Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit
Tax credit for Ontario film and television content
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
Financing Type
Tax Credits
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
Grant Providers
- Government of Ontario
- Ontario Creates
Status
Open
Overview
Refundable tax credit of 35% to 40% on local Ontario labour costs related to the production of Canadian film and television content in Ontario.
Eligibility criteria
The Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) is a refundable tax credit based on eligible Ontario labor expenditures for qualifying production companies with eligible Ontario productions. To be eligible for the tax credit, the production company must meet specific criteria:
- Qualifying production company must be Canadian-controlled, have a permanent establishment in Ontario, and file an Ontario corporate tax return.
- The individual producer must have been an Ontario resident for tax purposes at the end of both of the two calendar years before principal photography.
- The production must meet requirements such as Canadian content points, being predominantly shot and posted in Ontario, and having agreements in place for commercial exploitation within Ontario.
- Various exclusions apply, including excluded genres and specific content types that are not eligible.
- For productions utilizing alternative means for commercial exploitation, there are additional requirements related to budget thresholds, content exclusions, and screen credit in the end credits.
Who is eligible
Eligible types of companies for the Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) grant must be Canadian-controlled, have a permanent establishment in Ontario, and file an Ontario corporate tax return. Additionally, the individual producer of the production must have been an Ontario resident for tax purposes for the two years prior to principal photography. Eligible companies include:
- Canadian corporations
- Personal service companies subject to tax in Ontario
- Sole proprietors or freelancers subject to tax in Ontario
- Partnerships with partners subject to tax in Ontario
- Taxable Canadian corporations with a permanent establishment in Ontario
Eligible expenses
There are eligible expenses for the Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) grant. Eligible expenses include salaries and wages paid to Ontario residents, remuneration to individuals and corporations subject to tax in Ontario, and reimbursements for labor expenditures.
- Salaries and wages paid to Ontario residents
- Remuneration to corporations subject to tax in Ontario for services of an Ontario resident
- Reimbursements for labor expenditures by a wholly-owned production company to its parent company
Eligible geographic areas
There are specific geographic areas outlined for this grant:
- Productions shot entirely outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- Productions with at least five location days in Ontario, with at least 85% of location days outside the GTA
- Wholly animated productions creating at least 85% of key animation in Ontario outside of the GTA
Evaluation & selection criteria
The evaluation and selection criteria for the Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) include:
- Eligibility of the production company as a Canadian corporation
- Suitability of the production for various distribution means
- Expenditure requirements related to Ontario spending
- Screen credit requirement adherence
How to apply
**Step 1: Submit Application to Ontario Creates**
- Fill out the application form for the Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC) on the Ontario Creates website.
- Provide all required documentation, including producer residency declaration, first-time producer declaration, and labor and other expenditures spreadsheet.
- Ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and budget thresholds.
Apply to this program