For the fourth year in a row, the florida legislature has adjourned and left the state without a tax incentive plan for the film and television industry. Florida entertainment industry sales tax exemption. The numbers generated by the industry, and by state film offices, often defy belief. Now, theres a small movement in tallahassee to try to revive the tax incentives that could lure film and tv shows back to florida, in part because governorelect ron desantis has been ambiguous on the issue, not dismissing it outright. The real cost of floridas film incentives tax foundation. The poor economics of floridas film incentives tax. Florida lawmakers push to receive more film incentive.
But in miami, as in the rest of florida, the film and television industry is on life support, unable to compete with other states with generous tax incentives that help studios defray the. Bureau of labor statistics, however, only 4,098 floridians worked in. Floridas share of film and television productions is waning as the state no longer offers tax credits for the industry. A 30 percent tax credit has turned the state into an entertainment. Launched on july 1, 2010, the states film tax credits ended on june 30, 2016. Testimony on film tax incentives before the florida senate.
Florida lawmakers leave film incentives on the cutting. Productions are leaving, vendors are fleeing, and workers are moving to. The research surrounding florida film incentives is incomplete and full of plot holes. Linda stewart wants to bring back incentives for film and tv production in florida and she wants to use tourist tax money to do it. Florida taxwatch revives tv, film incentives debate. In september 2016, just a few months after the florida legislature let the states film and entertainment incentive program expire, netflix canceled the show bloodline, whose first two. Film incentives get some support in the florida senate blogs. Miamidade county tv, film and entertainment production incentive program. Florida yells cut on film tax incentives miami, fl law. According to a staff analysis of a resolution endorsing film incentives, during the 20172018 fiscal year, 954. The florida legislative session ended last week with no additional money allocated for financial incentives for the states film and television industry. Incentives florida entertainment sales tax exemption any qualified production company producing motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos or sound recordings in florida, may be eligible for a sales and use tax exemption on certain production related purchases in florida. These incentives came about in the 1990s in response to the flight of movie productions to other countries such as canada. Florida is one of a few select states that offer yearround warm sunny weather, versatile locations, and easy access to capable crew and talent.
The film was shot entirely in florida and was written and directed by trey edward shults and stars kelvin harrison, jr. Films and tv productions can apply for a 30% rebate on expenses. Florida will have to consider economic incentives if it wants television and film productions to shoot here, according to florida taxwatchs newest research report. Earlier this month, florida legislators voted not to extend the depleted state film andentertainment tax incentive that has run out of funds with a requested.
That math, according to affleck, included georgias tax incentives. Florida film industrys future at stake as state tax. Urban incentives florida offers increased incentive awards and lower wage qualification thresholds for businesses locating in many urban core inner city areas that are experiencing conditions affecting the economic viability of the community and hampering the selfsufficiency of the residents. Floridas entertainment industry fights for flailing taxincentive. Florida film incentives get support in senate tampa bay business. To justify spending taxpayer dollars on investing in an industry, more conclusive research is needed about the benefits if any from these industry subsidies. If the tax credit incentive program can be revised to ensure the state makes back its investment, to create jobs for florida residents, to promote florida tourism, and to pump additional revenue into local businesses, then taxwatch believes it would be in the best interest of the state for the legislature to consider such revisions, the report says. But, in the 1980s and early 1990s, a favorable currency exchange rate and government sponsored tax incentives lured film production from california to canada. Meanwhile, other nearby states that still had film incentives, such as georgia and louisiana, only got busier.
Time to call it a wrap for florida film incentives opinion tallahassee. To filter on a column, hover over the column title until a small drop down arrow appears in the upperright corner. While incentives are backed by people in the entertainment industry, including the nonprofit association film florida, the legislature in recent years hasnt shown interest in. In addition to helping production companies optimize and monetize state tax incentive programs, we provide a variety of advisory. Use the table below to view the available tax incentives. And florida, with a fresh pot of incentives to offer, could have stolen back. As floridas tax incentives have disappeared in recent years, movies and tv series have opted to film in other states, industry groups say. Leaving along with the incentives were the film and television projects interested in visiting florida, said john lux, executive director for film florida, the states nonprofit trade association. Florida film industrys future in the balance as state tax credits dry up. Any qualified production company engaged in the production of motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos, or sound recordings in florida may be eligible for an exemption from sales and use tax on the purchase. The purpose of this article is to briefly discuss each of the major florida tax incentive programs and provide links for more information. Fate of floridas decimated film industry might hang on. Nearly three years after florida stopped giving out tax incentives for film and tv crews, producers are making their way back to the sunshine state now that counties are. Florida blew its opportunity to poach georgias lucrative film industry.
