Act 27
Film Industry Economic Incentives
On March 4, 2011, Puerto Rico enacted Act No. 27 of 2011, as amended, known as the “Puerto Rico Film Industry Economic Incentives Act” (the “Act”) to solidify its position as one of the leading jurisdictions for the production of film, television and other media projects. The Act provides tax exemptions and tax credits to businesses engaged in film production in Puerto Rico. To avail from such benefits, a business needs to become an exempt business by applying for a tax concession and obtaining a tax exemption decree.
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This includes four U.S.-trained, bilingual crews working year-round and specially dedicated infrastructure provided by the Government of Puerto Rico to guide investors, studios, production companies and independent producers through everything necessary to film in Puerto Rico.
Eligibility
Eligible media projects and related requirements are as follows:
• Feature films; short films; documentaries; television
programs; series in episodes; mini-series; music videos;
commercials, both international and national; video games;
recorded live performances; and original soundtrack
recordings and dubbing;
• $100,000 minimum spend requirement per project
($50,000 for short films);
• No principal photography requirement: full development,
partial development, pre-production and post-production
are eligible activities; and
• No per project or individual wage caps.
Recognizing the importance of complementing a low cost structure with a state-of-the-art infrastructure specially dedicated to the industry, the Act also provides incentives for eligible infrastructure projects, which include:
• the development, construction and operation of studios,
laboratories, post-production, animation and special
effects facilities, transmission facilities and related
infrastructure.
Tax Exemptions
Tax exemptions for eligible production businesses, including film producers and studio operators, are the following:
• 4% fixed income tax rate on income derived from the
production (6% to 10% fixed income tax rate in the case
of studio operators);
• 100% tax exemption on dividend distributions;
• 90% tax exemption from personal property taxes. The
taxable portion will be subject to the regular tax rate,
that currently can be up to 8.83%; therefore, after
considering the 90% exemption, the effective tax rate
would be up to 0.883%;
• 90% tax exemption from real property taxes. The taxable
portion will be subject to the regular tax rate, that
currently can be up to 10.83%; therefore, after
considering the 90% exemption, the effective tax rate
would be up to 1.083%;
• 100% tax exemption on municipal license taxes,
construction taxes and other municipal taxes; and
• 100% tax exemption on excise taxes on articles imported
by the grantee to be used in the eligible activities.
Tax Credits
• The Act offers the following tax credits: 40% tax credit
on all payments to Puerto Rico resident companies
and individuals. The Act provides an annual limit of
$50,000,000 of tax credits available for film projects.
However, film projects may apply for up to $50,000,000
additional tax credits in excess of the $50,000,000 limit if
any portion of its Puerto Rico production expenses are
incurred within a Film Development Zone. An additional
$150,000,000 will be available if the film project is
produced within a Film Development Zone having
a film studio with a cost of $200,000,000 or more. The
Act provides that, after attaining the previous limits,
additional tax credits in an amount of $100,000,000 will
be available if the film credits program has conceded at
least $250,000,000 for two consecutive years.
• 20% tax credit on all payments to non-resident “Abovethe-
Line” talent, including actors, producers, directors
and writers. No annual cap is established with respect to
non-resident “Above-the-Line” payments. However, the
grantee of a decree under the Act (or its representative)
will be responsible for withholding, remittance and
reporting to the Puerto Rico Treasury Department a 20%
tax on payments to non-resident “Above-the-Line” talent.
Some jurisdictions, as the United States have rules to
avoid double taxation that may include foreign tax credit
systems. Under a foreign tax credit system, the 20% tax
withheld from payments made to non-resident “Above-the-
Line” talent should be credited against the income tax
liability determined with respect to such income in his/her
primary tax jurisdiction. Each non-resident “Above-the-
Line” individual should consult their own tax adviser.
• 25% infrastructure tax credit on costs incurred in the
development of a film studio or other eligible
infrastructure project. The Act provides an annual limit
of $10,000,000 of tax credits available for infrastructure
projects. Excess credits not taken in a particular year
may be rolled over to a subsequent year. These credits
have a lifetime cap for all projects of $150,000,000.
The minimum investment for individual infrastructure
projects is $1 million.
Film Development Zones
The Act provides that the Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico (the “Secretary”) may designate certain geographical areas as Film Development Zones. The Film Development Zones will be designated by the Secretary on his own initiative or after considering an application made by a developer of an infrastructure project.
In order to be considered, the application must include a Large-Scale Studio proposal. Under regulations issued by the Secretary, the island municipalities
of Vieques and Culebra will be considered Film Development Zones; therefore, film projects developed in Vieques and/or Culebra and complying with certain filming parameters described in the regulations, will not be subject to annual tax credit limitations established by the Act.
Tax Exemption Decree
To benefit from the Act, the film development company or studio operator needs to submit an application with the Puerto Rico Film Commission to obtain a tax exemption decree, which will provide full detail of tax rates and conditions mandated by the Act and will be considered a contract between the Government of Puerto Rico and the applicant.
Once the applicant obtains the tax exemption decree, the benefits granted will be secured during the term of the decree, irrespective of any changes in the applicable Puerto Rico tax laws.
Puerto Rico Income Taxes
An exempt business operating in Puerto Rico under the Act by means of a Puerto Rico entity should not be subject to any taxes (such as a dividend tax, tollgate tax or other similar taxes) on its income from its eligible activities in Puerto Rico, other than the Puerto Rico fixed income tax rate established in the tax decree, regardless if said income is distributed or retained by the entity.
Upon repatriation, the distributed income would be subject to the tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which the owners of the Puerto Rico entity reside, if any.