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> Information provided on this site is for general guidance only and is often simplified. Actual IRS procedures are complex, and taxpayers should obtain professional assistance or use IRS sources for complete information.


The United States Film Industry
Although a number of US states offer local level incentives for film production, there was until 2004 no national level incentive structure as such.

'Runaway' Productions
Competing regimes began to spring up in Canada and other English-speaking countries which began to attract what is known as 'runaway' US film production.

Legislative Support For Film Production
Many industry observers have proposed that the United States or individual states offer comparable tax incentives to encourage production in the United States.

The American Jobs Creation Act Of 2004
The AJCA created a specific regime for tax incentives in film production.

State Tax Incentive Regimes For Film Production
Many states offer income tax breaks, sales tax privileges or direct subsidies to filmk production.


The American Jobs Creation Act Of 2004

The AJCA created a specific regime for tax incentives in film production. Here is the text of the section of the Act which affects film production:

(a) ELECTION TO TREAT COSTS AS EXPENSES-

(1) IN GENERAL- A taxpayer may elect to treat the cost of any qualified film or television production as an expense which is not chargeable to capital account. Any cost so treated shall be allowed as a deduction.

(2) DOLLAR LIMITATION-

(A) IN GENERAL- Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any qualified film or television production the aggregate cost of which exceeds $15,000,000.

(B) HIGHER DOLLAR LIMITATION FOR PRODUCTIONS IN CERTAIN AREAS- In the case of any qualified film or television production the aggregate cost of which is significantly incurred in an area eligible for designation as--

(i) a low-income community under section 45D, or

(ii) a distressed county or isolated area of distress by the Delta Regional Authority established under section 2009aa-1 of title 7, United States Code,

subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting `$20,000,000' for `$15,000,000'.

(b) NO OTHER DEDUCTION OR AMORTIZATION DEDUCTION ALLOWABLE- With respect to the basis of any qualified film or television production to which an election is made under subsection (a), no other depreciation or amortization deduction shall be allowable.

(c) ELECTION-

(1) IN GENERAL- An election under this section with respect to any qualified film or television production shall be made in such manner as prescribed by the Secretary and by the due date (including extensions) for filing the taxpayer's return of tax under this chapter for the taxable year in which costs of the production are first incurred.

(2) REVOCATION OF ELECTION- Any election made under this section may not be revoked without the consent of the Secretary.

(d) QUALIFIED FILM OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION- For purposes of this section--

(1) IN GENERAL- The term `qualified film or television production' means any production described in paragraph (2) if 75 percent of the total compensation of the production is qualified compensation.

(2) PRODUCTION-

(A) IN GENERAL- A production is described in this paragraph if such production is property described in section 168(f)(3). For purposes of a television series, only the first 44 episodes of such series may be taken into account.

(B) EXCEPTION- A production is not described in this paragraph if records are required under section 2257 of title 18, United States Code, to be maintained with respect to any performer in such production.

(3) QUALIFIED COMPENSATION- For purposes of paragraph (1)--

(A) IN GENERAL- The term `qualified compensation' means compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, directors, producers, and other relevant production personnel.

(B) PARTICIPATIONS AND RESIDUALS EXCLUDED- The term `compensation' does not include participations and residuals (as defined in section 167(g)(7)(B)).

(e) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN OTHER RULES- For purposes of this section, rules similar to the rules of subsections (b)(2) and (c)(4) of section 194 shall apply.

(f) TERMINATION- This section shall not apply to qualified film and television productions commencing after December 31, 2008.'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for part VI of subchapter B of chapter 1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 180 the following new item:
`Sec. 181. Treatment of certain qualified film and television productions.'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to qualified film and television productions (as defined in section 181(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by this section) commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act.

BACK TO TOP

 

The United States Film Industry
Although a number of US states offer local level incentives for film production, there was until 2004 no national level incentive structure as such.

'Runaway' Productions
Competing regimes began to spring up in Canada and other English-speaking countries which began to attract what is known as 'runaway' US film production.

Legislative Support For Film Production
Many industry observers have proposed that the United States or individual states offer comparable tax incentives to encourage production in the United States.

The American Jobs Creation Act Of 2004
The AJCA created a specific regime for tax incentives in film production.

State Tax Incentive Regimes For Film Production
Many states offer income tax breaks, sales tax privileges or direct subsidies to filmk production.

 

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