The film and TV tax credit of Italy is structured with an eye toward boosting its national industry. The tax credit channels significant funds into national productions as it sets a €20M cap on payouts to a single production company or group of companies for international projects.

TAX CREDIT
An Italian production company can obtain up to 40% of the eligible costs of the total budget as tax credit for feature films, documentaries, and TV series productions. The minimum qualified expenditure is €250,000.

The tax credit is not automatic: not every project can access it. We offer our expertise in preparing the submission for the ministerial approval process and then managing it.

There are two phases of application: the first one determines if the project is eligible for the tax credit, the second one starts as soon as it is determined that the project can obtain the credit. From when the second phase starts, a year passes before the credit is transferred to the firm.
The PSN Italy team can analyze a project to determine potential eligibility for the credit, processing times, and all the necessary costs.

REGIONAL FUNDS / FILM COMMISSION FUNDS
Each Italian region publishes a fund with specific budgets for films, documentaries, and TV series every year.

Criteria determining eligible costs and the type of assistance vary from region to region and can be either confirmed or modified each year. It is necessary to have the documentation ready at least six months before the application to the fund; therefore, the application needs to be considered long before the starting of the project.

Tell us more about your project so we can help determine how to best take advantage of the incentives now available in Italy!

Tap into our team’s expertise with an email providing details of your project.

Spain offers tax incentives for international shoots of feature length films, television series, animated films, and documentaries. The incentives are in the form of a tax rebate of up to 30%, except for in the Canary Islands, where it is up to 54%.

Mainland and Balearic Island parameters
-Minimum overall budget 2 million €, minimum qualifying spend in Spain (used & consumed) = 1M€
-General deduction: 30% on first million €, 25% thereafter.
-For series, as from 2023, same ratio (30/25) as above, per episode
-Maximum return capped at 20 million € and for series 10 million € per episode
-Minimum qualifying spend in Spain for animation and VFX projects is € 200K.

Canary Island parameters:
-Minimum overall budget 2 million €, minimum qualifying spend in Spain (used & consumed*) = 1M€
-54% deduction on first million €, 45% deduction thereafter
-For series, as from 2023, same ratio (54/45) as above, per episode
-Max return capped at 36 million €uro per project, and for series 18 million € per episode
-Exclusively in the CI, a tax-exempt certificate can be obtained, hence the cash flowing of IGIC (CI VAT) is almost insignificant

For both instances:
-Qualifying cost (deduction base) may not exceed 80% of total budget
-Total rebate claim may not exceed 50% of production cost.

Requisites:
-Cultural Test compliance.
-Indicate in credits that the production has benefited from the Spanish tax incentive (LIS. 36.2), and acknowledge collaboration of Govt of Spain, specific ministries if applicable, or relevant support from bodies such as local authorities, Film Commissions and Offices, Police Dept, etc.
-Authorize the use of the title of the work and graphic and audiovisual press material that expressly includes specific locations of filming or any other production process carried out in Spain, for carrying out activities and preparing promotional materials in Spain and abroad for cultural or tourist purposes, which can be carried out by state, regional, or local entities with competences in matters of culture, tourism, and economy, as well as by the Film Commissions or Film Offices that have intervened in filming or production.

Notes:
-Creative personnel (Director, Cast, writers, DOP, Prod designer, Editor, Composer, Costume Des, Sound mixer, Makeup & Hair designer) qualify only if EU tax residents. However, technicians and equipment (used & consumed in Spain) do.

The rebate is accessed via a Spanish company Corporate Tax return, for which we create a designated SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) for each project, this SPV is administered by us and is required to stay operative for some 3 to 4 years.

Only costs incurred after the date of constitution of the SPV will be eligible for the rebate.

Depending on the SPVs fiscal calendar, corporate tax return is submitted 7 months from the end of the fiscal year, and from that time the average refund period is 6 to 7 months.

Cast is subject to withholding tax – 19% if EU, 24% others. This is a direct obligation if not engaged by the Spanish company,

Let’s discuss your project, and how we can work together to secure the rebate for it.

The capital city of Abu Dhabi provides a cash rebate of up to 30% on qualified spend. Officials have announced a boost to 35% effective January 1, 2025. We will update this text as any other changes are formalized.

At present, the incentive can be applied to production costs for commercials, feature films, television dramas, telemovies, music videos, and documentaries.

To qualify, a minimum one-day shoot in Abu Dhabi with expenditure of USD 25,000 is required for commercials and music videos, USD 200,000 for features, and USD 50,000 for TV programs. The maximum rebate paid to commercials is USD 500,000, feature films USD 5 million, and TV shows/series USD 1 million.

The rebate is further offered for post-production on projects shot inside or outside the city. The minimum spend on post-production is USD 70,000 for features,USD 15,000 for TV projects and USD 10,000 for commercials. The maximum rebate is USD 250,000 for feature films and USD 150,000 for TV programs and series.

Contact us to discuss the details of your project, and how we can help you get the most out of this incentive.

The New Zealand Screen Production (International) Grant made available to qualifying production expenditure is 20% for television, film, other non-feature formats, post, digital, and visual effects.

The New Zealand Domestic Screen Production Grant is 40% for local films and television including qualifying coproductions. New Zealand has coproduction treaties with 17 countries.

Both grants are a cash rebate (not a tax rebate). They are paid out after completion.

Qualifying expenditure includes goods and services provided in New Zealand, including offshore above-the-line cast (for whatever period they are in the country) and crew if they are in New Zealand for more than 14 days.

Contact us to discuss your project, and how it can benefit from New Zealand’s grant.

Feature films, series – fiction, animation, and documentary projects are eligible for state rebate of 30% of qualified expenditure in Poland. Here are some notes on the application process to provide guidance for eligibility.

• Producers may apply for up to four projects per application round, including projects from previous application rounds with a pending decision;
• To be eligible for consideration, applications must contain every single piece of accompanying information that is requested (script, director’s explication, synopsis, budget, estimated production costs, script rights agreement, etc.);
• All applications are to be submitted in Polish;
• Important: Applicants must provide proof (letters of intent, memorandum, or co-production agreement) of the remaining sources of financing (i.e. excluding the grant requested from the Institute);
• The submitted project budget must comply with the cost limits set for a given year;
• The project review process lasts 90 days;
• The final decision is at the discretion of the General Director of the Polish Film Institute and takes into account the opinions of appointed experts;
• The grant decision remains valid for six months. This can be extended by a maximum of another six months;
• During this period, the producer must finalise an agreement with the PFI (having completed the budget and signed the remaining production agreements);
• If the film makes a profit, the grant is to be reimbursed (applicable only in the first six years after the film’s premiere).