UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FILMING INCENTIVES

New Mexico: The 25-30% Film Production Tax Rebate

Overview

Type of incentiveTax Rebate
Qualifying formats
  • - Feature film - fiction (theatrical)
  • - Feature film - documentary (theatrical)
  • - TV Film or TV series - fiction
  • - TV Film or TV series - documentary
  • - Commercials (TV, theatrical, online)
  • - Post production/special effects for film & tv (fiction)
  • - Post production/special effects for film & tv (non-fiction)
  • - Video/online gaming production
Qualifying productions
  • - National productions
  • - Foreign productions

Specifics

Benefit as a % of spend25.00
Financial cap per production-
Do I have to register/set up a company?Yes
Does foreign cast/crew paid in their home country/region qualify as expenditure? No
Do foreign cast/crew have to pay tax in the host country/state/region? Yes
Does travel to/from country/region qualify as expenditure? No
Can a production qualify for other national incentives such as cultural programmes if it qualifies for this incentive? No
Criteria to access the benefit
    When will the benefit/incentive be received?
    • - On completion of principal photography
    • - State approx. number of months after completion of audited accounts
    Additional incentives or advantages
    • - Rece tour assistance, location finding service
    • - Three programs are available: a 25%-30% refundable tax credit, a Film Investment Loan, and a Film Crew Advancement Program/Incentive. NM FILM INVESTMENT LOAN PROGRAM: This program is managed by the State Investment Council (“SIC”). The former zero percent interest loan program has been replaced with interest bearing loans subject to SIC approvals. Minimum loans are $500,000 with a maximum of $15 million, interest is currently national prime plus 1.5%, with payback terms not to exceed two years. Qualified projects must have a distribution agreement in place, post a completion bond and 75% of the production crew (persons and payroll) must be NM residents. FILM CREW ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM: This program reimburses 50% wages for on-the-job training of qualifying New Mexico residents in primarily advanced BTL crew positions. On average, two crew members per department may qualify for the program. There is no minimum spend required, no minimum shoot day requirement, no cap and no sunset clause. New Mexico offers a loan, with participation in lieu of interest, for up to USD15 million per project (which can represent 100% of the budget) for qualifying feature films or television projects. The budget must be at least USD2 million. No State Sales Tax - Nontaxable Transaction Certificates (not to be used in conjunction with the 25% rebate). Film Crew Advancement Programme (FCAP). A 50% wage reimbursement for on-the-job training of New Mexico residents in advanced BTL crew positions.

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