Production Services Tax Credit
The Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) is a refundable labour based tax incentive for international projects made in B.C.
Motion Picture Tax Credits
News
Okanagan Film Fundamentals TAKE 2
Westbank First Nation and the Okanagan Film Commission invite you to kickstart your film career! Network and learn from industry experts! They're bringing together some of the most talented people in film and television to lead workshops so that you can land a dream...
Important message for PSTC applicants regarding pre-certification
Currently, under section 79 (1) "accredited qualified BC labour expenditure" of the Income Tax Act of British Columbia, an accredited production corporation claiming the Production Services Tax Credits (PSTC) must give notice (pre-certification) in accordance with...
FIBC Tax Credits: Canadian-Controlled Corporation
Film Incentive BC (FIBC) is an economic initiative designed to encourage film, television, digital animation and visual effects production in British Columbia. Eligible applicants are film, television and animation production corporations with a permanent...
Important message for FIBC applicants: CRA allows a transition period for filing requirement
Under section 85(1) of the Income Tax Act of British Columbia, corporations filing a claim for the British Columbia film and television tax credit (BCFTTC - FIBC) must submit a Completion Certificate with their T2 corporation income tax return if the production was...
Minimum budget levels for PSTC applicants
Know the minimum budget requirement for your production to be qualified for PSTC Under the Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) there are different minimum budget threshold requirements for different types of productions. The following can help you determine a...
PSTC/FIBC Tax Credit: Proof of Permanent Establishment in BC
If you intend to claim the motion picture tax credits in British Columbia, ensure your corporation has a permanent establishment in BC Accredited corporation claiming PSTC must be a Canadian taxable corporation primarily engaged in film and video production business...
PSTC/FIBC Application Fees: Payment Options
Did you know that Creative BC now accepts fee payment via e-transfer? See our updated Payment Options for PSTC and FIBC applications. Creative BC continues to accept payment via cheque, money order, direct deposit, or wire transfer as well. See PSTC Fee...
FIBC Tax Credits: Initial Licensing
Are you planning your next Canadian content film? Be sure to know the initial licensing rule. Under Film Incentive BC, for productions that are not treaty co-productions or interprovincial co-productions, the initial licensing of the commercial exploitation of the...
FIBC Tax Credits: Broadcasting and Distribution
In your FIBC tax credits applications, Creative BC is looking to see that there is a written agreement with a Canadian-controlled distributor or broadcaster to have the production shown in Canada within 24 months of completion. We sometimes receive questions about how...
Important Message for PSTC Applicants: Recent changes to the notice deadline
PRE-CERTIFICATION: Recent changes to the notice deadline B.C. Budget 2022 proposes that the deadline for the production services tax credits applicant to file a pre-certification form is extended from 60 to 120 days effective February 22, 2022. This impacts...
Important Message for Production Services Tax Credit Applicants
Important messages regarding the Production Services Tax Credit program for applicants
Important Message for Film Incentive BC Tax Credit Applicants
Production companies are encouraged to apply for their tax credit certificates as early as possible – see the recommended timelines below. This is because Creative BC may require 6 months to process certificate applications. We are unable to guarantee that applications filed later will be processed in time for the production company to file with the CRA before the deadline, which may result in denied claims.
PSTC Pre-assessments August 2021
To better serve all of our tax credits applicants, we have re-introduced a PSTC pre-assessments system to help ensure that applications are complete prior to an analyst being assigned for the accreditation certificate review.
Film Incentive BC (FIBC) Deadlines
Did you know that our domestic tax credit program, Film Incentive BC, has legislative deadlines?
CRA Important notice regarding Film + Media Tax Credits
Please contact the CRA Film Services Units for information on CRA filing deadlines for PSTC and FIBC. Additionally, BC Ministry of Finance has announced “As part of our COVID-19 supports, the deadline to claim the tax credit for claims required to be made March...
