Lights, Camera, Action and Tax Cut! A Spotlight on Broadway

TaxConnections Member Peter Scalise

On December 18th of 2015, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (hereinafter the “PATH Act”) which expanded the scope and application of the I.R.C. § 181 deduction for Qualified Film and Television Production expenditures to now encompass Live-Theatrical Productions. The PATH Act also extended this highly advantageous tax incentive through December 31, 2016.

The PATH Act truly enables a level playing field between live-theatrical productions and film and television productions in connection to the tax incentives available for the entertainment industry. Robert E. Wankel, Chairman of The Broadway League in a prepared statement indicated: “The Broadway and Touring Broadway industries have a combined economic impact of more than $15 billion dollars on the nation’s economy and employ tens of thousands of people in the U.S. and around the world, yet we are still very much made up of small businesses that actively seek financing from individual investors. This relatively small amendment to the Tax Code will have a tremendous impact on the theatre business by eliminating one of the largest challenges that producers face when trying to attract capital for what is always a highly risky endeavor. We applaud Senator Schumer, as well as the members of the Ways and Means and Finance Committees, for their extraordinary efforts and recognition of the financial and cultural impact of live entertainment.”

Please contact me to discuss the scope and application of the PATH Act and how movie production tax incentives can be utilized to properly tax effect the production costs for live-theatrical productions, as well as for movie and television productions.

A copy of the PATH Act can be downloaded for your reference at:

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/PATH_Act_xml.pdf

About the Author
Peter J. Scalise serves as the National Partner-in-Charge of the Federal Tax Credits and Incentives Practice at SAX CPAs LLP. Peter is a highly distinguished member of the Accounting Today Top 100 Influencers and has approximately thirty years of progressive Big 4 and Top 100 public accounting firm experience developing, managing, and leading large scale tax advisory practices on a regional, national, and global level.
Peter also serves as a passionate philanthropist and a member of several Boards of Directors and Boards of Advisors for local, regional, and national charities in connection with poverty and hunger alleviation; economic development; environmental conservation; health and social services; supporting veteran and military service personnel along with preserving arts and cultural programs.

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