Written by new-contact on Jun 4, 2010. Posted in Incentive News

Thailand Film Office expected to propose filming incentive plans

A series of filming incentives are expected to be put forward to the Thai government by the Thailand Film Office sometime next week, reports the Bangkok Post. The proposition is expected to include an income tax exemption for foreign actors, a production VAT refund and a tax credit of up to 25% for foreign film productions.

Wanasiri Morakul, Director of the Thailand Film Office under the Tourism and Sports Ministry, told the paper: “Income tax for foreign actors is a key obstacle for foreign films shooting here. Many feel it is not fair for foreign actors who are paid in foreign currency to pay taxes as high as 10%.”

Setting up the incentive schemes could help revitalise Thailand’s audiovisual industry, which has been badly affected by the recent political unrest in Bangkok. Delays to recent productions have cost Thailand considerably in terms of lost revenue and several projects.