Filming Tax Incentives | TaxConnections

Written by Peter J. Scalise | Posted in Specialty Tax Incentives

Movie Production Incentives (hereinafter “MPIs”) are tax benefits offered on a state-by-state basis throughout the United States to entice, as applicable, in-state qualified phases of filmmaking production such as the “Qualified Pre-Production Phase”; the “Qualified Production Phase” and the “Qualified Post-Production Phase”. The state-by-state legislative histories and policies driving MPIs are clearly aimed at increasing economic growth at the state and local levels through filmmaking and television production throughout the United States while curtailing the departure of movie production to other countries.

While the applicable Qualifying Production Activities (hereinafter “QPAs”) vary significantly from state-to-state many common QPAs include, but are not limited to, feature films, episodic television series, relocated television series, television pilots; television movies and miniseries. In contrast, as a caveat, many states generally consider the subsequent productions to be non-qualified production activities and consequently not eligible for MPIs such as documentaries; news programs; interview / talk programs; instructional videos; sports events; daytime soap operas; reality programs; commercials; and music videos. Additionally, the structure, type, and size of the incentives vary from state to state. Many MPIs may include tax credits, tax rebates and / or exemptions (e.g., sales and use tax exemptions, lodging exemptions, etc.) while other state incentive packages include cash grants, fee-free locations amongst many other diverse and advantageous incentives.

It should be duly noted that there are now nearly 40 states that offer MPIs with most being either transferable (e.g., transferable credits allow production companies that generate tax credits greater than their tax liability to sell those credits to other taxpayers, who then use them to reduce or eliminate their own tax liability) or refundable (e.g., refundable credits are such that the state will pay the production company the balance in excess of the qualified expenses).

It is critical to design and implement a sustainable methodology that will incorporate all applicable multi-state MPIs to properly tax effect the cost of filmmaking within the United States. As a direct result of these advantageous MPIs, the new expression in the entertainment industry will be – “Lights, Camera, Action and Tax Cut!”

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Peter J. Scalise

Peter J. Scalise serves as the Federal Tax Credits & Incentives Practice Leader for Prager Metis CPAs, LLC a member of The Prager Metis International Group. Peter is a highly distinguished BIG 4 Alumni Tax Practice Leader and has approximately twenty years of progressive public accounting experience developing, managing and leading multi-million dollar tax advisory practices on both a regional and national level.

Peter is a highly acclaimed thought leader in the fields of accounting and taxation with deep subject matter expertise in connection to designing, implementing and defending sustainable methodologies for specialty tax incentives including, but not limited to, research tax incentives; orphan drug credits; therapeutic discovery credits; accounting methods and periods; energy tax incentives in connection to green building envelope efficiency and benchmarking, solar energy, bio energies, fuel cells, wind turbines, micro turbines, and geothermal systems; and comprehensive fixed asset analysis incorporating principles of construction tax planning, cost segregation analysis and the final treasury regulations governing tangible property.

Peter is a renowned keynote speaker and an extensively published author on specialty tax incentives, tax controversy matters, and legislative updates from Capitol Hill for NAREIT, AGRION, USGBC, AICPA, ASTP, NATP, ABA, AIA, and TEI. Peter serves as a member of the Tax Faculty for CPAacademy, iShade and TaxConnections University (“TCU”). Peter serves on both the Board of Directors and Board of Editors for The American Society of Tax Professionals (“ASTP”) and is the Founding President and Chairman of The Northeastern Region Tax Roundtable.