§ 44-31.2-5. Motion picture production company tax credit. (a) A motion picture production company shall be allowed a credit to be computed as provided in this chapter against a tax imposed by chapters 11, 14, 17, and 30 of this title. The amount of the credit shall be thirty percent (30%) of the state-certified production costs incurred directly attributable to activity within the state, provided that the primary locations are within the state of Rhode Island and the total production budget as defined herein is a minimum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). The credit shall be earned in the taxable year in which production in Rhode Island is completed, as determined by the film office in final certification pursuant to § 44-31.2-6(c).

(b) For the purposes of this section: "total production budget" means and includes the motion picture production company's pre-production, production, and post-production costs incurred for the production activities of the motion picture production company in Rhode Island in connection with the production of a state-certified production. The budget shall not include costs associated with the promotion or marketing of the film, video, or television product.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the credit shall not exceed seven million dollars ($7,000,000) and shall be allowed against the tax for the taxable period in which the credit is earned and can be carried forward for not more than three (3) succeeding tax years. Pursuant to rules promulgated by the tax administrator, the administrator may issue a waiver of the seven million dollars ($7,000,000) tax credit cap for any feature-length film or television series up to the remaining funds available pursuant to section (e) of this section.

(d) Credits allowed to a motion picture production company, which is a subchapter S corporation, partnership, or a limited-liability company that is taxed as a partnership, shall be passed through respectively to persons designated as partners, members, or owners on a pro rata basis or pursuant to an executed agreement among such persons designated as subchapter S corporation shareholders, partners, or members documenting an alternate distribution method without regard to their sharing of other tax or economic attributes of such entity.

(e) No more than fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in total may be issued for any tax year beginning after December 31, 2007, for motion picture tax credits pursuant to this chapter and/or musical and theatrical production tax credits pursuant to chapter 31.3 of this title. After December 31, 2019, no more than twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in total may be issued for any tax year for motion picture tax credits pursuant to this chapter and/or musical and theater production tax credits pursuant to chapter 31.3 of this title. Said credits shall be equally available to motion picture productions and musical and theatrical productions. No specific amount shall be set aside for either type of production.

History of Section. (P.L. 2005, ch. 95, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 118, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 19, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 20, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 32, § 5; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 21, § 10; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 12, § 16; P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 12, § 6.)