Ease Entertainment Services

WHICH STATES HAVE INCENTIVE MONEY LEFT?

ghauenstein — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:55:23 +0000

HEADLINES:

Alaska passes 10 Year Extension & Adds $200M to it’s Incentive Program

Massachusettes Producer Convicted of Fraud

The Funding Report: Which States have Money?

Our Summer 2012 Incentives Symposium – Information & Registration

CLICK HERE TO READ

CA SUPREME COURT RULES ON EMPLOYER BREAK PERIOD OBLIGATIONS

ghauenstein — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:54:54 +0000

The California Supreme Court (Brinker Restaurant Corporation v. Superior Court) recently weighed in on an employer’s obligation to afford hourly employees meal breaks and rest periods. For full details, please see the Official Press Release issued by the Court.

In regards to meal breaks and rest periods, the “employer’s obligation” is defined as “leaving the employee at liberty to use the period for whatever purpose they desire, but that an employer need not ensure no work is done.” Meaning, the employer may in no way, shape or form encourage or obligate the employee to work during their break or rest period, nor may they impede or discourage the employee from taking their entitled breaks. However, the employer is NOT obligated to ensure that the employee does not perform any work tasks which may be undertaken under the employee’s own volition.

Meal Breaks are defined as “an uninterrupted 30 minute duty-free period during which the employee is at liberty to come and go as he or she pleases” which “must fall no later than five hours into an employee’s shift” and “a second meal period [must be] provided after no more than 10 hours of work.”

Regarding Rest Periods, the court explained that “employees are entitled to 10 minutes of rest for shifts from three and one-half to six hours in length, and to another 10 minutes rest for shifts from six hours to 10 hours in length”. The court clarified further that, “Rest periods need not be timed to fall specifically before or after any meal period.”

Other Resources:

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

OFFICIAL CASE DOCUME NT (.pdf)

THE INCENTIVES OFFICE AT EASE – MARCH UPDATE

ghauenstein — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:16:30 +0000

Check out all the latest news in production incentives with the full March update from The Incentives Office at Ease.

CLICK HERE to view the full update.

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT WITH EASE! Check out the video!

ghauenstein — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:46:42 +0000

We’re proud to offer one of the industry’s most cutting edge piece of technology within the Ease Accounting software product.

Gone are the days of sorting through stacks of file boxes to locate a piece of backup documentation. With the Ease Document Management system, you can scan and attach every Invoice, Purchase Order, Check, or other hard-copy document directly to its associated transaction.

Check out this demonstration video for more information:

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

More info:

* Free: The Ease Document Management system is incorporated directly into Ease Accounting software. It’s there when you need it, with no extra installation or cost.

* Immediate Availability: View the original document associated with a transaction with a single mouse-click.

* No Expensive Equipment Necessary: Ease’s Document Management system works seamlessly with readily available, inexpensive, desktop scanners.

* Pain-Free Incentive Audits: Many states require backup documentation when auditing qualifying expenditures for Incentive rebates. With Ease, these documents are embedded into the program – no wasted time making photocopies or shipping file boxes.

* Easy Updates: Easily replace or update any document with just a few simple clicks.

EASE PRODUCTION ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE WORKSHOPS

ghauenstein — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:26:17 +0000

What better way to learn about Ease’s state-of-the-art Production Accounting Software than to see it in action!

Join us for one of our biweekly Production Accounting Software Workshops at our headquarters in Beverly Hills. These two-hour sessions never exceed eight attendees, so you will always get a front-row seat. From intuitive vendor, PO and invoice entry, to our revolutionary, interactive Cost Report Worksheet and Document Storage technology, you’ll see it all.

Click on one of the following scheduled dates to sign up and reserve your spot:

May 17, 2012
May 31, 2012
June 14, 2012
June 28, 2012

If you have any questions regarding these sessions, please e-mail: contact@easeentertainment.com.

We look forward to seeing you there!

