Our multicultural leaders have deep start-up and enterprise experience, with rich mobile anNew Jersey currently offers financial incentives to filmmakers, and the US Government has an incentive program as well:d data expertise.
The New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program provides a credit against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax for certain expenses incurred for the production of certain films and digital media content in New Jersey.
From research, to events, to platform partnerships, we work with thought leaders to provide more actionable data. New Jersey has endless resources for all facets of filming!
This tangible property includes the purchase of replacement parts for machinery, tools and other supplies, the purchase of lumber and hardware to build sets, the rental of picture cars, the purchase or rental of other types of props, and costs related to the repair of camera and lighting equipment.
The New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program provides a credit against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax for certain expenses incurred for the production of certain films and digital media content in New Jersey.The goal of the program is to incentivize production companies to film and create digital media content in New Jersey.
1 New Jersey currently offers these financial incentives to filmmakers, and the US Government has an incentive program as well
2 Certain tangible property used directly and primarily in the production of films and television programs is exempt from New Jersey's sales tax.
3 This tangible property includes the purchase of replacement parts for machinery, tools and other supplies, the purchase of lumber and hardware to build sets, the rental of picture cars, the purchase or rental of other types of props, and costs related to the repair of camera and lighting equipment.
Film Tax History
Tax Credit
Film and Digital Media
The combined potential 37% tax credit—along with New Jersey’s diverse shooting locations, talent pool and proximity to major U.S. cities—has created significant demand for the program. Recognizing this, and the opportunity it creates for the state, the amended statute not only increases the cap from $75 million to $100 million annually, but also extends the sunset date of the program five years until July 2028.
Tax Credit
Available Assitance
An additional benefit of the revised statute is that it allows for the carryover of any excess amount of the annual allotment to the subsequent fiscal year, provided the carryover amount does not exceed $50 million. With such a high level of demand for this New Jersey incentive, infusing additional monies into the program should hopefully allow the state to continue to attract film productions for years to come.) The New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program provides a credit against the corporation business tax and the gross income tax for certain expenses incurred for the production of certain films and digital media content in New Jersey. The goal of the program is to incentivize production companies to film and create digital media content in New Jersey. For questions regarding the New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program, please contact the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission at (973) 648-6279 or the New Jersey Economic Development Authority at (609) 858-6767.
FILM TAX CREDIT PROGRAM. In order for a film project to be eligible for tax credits under the NJ Film Tax Credit Program, the film project must:
Be a feature film, a television series, or a television show of 22 minutes or more in length, intended for a national audience, or a television series or a television show of 22 minutes or more in length intended for a national or regional audience, including, but not limited to, a game show, award show, or other gala event filmed and produced at a nonprofit arts and cultural venue receiving State funding.
Productions featuring news, current events, weather, and market reports or public programming, talk show, sports event, or reality show, a production that solicits funds, a production containing obscene material as defined under N.J.S.2C:34-2 and N.J.S.2C:34-3, or a production primarily for private, industrial, corporate, or institutional purposes are not eligible for film tax credits.
Meet one of the following expense eligibility thresholds:
60 percent of the total film production expenses (exclusive of post -production costs) must be incurred for services and goods purchased through vendors authorized to do business in New Jersey, or Qualified film production expenses (expenses incurred in New Jersey for the production of a film) must exceed $1 million per production. End credits must include “Filmed in New Jersey” statement or logo. Once a film project is approved by the NJEDA Board for a tax credit, principal photography of the project must commence within 180 days of application or 150 days of the date of EDA Board approval, whichever is sooner. "Reality shows", which are otherwise ineligible, may be eligible for the Film Tax Credit Program if the production company of the reality show owns, leases, or otherwise occupies a production facility of at least 20,000 square feet in an Urban Enterprise Zone for at least two years, and, after July 1, 2018, makes a capital investment of at least $3 million in that facility.
The diversity plan shall identify specific actions to ensure equal opportunities for the following key creative positions and shall include an explanation as to how these actions will contribute toward achieving the overall goal in relation to these positions:
Producer, Director, Screenwriter, Highest paid lead performer, Second highest paid lead performer, Production Designer/Art Director, Design Supervisor, Director of photography, Camera operator, Music composer, Picture editor
Certification: In order to support the fact that an individual who worked on the production is a woman or minority person, consistent with the applicable rules, the applicant must request and retain a copy of the Diversity Plan Report, (see Form B - Diversity Tracking Sheet) from the individual.
Good Faith: The applicant shall undertake appropriate outreach and talent acquisition activities that are reasonably designed to effectively identify, recruit and incorporate women and minority persons into the applicable film production. Good faith efforts are assessed using various factors, including, but not limited to the following, which shall be provided by the applicant: The applicant’s overall number of production workers, by category, upon completion of filming. The names, addresses, and other information required on the Diversity Plan Report of minority and women production workers, by category, upon completion of filming. The final diversity numbers of the production. Documentation of efforts made to recruit and hire women and minority persons to meet the goals of the diversity plan. This can include, casting solicitations, e-mail confirmation or other correspondence to those people contacted but not hired. A list of names, dates and times of people and/or businesses that were contacted may be considered as well. The NJEDA may contact the individuals and businesses listed by the applicant to verify the good faith efforts.
Audit Process: NJEDA or the Division of Taxation may audit the applicant’s submissions, in which case the NJEDA or the Division of Taxation may ask for documents supporting the application and submitted documentation regarding the diversity plan, including, but not limited to, any of the following documents: the books, records and supporting documents of the eligible production corporation agreements and contracts between actors, producers, directors, and other persons and the eligible production corporation any other documents that may be needed to support your claim
New Jersey is a northeastern U.S. state with some 130 miles of Atlantic coast. Jersey City, across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan, is the site of Liberty State Park, where ferries embark for nearby Ellis Island, with its historic Immigration Museum, and the iconic Statue of Liberty. The Jersey Shore includes notable resort towns like historic Asbury Park and Cape May, with its preserved Victorian buildings.
Business Grants:
Tax credits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date/time a fully completed application is received by the NJEDA. If an incomplete application is received, the NJEDA will notify the applicant, who will be required to provide the additional information and re-submit the application. In this scenario, the date/time of record will be based upon when the complete application is resubmitted, not the initial submittal of the incomplete application.
01 Business Tax Clearance Certification Required for Receiving State Grants, Incentives
02 Application for Tax Clearance- Business Assistance and Incentives Courtesy Copy of PL 2018 c.56 - Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act
03 Pursuant to PL 2018 c.56, principal photography must begin within 180 days of application or 150 days of approval, whichever is sooner.
04 Projects utilizing NJEDA financial assistance for construction related costs are subject to state prevailing wage requirements.
Effective April 1, 2020
All construction contracts in which prevailing wage applies must provide proof of valid NJ Department of Labor Construction Registration Certification. Please be advised that a valid Contractor Registration Certificate is required to perform construction on this NJEDA financially assisted project.