Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement (MEDIA) Act

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On July 1, 2019, the MEDIA Act came into affect. It offers a 20% transferable income tax credit on production expenditures in the state with additional amounts that can increase the credit up to 35% of the production company’s base investment in the tax year. These per production, additional incentives include:

• • • 25% of compensation for MT resident crew
    • 15% of compensation for non-MT resident crew
    • 20% of above-the-line compensation (actor, director, producer, writer)
    • 30% of compensation paid to a student enrolled in a MT college/university who works on the production for college credit
    • 10% of payments to MT colleges/universities for stage, equipment, rentals, or location fees for filming on campus
    • 10% of all in-studio facility/equipment expenditures that rents a studio for 20 days or more
    • 5% of expenditures in an underserved county
    • 5% for using “Film MONTANA” screen credit
    • 25% of post-production wages (Not effective until 2021)

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Read HB 293, the MEDIA Act, HERE

Read the MEDIA Act ARMS HERE

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Helpful Documents When Applying

MEDIA ACT FILING INSTRUCTIONS
These instructions assist you with the process of certification, record keeping, and submission of costs.
FILING INSTRUCTIONS

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INCENTIVE ESTIMATOR
Many components make up the MEDIA ACT incentive. This estimator allows entering of potential expenditures and labor costs, as well as the additional incentive percentages, and estimates the potential costs and credit total.

CREDIT ESTIMATOR

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MONTANA SECRETARY OF STATE FILING TIPS
7-10 days BEFORE filling out the application, register with the Montana Secretary of State. These tips will assist in the process. You will need the confirmation documents that the Secretary of State sends via email to upload to the application.
TIPS

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UNDERSERVED AREA MAP
This map defines the counties that qualify for the underserved area credit.
MAP

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BUSINESS STARTUP
Business Startup Checklist (pdf)

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MONTANA COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
List of Recognized Montana Colleges and Universities (pdf)

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MEDIA Act Production & Post-Production Applications

MEDIA ACT APPLICATION for PRODUCTIONS
The Montana Film Office uses Submittable (cloud-based application manager) for applying to the MEDIA Act. We urge all applicants to apply to the incentive via Submittable. You will have to establish a user name and password. Apply via the Submittable button below.

A PDF version of the application is available forMEDIA Act Production Application planning purposes. You may access HERE. We discourage against applying via paper/mail applications.

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MEDIA ACT APPLICATION for POST-PRODUCTION
The Montana Film Office uses Submittable (cloud-based application manager) for applying to the MEDIA Act. We urge all applicants to apply to the incentive via Submittable. You will have to establish a user name and password. Apply via the Submittable button below.

A PDF version of the application is available for planning purposes. You may access HERE. We discourage against applying via paper/mail applications.

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Please call or email our office with additional questions, 406.841.2876, montanafilm@mt.gov