Written by David Lewis on Jun 28, 2007. Posted in Incentive News

Montana offers improved tax incentives

Montana’s unparalleled scenery and distinctive culture has made Big Sky Country a choice location for countless productions, and now improved tax incentives are giving the film industry a new reason to put the Big Sky back on the Big Screen. This spring the Montana State Legislature passed a measure to improve the already successful Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, backed by Governor Brian Schweitzer. The new tax incentive package provides film companies larger tax incentives on production expenditures incurred while on location in Montana, and encourages large scale productions by eliminating a cap on the credits. “The new and improved Big Sky on the Big Screen Act has made Montana an even more desirable destination for filmmakers,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “Montana is like no other, she’s the epitome of the west and her diverse attributes speak for themselves. Whether or not her name is in the credits, Montana is always the biggest star.”

Governor Brian Schweitzer signed the improved Big Sky on the Big Screen Act into law on May 3, 2007. Highlights of the enhanced legislation include:

14% rebate on all Montana labor hired for film production
9% rebate on all production-related Montana expenditures including lodging, equipment rental, fuel, lumber, and construction materials
No Cap and No Minimum Spend

A further incentive for filmmakers is that Montana has no sales tax. Since no paperwork or rebate is needed, this savings is realized immediately.