Film & TV writers are now eligible for the New York State Film Tax Credit Program
The New York State Film Tax Credit Program has expanded the list of qualified expenses to include writing and producing services done in New York on eligible film and television productions. The Tax Credit Program is designed to strengthen the film production industry in New York State and its positive impact on the State’s economy.
New York State is one of the only states where the work of writers and producers are qualified expenses for the production of a tax credit-eligible project, and this should be factored into the decision-making process of where to produce a film or television series.
Here are the key facts to know about the New York State Film Tax Credit Program, and how productions stand to benefit from it:
Salaries paid to writers and producers are eligible for the 30% tax credit as long as the overall project is credit-eligible.
Production costs for writers can include costs for wages, salaries, or other compensation for writers to the extent those wages or salaries or other compensation does not exceed $500,000 per individual.
The credit applies to writing done on qualified television series and feature films.
Writers working remotely within the state of New York are eligible for the tax incentive as long as the overall project is credit-eligible.
The statute does not require a writers’ room.
To learn about the full criteria to make a production eligible for the New York State Film Tax Credit Program, visit the NY State’s Tax Credit Program homepage.
The New York State Film Production Tax Credit Program for Writers, Explained – Virtual Panel
On February 27, member leaders from the WGAE and representatives from the NYS Entertainment Tax Credit Programs and the NYS Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & TV Development presented a virtual informational session explaining the ins and outs of writing services being included in the New York State Film Tax Credit Program.
New York is one of the only states where the work of writers and producers are qualified expenses for the production of a tax credit-eligible project – and this should be factored into the decision-making process of where to write and produce a film or television series.
In this panel, we discussed the writing services covered by the State’s Film Production Tax Credit program, reviewed the criteria to make a production eligible for the Program, and learned the benefits of having a writers room in New York as told by experienced showrunners.
Panelists:
Yoni Bokser — Executive Director of NYS Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & TV Development
Constance McFeeley — Director of NYS Entertainment Tax Credit Programs
Meredith Scardino — Showrunner, GIRLS5EVA
Michael Rauch — Showrunner, INSTINCT
Moderator: Lisa Takeuchi Cullen — President, Writers Guild of America East
Questions?
If you would like more information about the New York State Film Tax Credit Program, please direct your questions to:
Constance McFeeley, Director of NYS Entertainment Tax Credit Programs:
212–803–2328 or filmcredits@esd.ny.gov
Yoni Bokser, Executive Director of NYS Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & TV Development:
212–201–5605 or nyfilm@esd.ny.gov
