectual Property (IP) and making use of available creative tax reliefs.

We will work directly with your team of agents, managers, lawyers and overseas advisers to deliver a joined up strategy to maximise the value of your contracts, reduce tax exposure and to take as much of the day to day admin burden away from you.

We can build a bespoke ‘virtual finance director’ service based on your individual needs. This starts with simple steps to ensure you are automatically setting tax monies aside as they land in your account and making use of apps to store receipts in the cloud, through to an end-to-end financial concierge service that takes care of all your financial needs.

We can introduce you to business experts in your sector covering services that include wealth planning and mortgage advice, private banking, and legal/immigration advice.

Peace of mind is crucial to ensure you can focus on your work. We offer cover through our fee protection service so that professional fees incurred in responding to HMRC compliance checks do not come out of your own pocket.