Tax Credits

The State of Michigan recently enacted the most comprehensive set of film production incentives nationwide. This comprehensive package of legislation includes, among other benefits, refundable and/or transferable tax credits to subsidize production costs, payroll credits, training grants or credits, infrastructure credits, and subsidized financing programs.

Michigan Tax Credit is the leader in the State of Michigan in selling, trading, and brokering tax credits. Our mission is to help film producers take advantage of as many incentives as possible. We will help you obtain all necessary qualification the State’s incentives and we will assist you from pre-production analysis to certification of completion. From the project’s inception, we work hand in hand with the production team to maximize the benefit, and ultimately the cash savings, to the production company. Our services include:

  • Budget Analysis to identify the potential value of tax credits
  • Project Analysis to identify the combination of credits and incentives that will maximize the benefit to the production company
  • Apply for all applicable tax credits and incentives and work with the Michigan Film Office to secure approval of the tax credits
  • Work with lenders and investors to incorporate the tax credits into production financing
  • Analyze and recommend appropriate utilization of tax credits, including selling, assigning, or seeking a refund from the State of Michigan
  • If desired, sell transferable tax credits to third parties for a maximum return to the production company
  • Document and prepare final accounting for production expenditures
  • Prepare Request for Certificate of Completion and obtain Final Certification of Tax Credits

The extensive package of bills passed by the Michigan Legislature overlap and intersects. Some expenses may qualify for multiple credits and careful analysis should be performed to determine which expenditures should be applied for a specific credit. In addition, there are other non-film specific production credits or incentives that may be applicable to a specific project.

For more information, contact Jeff Spilman.