Motion Picture Tax Credits

Labour-based refundable corporate income tax credits designed to encourage live action, VFX, and animated film and television production work in British Columbia.

Financial Incentive Programs

Production Services Tax Credit

PSTC

International Projects

Canadian-taxable ProdCo in B.C.
Global budget minimum
No B.C. spend requirement
Based on B.C. labour expenditure in B.C.

Film Incentive BC

FIBC

Canadian Content

Canadian-controlled ProdCo in B.C.
No budget minimum
B.C. spend % requirement
Based on B.C. labour expenditure
Canadian B.C. Producer
Shown in Canada

A production corporation can only claim a tax credit under one of the two B.C. programs for a particular production.

Qualify

To qualify for the motion picture tax credits in British Columbia, the production must meet the following criteria specified in the B.C. Legislation (Income Tax Act Part 5 – Film and Television Tax Credit) and Regulation (Film and Television Tax Credit Regulation).

Consult our Summary sheets for general eligibility requirements and other information.

Production Services Tax Credits (PSTC)

PSTC Program Summary

Film Incentive BC (FIBC)

FIBC Program Summary

FIBC Interprovincial Co-production Summary

FIBC International Treaty Co-production Summary

Apply

Production Services Tax Credit

Applicants are encouraged to apply for an accredited certificate as soon as they have all required documents (see PSTC Application checklist), and principal photography or key animation has started. Creative BC strongly recommends that applications be submitted at least 9 months before the filing deadline to avoid the risk of losing tax credits.

Major Production Tax Credit

An accredited corporation can apply for a major production certificate after it is certified as an accredited production and upon completion of the production. The credit can only be claimed in the taxation year in which the major production is completed. 

Film Incentive BC

Applicants are encouraged to apply for an eligibility certificate and completion certificate as soon as they have all required documents (see FIBC Eligibility checklist, FIBC Completion checklist) and principal photography or key animation has started.

For an eligibility certificate, Creative BC strongly recommends applications be submitted at least 9 months before the 30-month completion certificate deadline to meet the program requirements.

Claim

Production Services Tax Credits

To claim the PSTC tax credit, the accredited production corporation must file a corporate income tax return, along with the certificates, with the Canada Revenue Agency. Attach the signed Accreditation Certificate along with a completed T1197 BC Production Services Tax Credit Form to your corporate T2 income tax return. Please note the deadline to file a claim with the Canada Revenue Agency is 36 months for tax years ending on or after August 17, 2024, or 18 months for taxation years beginning on or after February 19, 2020 and ending before August 17, 2024.

Film Incentive BC

To claim the FIBC tax credit, the eligible production corporation must file a corporate income tax return, along with the Eligibility Certificate, with the Canada Revenue Agency. Attach the signed Eligibility Certificate along with a completed T1196 BC Film and Television Tax Credit Form to your corporate T2 income tax return. Please note the deadline to file a claim with the Canada Revenue Agency is 36 months for tax years ending on or after August 17, 2024, or 18 months for taxation years beginning on or after February 19, 2020 and ending before August 17, 2024.

FIBC Requirement to File a Completion Certificate Eliminated for tax years that end on or after August 17, 2024. However, production corporations are still required to obtain a Completion certificate within the 30-month deadline to meet the program requirements.

Service Standard

120 days, 90% of the time: Creative BC’s service standard for processing applications to both Film and Television Tax Credit programs is 120 days from the date a complete application is received, 90% of the time.

Claims – Canada Revenue Agency

If the claim is not selected for audit by the CRA, processing takes place within 60 days of the CRA’s receipt of your complete claim. If the claim is selected for audit, the processing time is usually within 120 days of receipt of a complete claim. The CRA is committed to meeting these service standards 90% of the time. Direct all enquiries regarding the T2 return and motion picture tax credit claims to the CRA’s Fraser Valley and Interior Film Services Unit.