NORTH CAROLINA FILM INCENTIVES
Spend at least $250,000: Receive a refundable tax credit of up to 25% on in-state spending for goods, services and labor. North Carolina's film production tax credit is refundable. Companies earning the credit receive a check for the full value of their refund.
Eligible film productions include theatrical, television and direct-to-DVD features; television series (an episodic series is considered one production); mini-series; commercials (excluding news, sporting events and political advertising) and animation productions. The maximum tax credit for a production is $20 million.
- Spending for goods purchased or leased from a North Carolina business is eligible for the tax credit. This includes fuel, food, airline tickets, production insurance and other goods purchased in the state.
- Compensation and wages paid to employees, regardless of whether they are residents or non-residents, for services performed in North Carolina on which withholding payments are remitted to the North Carolina Department of Revenue are eligible. Loan-outs must pay 4% withholding on compensation.
- Wages up to $1 million are eligible. Payments for per diem, living allowances and fringe benefits are also eligible.
- North Carolina Film Office and any regional film commissions representing areas in which the production was shot must receive on-screen credit.
- The 6.9% corporate income tax on the incentive has been eliminated allowing the production company to realize the full 25% of qualifying expenses.
Legislative Language:
- SL2010-147 Increases Film Incentive
- SL2010-89 Repeals corporate income tax
Procedure:
1. Complete the Intent to Film form and submit it to the North Carolina Film Office.
2. Complete your production in North Carolina.
3. Once the production has wrapped in North Carolina, submit the NC-415 form to the North Carolina
Department of Revenue to begin the auditing process.
4. Receive your refundable tax credit upon completion of the audit.
SOUTH CAROLINA FILM INCENTIVES
Spend at least $1,000,000 and receive a wage rebate up to 20% on all South Carolina resident employees and a rebate up to 30% of all goods and services purchased, rented, or leased by the production company from a South Carolina supplier.
- Features, television pilots, television series, and commercials are eligible.
- AllSouth Carolina and non-resident performing artists (including stunt performers) are also included in the wage rebate.
- The wages of all non-residents, including crew, are eligible for a 10% rebate up to$3500 per person.
- For a television series, the wages of all non-residents are eligible for the 20% rebate. Wages for each qualifying person must be less than $1,000,000 for the project and wages must be subject to South Carolina withholding tax. The wage rebate is assignable.
- Purchases for the goods and services rebate include everything acquired from a South Carolina company, from airline tickets to locations.
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These are cash rebates, not a tax credit involving brokers and a waiting period. Your rebate check is cut within 30 days of our final audit. We reserve your estimated rebate funds,
assuring production that rebate funds are available. - An incentive application must be submitted BEFORE FILMING.
Only $250,000 must be spent to qualify for the incentives listed below.
- State sales tax 6-8.5% exemption on all purchases, rentals, and leases. Taxes are not charged to the production.
- No Location Fee charged for State Properties
Click here to review the policies and procedures for the South Carolina film incentives.