FEBRUARY INCENTIVES UPDATE

ghauenstein — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:52:57 +0000

Check out The Incentives Office at Ease’s FEBRUARY INCENTIVES UPDATE.

Updates on Alaska, Mississippi, Louisiana & Georgia as well as a lot of other great information.

Click HERE to view.

T4, T4A, T4ANR, NR4 & RL1 INFORMATION (CANADA)

ghauenstein — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:54:18 +0000

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

If you have moved and require your T4, T4A, T4ANR, NR4 or RL1 be mailed to an address which is not currently on file with Ease, we will be happy to correct the address in our system and ensure you receive your forms.

All requests MUST be received by Ease in writing. For security reasons, address changes cannot be completed over the phone or via e-mail.

To request an address change, please list:

1) Employee’s Full Name
2) Employee’s Previous Address
3) Employee’s Current Address
4) Last three (3) digits of the Employee’s Social Insurance Number
5) Employee’s Signature

Please submit your request in one of the following methods:

Fax your request to:
(647) 436-3597

Mail your request to:
Ease Entertainment Services Canada Inc.
918 Dundas Street East
Suite 406
Mississauga , Ontario
L4Y 4H9

FAXING OF T4, T4A, T4ANR, NR4 & RL1:

If you need your T4, T4A, T4ANR, NR4 or RL1 faxed to either you or your tax preparer, please submit a written request authorizing Ease Entertainment Services to release this information via fax. There is a 24-hour turnaround (during business days) for fax requests.

All requests MUST be received by Ease in writing. For security reasons, we cannot accept these requests over the phone or via e-mail.

To request your T4, T4A, T4ANR, NR4 or RL1 be faxed, please list:

1) Employee’s Full Name
2) Recipient’s Name
3) Recipient’s Fax Number
4) Last three (3) digits of the Employee’s Social Insurance Number
5) Employee’s Signature

Please submit your request in one of the following methods:

Fax your request to:
(647) 436-3597

Mail your request to:
Ease Entertainment Services Canada Inc.
918 Dundas Street East
Suite 406
Mississauga , Ontario
L4Y 4H9

If you have any questions, please do not hesitated to call us at (905) 281-9507

W2 & 1099 INFORMATION (US)

ghauenstein — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:08:01 +0000

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

If you have moved and require your W-2 or 1099 be mailed to an address which is not currently on file with Ease, we will be happy to correct the address in our system and ensure you receive your forms.

All requests MUST be received by Ease in writing. For security reasons, address changes cannot be completed over the phone or via e-mail.

To request an address change, please list:

1) Employee’s Full Name
2) Employee’s Previous Address
3) Employee’s Current Address
4) Last four (4) digits of the Employee’s Social Security Number
5) Employee’s Signature

Please submit your request in one of the following methods:

Fax your request to:
(888) 407-9411

Mail your request to:
Ease Entertainment Services
8383 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Attn: Employee Services

FAXING OF W-2 OR 1099:

If you need your W-2 or 1099 faxed to either you or your tax preparer, please submit a written request authorizing Ease Entertainment Services to release this information via fax. There is a 24-hour turnaround (during business days) for fax requests.

All requests MUST be received by Ease in writing. For security reasons, we cannot accept these requests over the phone or via e-mail.

To request your W-2 or 1099 be faxed, please list:

1) Employee’s Full Name
2) Recipient’s Name
3) Recipient’s Fax Number
4) Last four (4) digits of the Employee’s Social Security Number
5) Employee’s Signature

Please submit your request in one of the following methods:

Fax your request to:
(888) 407-9411

Mail your request to:
Ease Entertainment Services
8383 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Attn: Employee Services

If you have any questions, please do not hesitated to call us at (310) 469-7300

2012 WINTER INCENTIVES GUIDE

ghauenstein — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:49:52 +0000

The Winter 2012 Guide to U.S. Production Incentives from The Incentives Office at Ease is now available, please CLICK HERE to download a copy.

