Colorado Production Tax Incentives

Overview

  • Colorado offers a 20% refundable tax credit for projects that hire a cast and crew of at least 50% Colorado residents. Loanouts must register with the state and are subject to 4.4% withholding. An additional 2% may be earned for using local infrastructure, rural or marginalized urban areas.
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and approved at the discretion of the film commission.
  • Submit a preliminary application with proof of 80% of financing, if project meets certain standards the film office will send an invitation to submit a full application.
  • Applications must be submitted before production begins in Colorado.

Eligible Project Types: Animation, commercials, documentaries, feature films, game shows, industrials, music videos, pilots, reality TV, scripted TV, standalone postproduction, talk shows, video games

Incentive details

Type
Refundable tax credit
Rate
Uplift(s)
2% for use of local infrastructure, rural or marginalized urban areas.
Annual Cap
$5M
Project Cap
None
Compensation Cap
$1M
Eligible Expenses
Payments made to Colorado companies and services located in and wages subject to withholding for labor that occurs in Colorado within the calculation start date and contract/purchase order expiration date.
Additional Info

Requirements

Minimum Spend
$1M (non-CO based production companies); $250K (commercials & video games); $100K (CO-based production companies)
Local Hire Requirement
Yes - declaration of residency form required
Logo/End Credit Acknowledgement Required
Yes
Loanout Withholding
Application Timing
Audit
CPA audit required

How to Apply

Application
Application Timing
Colorado Film Office

ARIELLE BRACHFELD, DEPUTY FILM COMMISSIONER, 720-703-2469, ARIELLE.BRACHFELD@STATE.CO.US
Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media | Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Helpful Links

Colorado Film Incentive | Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

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