Important message for the Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) and Film Incentive BC (FIBC) program applicants: proposed changes to the PSTC and FIBC programs in B.C. Budget 2026, subject to approval of the legislation.

Following industry consultations in 2025, the Province of BC incorporated feedback to reduce administrative burden, extending its filing deadlines and requirements for filings with the Canada Revenue Agency.

BC Ministry of Finance proposed the following changes to the motion picture tax credit programs in the Budget 2026 announcement on February 17, 2026:

    1. PSTC Pre-Certification Requirement Eliminated
    2. FIBC and PSTC Filing Deadlines Extended
    3. FIBC Requirement to File a Completion Certificate Eliminated
    4. PSTC Certification Fee Increased and Major Production Tax Credit Certification Fee Introduced

 

1. PSTC Pre-Certification Requirement Eliminated
Effective Date: Royal assent

The requirement for a corporation to file a notice of intent to claim the PSTC is eliminated for notices due on or after February 17, 2026. Notices that were required to have been filed prior to February 17, 2026, will continue to be subject to the previous requirements and timelines.

Pre-certification notice is no longer required if the first accredited B.C. labour expenditure is on or after October 20, 2025.

 

2. FIBC and PSTC Filing Deadlines Extended
Effective Date: Royal assent

The time in which a corporation must file a claim for either the FIBC or the PSTC is extended from 18 months to 36 months after the end of the corporation’s taxation year. The new time limit of 36 months applies to corporations with a taxation year beginning on or after February 17, 2026. For corporations with taxation years beginning before February 17, 2026, the time limit of 18 months is extended by a further 18 months if the time limit would have expired on or after February 17, 2026.

Corporations with a tax year ending on or after August 17, 2024, will have 36 months to file a complete claim with CRA.

 

3. FIBC Requirement to File a Completion Certificate Eliminated
Effective Date: Royal assent

Corporations claiming the FIBC are no longer required to file a completion certificate with the CRA that would have been due on or after February 17, 2026. This change relates to the filing of a tax credit claim and does not affect a corporation’s requirement to apply for a completion certificate with the certifying authority.

Corporations with a tax year ending on or after August 17, 2024, will no longer be required to submit their completion certificate to the CRA with their FIBC claim; however, they are still required to obtain a completion certificate within the 30-month deadline to meet the program requirements.

 

4. PSTC Certification Fee Increased and Major Production Tax Credit Certification Fee Introduced
Effective Date: March 1, 2026

The accreditation certificate fee for the PSTC is increased to $19,000 for corporations with productions that began principal photography after December 31, 2024 and apply for certification on or after March 1, 2026. The major production tax credit certification fee is set at $5,000.

Creative BC will require a complete application submission, which means the prodco must submit an application and the application fee payment before March 1, 2026, to pay the existing fee of $10,000. Applications that are not a complete application submission as of March 1, 2026, will be subject to the new fee of $19,000.

The updated Fee Schedule can be found here.

Related Links
Links to the budget documents, news release and program webpages can be found here: 

 

Contact
Please contact taxteam@creativebc.com with any questions or comments.