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:55:22 +0000

Although many states have curtailed or terminated their incentives programs, others have expanded or enhanced their programs. There is still a substantial amount of money available – to find it:

States with Funding Available

Alabama – $6 million available now, with new funds will be available on October 1st. $10 million annual cap.

Alaska – $50 million is available. Alaska has no caps on talent or projects, but requires a CPA audit to sell their 30-44% credits.

Colorado – $500,000 remains for their 10% rebate.

Connecticut – no annual cap. Regulations have tightened up for this (up to) 30% transferable credit.

Florida – (film only – see below for television). Only Florida resident cast and crew qualify, plus FL goods and services.

Georgia – 20% transferable credit, plus 10% uplift for logo (totaling 30%), requires audit/tax return. New sound stages, lots of post facilities. No annual ceiling.

Hawaii – refundable credit of 15% to 20%, requires a tax return. No annual cap.

Illinois – only resident cast and crew qualify, but Chicago is a major production center. Transferable credit of 30%. $100,000 per hire cap, but no annual ceiling.

Indiana – $2.5 million remains for the remainder of this calendar year.

Louisiana – top choice of producers, transferable credit of 30%, plus 5% bump for resident labor. The state redeems credits at 85 cents after CPA audit, or they can be sold (brokered). Many films now in prep or pre-production, so crew is getting strained. No annual ceiling, and three great stages.

Massachusetts – 25% transferable credit; state redeems at 90 cents. No caps or ceiling, and the credits are easy to sell after CPA audit.

Mississippi – a rebate of 25% for materials and non-resident crew, 30% for resident crew, $1M per hire cap. “The Help” was shot in Mississippi. Not a lot of crew depth, but growing. New sound stage in Canton. Costs are low, and the state is eager for production. $18 million is available.

Montana – refundable credit of 9% to 14%. No annual cap.

New Jersey – $14 million available, but half of this will be gone very soon, as earlier shows complete their submissions. 20% transferable credit, sellable after the CPA audit.

New Mexico – annual allocation is $50 million, for this 25% refundable credit which requires a NM tax return. First come, first served; if funds not available when you apply, you wait a year. Depending on total amount, credits awarded over 1, 2 or 3 years.

New York – fiscal year started July 1st, so new funds are available. Below-the-line credit of 30%, payable over 1-3 years with filing of NY state tax returns.

North Carolina – refundable credit of 25%, $1M per hire cap, and project cap of $7.5M. NC requires a tax return. No annual ceiling.

Pennsylvania – Some funds remain, but not for long. However, applications are stil being accepted, as films may drop out of the queue, freeing up funds for new projects.

South Carolina – $14 million currently available for their 10% to 30% rebate.

Texas – The incentive has now been raised to 15% for video game production. The previous rate was 5%. Only Texas resident cast and crew qualify, plus TX goods and services.

Utah – $11 million of fully refundable credits at 25% (with tax return), $3 million for 25% cash rebates (up to $500,000 per project).

West Virginia – $10 million annual cap, $10 million available. 27-31% credits.

States Without Funding

Arizona – program was allowed to sunset, new legislation was defeated.

Florida(television only) – funds for the TV queue are exhausted, and without new legislation, new application will not be accepted.

Missouri – the film commission was not funded.

Idaho – program is not funded.

Iowa – program has been terminated.

Ohio – all funds gone until next fiscal year. Applications are being accepted in case something drops out of the queue

Oklahoma – no funds available until fiscal 2013, which starts July 1, 2012. Applications will be accepted beginning January 1, 2012.

Oregon – a good program, but they are out of funds until July 1, 2012.

Washington – program was allowed to sunset.

Wisconsin – allocation of $500,000 per year.

OTHER LOCATIONS TO CONSIDER

California – all funds allocated. Applications will be accepted starting June 1, 2012, for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2012.

Michigan – Funds currently exhausted, but $25 million via a grant becomes available October 1, 2011. $2M cap per hire, and qualifying rates vary from 30-42%.

Minnesota – $1 million has been allocated; please contact the commissioner for details. Rules and requirements will change – no additional information is available.