Join Creative BC for a Motion Picture Tax Credits Info Session: Film Incentive BC
Creative BC’s tax credit team will be hosting a livestream event on Wednesday, October 21st, 10:00am – 10:30am Pacific Time, highlighting key points of the Film Incentive BC (FIBC) tax credit program.
Creative BC Tax Credit Procedures During COVID-19 Pandemic
Creative BC has made minor amendments to usual tax credits procedures during COVID-19
B.C. Budget and Fiscal Plan 2020 – Updates to Motion Picture Tax Credit Programs
Learn about the adjustments to both Film Incentive B.C. (FIBC) and Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) application timelines and protocols.
Creative BC Launches a New PSTC Pre-certification Process
2019 PSTC Pre-Certification Process Motion Picture Tax Credits Application in B.C. In consultation with government and industry stakeholders, Creative BC is today sharing preliminary information regarding the anticipated implementation of the new PSTC...
B.C.’s Motion Picture Industry Remains Steady with $3.2B Contribution to Economy
Creative BC is pleased to report that 384 productions which qualified for labour-based tax credit certifications during the 2018/19 fiscal year have contributed $3.2 billion to B.C.’s economy.
Creative BC is Launching a New Tax Credit Application System
New system requires your action before April 1, 2019!
B.C.’s Motion Picture Industry Contributes $3.4B to the Provincial Economy
For immediate release
New Film Tax Credit Rates give Industry Certainty and Protect Taxpayers
Victoria, BC – Consultations with the BC film and television industry have led to proposed adjustments to the province’s film tax credit rates that provide certainty to the film industry while keeping the subsidy affordable for taxpayers, Finance Minister Michael de Jong announced today.
DAVE Tax Credit Update
Important update on eligible post-production activities
Important message regarding pre-certification
The Province will be bringing legislative measures forward as part of Budget 2023 for production companies that first incurred an accredited BC labour expenditure (ABCLE) between July 1, 2020 and February 21, 2022. These measures will allow companies to claim ABCLE incurred up to 120 days prior to the pre-certification form submission date, regardless of how many days after the first incurred ABCLE the pre-certification form was filed. If a production company has already been denied a portion of their production services tax credit claim by the Canada Revenue Agency due to the late filing of a pre-certification form, the production company can request an adjustment to their T2 Corporate Tax return.
Click here to learn more about these new measures.
For productions that first incurred an ABCLE on or after February 22, 2022, these production companies are still required to submit their pre-certification form within 120 days of their first ABCLE. Once the pre-certification number is issued, the production corporation may apply to Creative BC to receive an accreditation certificate for the production.
If a production company submits their pre-certification form after the 120-day period, ABCLE incurred prior to submitting the form will not be eligible for the PSTC.
Important message about when to submit a full PSTC application
Production companies are encouraged to apply for their tax credit certificates as soon as possible. We strongly recommend production companies submit their accreditation certificate application to Creative BC within 12 months of the corporation’s taxation year end. This is because we may require 6 months to process certificate applications. We are unable to guarantee that applications filed later will be processed in time for the production company to file with the CRA before the deadline, which may result in denied claims.
About PSTC
The PSTC is a refundable corporate income tax credit. When filing tax returns, your corporation may claim a specified percentage of the labour costs incurred in making a production. The credits are applied to reduce tax payable, and any remaining balance is paid to the corporation.
In order to claim the PSTC tax credits, your production corporation must file a corporate income tax return, along with the certificates, with the Canada Revenue Agency.
The PSTC is not subject to any Canadian content requirements. In addition, there is no limit on the PSTC that may be claimed on a particular production and there is no limit that a corporation or group of corporations can claim.
The program includes four initiatives: Basic, Regional, Distant Location and Digital Animation, Visual Effects and Post-Production (DAVE).
FOR PRODUCTIONS WITH A PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY START DATE AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2016*:
| Tax Credit | Value |
| Basic PSTC | 28% |
| Regional PSTC | 6% |
| Distant Location Tax Credit | 6% |
| Digital Animation, Visual Effects + Post-Production (DAVE) | 16% |
For productions with a principal photography start date after September 30, 2016
*For productions with a principal photography start date before October 1, 2016, please contact Creative BC for more information.
