Tax Incentives
Foreign and domestic productions in British Columbia can access a variety of provincial and federal tax credit programs and if eligibility requirements are met, a producer can combine them to access exceptional savings.

The British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) encourages film, television and animation production in BC and is available to either international or Canadian productions produced in British Columbia. 

There are four components:

  1. The basic PSTC tax credit is 25% of qualified BC labour expenditures incurred after December 31, 2007.
  2. The REGIONAL tax credit is 6% of qualified BC labour expenditures of the corporation pro-rated by the number of days of principal photography in BC outside of the designated Vancouver area to the total days of principal photography in BC.  
  3. The new DISTANT Location tax credit is 6% and is added to the regional tax credit for principal photography done outside of the Lower Mainland Region, north of Whistler and east of Hope, excluding the Capital Regional District. 
  4. DIGITAL ANIMATION or VISUAL EFFECTS tax credit is 15% of BC labour expenditures directly attributable to digital animation or visual effects activities.

 

For more information for British Columbia's process, eligibility and time lines contact the program administrator:

British Columbia Film:
604.736.7997

www.bcfilm.bc.ca

Canadian Federal Tax Credit

The Canadian Federal Government's Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) is primarily for foreign production and is 16% of Canadian labour costs. For more information on Canadian federal tax credits contact:

(CAVCO) Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office:
888.433.2200 
www.pch.gc.ca/cavco

For more detailed information on Foreign and Domestic Tax Credit programs please click on links on right.