State-by-state production incentives
Utah
| Utah | |
| Incentive Type | Refundable tax credit |
| Incentives Highlights | A choice of a 20% rebate or a 20% refundable tax credit (which requires that a tax return be filed). The state also offers a sales and use tax exemption for qualified goods and services, in addition to exemptions of lodging taxes for stays of 30 days or longer. |
| Eligible Projects | Films, television pilots, series and commercials |
| Minimum Spend | $1M |
| Production Cap or Annual Cap | No per project cap for refundable credit, with $15,587,400 available per year. $500K project cap for rebate, with $2,206,300 per year (unless additional funds are allocated). |
| Application/Reporting Requirements | Productions must be 100% financed and must pre-qualify with the Film commission. |
| Loan-Out Reg Required? | No |
| CPA Audit? | Yes |
Utah Film Commission
Marshall Moore, Director
mdmoore@utah.gov
t: (800) 453-8824
http://film.utah.gov
Film Resource Directory:
http://film.utah.gov/resources.htm
The State of Utah offers either a 25% refundable tax credit or 25% cash rebate on expenditures made in Utah for film and television productions. Producers have a choice of tax credits equal to 25% of the in-state spend, with no per project cap (however a Utah tax return is required), or a cash rebate equal to 25% of the in-state spend, with a cap of $500,000 per project. An ongoing tax credit fund of $6.8 million for the Motion Picture Incentive Fund (MPIF) has been approved. Unused funds roll over to the next year. Productions are required to have a minimum spend of $1 million in the state. A CPA audit is required.
The film incentive application is available online at http://film.utah.gov/incentives.htm. All film incentive applications must be approved by The Governor’s Office of Economic Development Board.
Utah also offers a Sales and Use Tax Exemption, which exempts sales tax on rental and sales of film and video equipment. In addition, the state offers a Transient Room Tax Exemption which exempts sales or sales-related taxes for accommodations of 30 consecutive days or longer.
Utah is a right-to-work state.