Apply Online
PSTC Pre-Certification Form
Pre-requisite for PSTC – Apply through Creative BC’s online tax credit application portal
->
Access the online Tax Credit Application Portal
For PSTC applicants
->
Additional Resources
Contact the Motion Picture Tax Credit Team
taxteam@creativebc.com
Contact staff directly
Biljana Radovic| Manager, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 604 730 2232
bradovic (at) creativebc.com
Joanne Chow | Senior Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 778 657 6278
jchow (at) creativebc.com
Lea Chambers | Senior Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 604 730 2252
lchambers (at) creativebc.com
Andrée Laplante | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 604 262 8678
alaplante (at) creativebc.com
Patricia Lee | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 236 471 0786
plee (at) creativebc.com
Derek Clayton | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 236 471 0877
dclayton (at) creativebc.com
Troy Taillon | Business Analyst, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 236-471-0681
ttaillon (at) creativebc.com
Shannon Hunt | Coordinator, Motion Picture Tax Credits
Tel: +1 236 471 0138
shunt (at) creativebc.com
Application Fee
PSTC Tax Credit Application Fee Increase 2020
The schedule of timelines and dates relevant to change is as follows:
|
Projects that start Principal Photography on or after February 19, 2020 |
$10,000 fee + GST |
| Projects that start Principal Photography prior to February 19, 2020 | $5,500 fee + GST |
Please note that all applications are subject to GST (unchanged)
Please contact taxteam@creativebc.com with any questions or comments.
B.C. Budget 2020
Deadline to Claim Reduced to 18 mos. Details
With the recent announcement of B.C.’s Budget & Fiscal Plan 2020, one new and two previous announcements should be noted by applicants to B.C. motion picture tax credit programs:
- New: Effective for taxation years beginning after February 18, 2020, the deadline to file a claim with CRA for the Film Incentive BC and the Production Services Tax Credit programs is reduced to 18 months.
- Previously Announced:Effective July 1, 2020, pre-certification notification has been introduced for corporations intending to claim the production services tax credit. Previously announced on September 24, 2019
- Previously Announced: Effective February 19, 2020, the accreditation certificate fee for the production services tax credit is increased.
For details, please visit the Tax Credit Program pages on our website. Thank you for your ongoing collaboration, the Creative BC team looks forward to enhancing our services.
B.C. Budget 2022
Recent changes to the notice deadline. Details
B.C. Budget 2022 extends the deadline for the production services tax credits applicant to file a pre-certification form from 60 to 120 days effective February 22, 2022.
This impacts productions that first incur accredited BC labour expenditures on or after February 22, 2022 and they must give a notice by submitting a pre-certification form through the Creative BC website within 120 days after incurring the first accredited B.C. labour expenditure.
Productions that first incurred accredited B.C. labour expenditures before February 22, 2022 but after June 30, 2020 have 60 days to file a pre-certification form (per Budget 2020).
If a pre-certification form is not submitted within the specified number of days, production companies are unable to claim labour expenditures incurred prior to filing the form.
For example, if a company files their pre-certification form 150 days after their first accredited B.C. labour expenditure, they will not be eligible to claim any labour expenditures that occurred within those 150 days. This in turn would reduce the production services tax credit that the production company would receive.
Once the pre-certification number is issued, the production corporation may apply to Creative BC to receive an accreditation certificate for the production.
To find out more, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/income-taxes/corporate/credits/production-services
PSTC Pre-Certification Process
PSTC Pre-Certification Form
PSTC Pre-Certification FAQs
Tax Credits Overview
PSTC Summary
Application Checklist
Motion Picture Tax Credit Recipients: On-Screen Credits
Fee Schedule
Basic Tax Credit
Template Production Schedule
PSTC Calculator
Chain of Title
Official Designee Affidavit
Regional + Distant Tax Credits