Any qualified production company engaged in the production of motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos, or sound recordings in florida may be eligible for an exemption from sales and use tax on the purchase or lease of certain items used exclusively as an integral part of the production activities in florida. Will florida try again for state tax incentives to attract. No state incentives mean fewer films, tv shows made in florida. With floridas film incentives plan on the cutting room floor. Patrick martin is a research assistant in the devoe moore center at florida state university, majoring in economics and political.
Florida film industrys future in the balance as state tax. In florida, he says, our film infrastructure has been decimated. Floridas film struggles and successes posttax incentives. Florida is currently the only southeastern state without a program to attract film and television productions. After florida created a film industry tax incentive program back in. Film, television and digital entertainment tax credit. Backers of the film and television industry argued the studys numbers were misunderstood as it only calculated tax receipts the government got. We have the industrys most extensive inhouse team of production incentives, finance, and tax experts, and our knowledge of the latest legislation and local laws and regulations is unsurpassed. There is a move among state and local film industry officials to bring back incentives for filmmaking in the sunshine state. From the studio that brought us moonlight, waves follows a south florida family as they navigate love, loss and forgiveness.
Movie production incentives in the united states wikipedia. Floridas film and tv industry is in a freefall after the state scrapped its film incentives program earlier this year. Film, tv crews return to florida as counties offer tax breaks. A new analysis finds florida lawmakers may have good reason to reconsider those incentives the hbo series ballers starring dwayne the rock johnson was filmed in south florida for its first two seasons. It specifies that tax credits are only rewarded after a production wraps. Our relationships with film offices, auditors and state revenue departments are unrivaled because we work with them more often, and on more productions. Florida entertainment industry sales tax exemption any qualified production company producing motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos, or sound recordings in florida may be eligible for a salesanduse tax exemption on certain production related purchases in florida. Florida should consider reviving film tax incentives by editor dec 14, 2018 florida s share of film and television productions is waning as the state no longer offers tax credits for the industry. Florida cancelled its tax credits for film makers in 2016 and now industry observers say some big productions are moving to places like georgia, which are still giving out big financial incentives. Film incentives back on the table in 2018 tampa bay. Lawmakers ponder florida film tax credits film florida. Any qualified production company producing motion pictures, made for television motion pictures, television series, commercial advertising, music videos, or sound recordings in florida may be eligible for a salesanduse tax exemption on certain production related purchases in florida.
Florida provides many types of tax incentives for a myriad of industries, but many current and prospective business owners do not know about the incentives or where to get more information. Floridas entertainment industry fights for flailing tax. The tv, film and entertainment production incentive is a performancebased grant program that is based on miamidade countycentric criteria. Film tax credits by state map kpm film credit advisors. The latest from floridas film and entertainment industry. But, a large portion of those incentives ended three years ago. Yet, in the three years since state lawmakers pulled the plug on a tax incentive program for the film industry, florida has been losing movies to. Joe gruters, rsarasota, says florida should do more to attract film and tv. Despite these features, there is another more silent factor at work that influences choosing a filming location, state. Download onepage summary of testimonydownload testimony on film tax incentives before the florida senate appropriations committee pdfdownload testimony on film tax incentives before the florida senate appropriations committee pdf testimony on film tax incentives before the florida senate appropriations committee on s. Florida department of revenue the florida department of revenue has three primary lines of business. Jobs for the unemployed tax credit programjutc provides incentives to businesses throughout florida to hire qualified employees who were previously unemployed. The fate of floridas film industry, decimated two years ago by the elimination of the states film incentives program, might hang on the outcome of next weeks gubernatorial contest.
The state of florida and our regions leaders have made it a priority to have a low tax burden for our businesses and residents. In addition to helping production companies optimize and monetize state tax incentive programs, we provide a variety of advisory, audit and tax services. Movie production incentives are tax benefits offered on a statebystate basis throughout the united states to encourage instate film production. Kpm film is cpa firm who serve as trusted advisors to state tax offices and film bureaus, attorneys, producers and studio finance departments on the subject of film tax credits across the u. Florida film incentives get support in senate tampa bay. Florida lawmakers will consider a bill this year that would offer film incentives. With florida no longer offering tax incentives and the regions oncebooming tv and film industry in decline south florida county and city officials say they are doing what they can to. Until then, florida should call it a wrap for film incentives. The program is available to all businesses that are identified as a target industry.
Film, television and digital entertainment tax credits of up to 30 percent create significant cost savings for companies producing feature films, television series, music videos and commercials, as well as interactive games and animation. The state has allowed tax incentives for companies who are producing shows and movies in florida. Florida offers tax credits, refunds, and other incentives to promote business development and job creation within the state. Filming in florida incentives fort lauderdale broward. Time to call it a wrap for florida film incentives opinion. While incentives are backed by people in the entertainment industry, including the nonprofit association film florida, the legislature in recent years hasnt shown interest in reviving any sort.