UKIE polling devs to ensure effective tax breaks for game industry

British industry trade body UKIE plans to meet with local developers to gather their opinions on the most effective ways for the government to implement its upcoming game industry tax relief. The UK government recently pledged to introduce tax breaks designed to encourage growth in its local game industry. UKIE (United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment) says it will consult the broadest possible cross-section of the local market, and will report its findings to the Treasury, in order to ensure that the eventual tax break system benefits all parts of the industry. As part of its consultation program, UKIE will hold meetings with individual developers from a wide cross-section of the local industry. It intends to begin holding these sessions immediately, and is inviting game companies of all sizes to get in touch to arrange a meeting. The trade association will also hold larger group assemblies with its members, as well as several regional meetings around the country. It will announce dates and venues for these sessions later -- the regional meetings will likely take place in existing and growing game development hubs such as Birmingham, Dundee, and Bristol. UK's Treasury, which began its consultation period for the tax breaks and published details here, will also partner with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to hold several events, where it will canvas opinions from developers. UKIE will attend those events, and will work with the government to notify developers about them. The eventual proposed tax breaks, once approved by the government and the European Commission, would go into effect starting April 2013.