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Motion Picture Tax Credit Reports

Creative BC provides statistics on film and television production in B.C. based on information that the agency collects as part of its administration of the Government of British Columbia’s film and television tax credit programs.

Tax credit certifications are a good overall indicator of film and television production activity but there are limitations to the data. Due to the timing of the receipt of an application, a tax credit certification may be issued in a fiscal year different from when the production took place. Additionally, B.C. production and labour expenditures are based on budgets that Creative BC receives at the time of application and may differ from the final production and labour costs. 

What is a tax credit certification?

A tax credit certification is proof that the production and production company meet the criteria of the Government of British Columbia’s film and television tax credit programs. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requires a tax credit certification in order to process the actual film and television tax credit claim on the applicant’s income tax return.

How does Creative BC report on tax credit certifications?

Creative BC processes and reviews tax credit applications and, based on its review, makes recommendations on tax credit certification to the Government of British Columbia. The agency reports the tax credit certification in the fiscal year that an application is approved and not necessarily in the year when the production took place.

Do tax credit certifications correspond to actual production volumes?

The reporting of tax credit certifications may not correspond to fiscal production volumes due to the timing and nature of tax credit certifications. Production corporations have up to 18 or 36 months from their first fiscal year end following the start of principal photography to file their final income tax return and receive the film and television tax credit claim with the CRA. As a result, Creative BC may receive, and recommend, a tax credit certification in the same fiscal year as when the production took place or after the production was completed. Due to the reporting methodology, Creative BC recommends analyzing statistics over a three year fiscal period to more accurately determine trends in film and television production volumes.

What productions are covered under B.C. tax credit certifications?

Creative BC administers the Film Incentive BC Tax Credit (FIBC) and the Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) Programs. The FIBC is available for productions that are Canadian owned and controlled and have qualifying levels of Canadian content whereas the PSTC is available to Canadian and international productions and does not have any Canadian content requirements. Productions that are not eligible under these tax credit programs (i.e. game shows, live sports, news, talk shows and reality television) are not included in Creative BC tax credit certification tables.

Film and TV Statistics by Calendar Year

2023 Film and TV Statistics
2022 Film and TV Statistics

Tax Credit Certification by Fiscal Year

April 1 – March 31

2023/24 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2022/23 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2021/22 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2020/21 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2019/20 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2018/19 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2017/18 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2016/17 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2015/16 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2014/15 Tax Credit Certification Activity
2013/14 Tax Credit Certification Activity