Colorado Film Incentive

To earn a tax credit of up to 20%, or 22% if 50% of production occurs in an Enterprise Zone, all production companies need to hire at least 50% local cast and crew. Production companies must spend a minimum of $100,000 in qualified local expenses to be eligible for the program.

To apply for this incentive, your production needs to show proof of 80% financing. 

Before you start work (defined as principal photography) or incur expenses eligible for the incentive, your production needs to:

• Submit a pre-application.
• Provide proof of at least 80% of financing is available at the time of application.
• Submit the full application.
• Receive approval from the Economic Development Commission.
• Be under contract with the State of Colorado.

All expenses need to be verified by a Colorado Certified Public Accountant who has undergone the film incentive program training. Qualified local expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Wages with Colorado income tax withholding.
• Up to $1 million dollars per employee or contractor to pay the wages or salaries of actors, management, and crew, employees or contractors who participate in the film production activities (Payments over $1 million dollars per employee or contractor shall be excluded.)
• If you claim non-resident cast or crew member wages as qualified expenses, you need to withhold Colorado income tax.
• Developing or purchasing the story and scenario.
• Set construction and operations, wardrobe, accessories, and related services.
• Photography, sound recording and synchronization, lighting, and related services.
• Editing, post-production, music, and related services.
• Renting facilities and equipment, location fees, leasing vehicles.
• Food and lodging for people working on the film production.
• Airfare purchased through a Colorado-based travel agency or company.
• Insurance and bonding purchased through a Colorado-based insurance agent.
• Other direct costs incurred by the film production company that the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media deems appropriate.

Ineligible expenses

The incentive only covers content creation. These expenses are not eligible:

• Marketing, publicity, and advertising.
• Distribution costs.
• Development fees outside of Colorado (that is, options, rights, or purchasing a story out of state).
• Travel costs not made through a Colorado-based travel agency or airline.

The application process operates on a rolling basis, meaning we accept applications as we receive them. Funding is allocated on an annual basis and aligns with the calendar year. Companies' qualified expense start date will be determined by their approval date and the company's tax year start date. The earlier in the calendar year you apply, the more likely that funds are available.

The application process is below.

1. Submit a preliminary application OEDIT application portal.
2. ​​Submit proof of 80% financing.
3. We will contact you to discuss the project. If your project meets certain standards, you will be invited to submit the full application.

Full application

The questions below are only a reference. We will not accept these materials until you have been invited to submit the full application. These questions do not include all of the information you need to include in the full application. You will need to include:

• Project description.
• Pitch deck.
• Biographies of producers, directors, and attached cast.

Supporting documents include:

• Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State.
• Budget top sheet that highlights Colorado expenses.
• Proof of 80% financing.
• Disclosure or statement of the company’s tax year start date (month, day and year).
• Script or treatment – if documentary or non-scripted.

Tax credit funding is limited and therefore projects will be selected on the merits set forth in the application and not on a first-come, first-served basis. The Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media makes recommendations to the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC). 

The EDC has final approval based on available funds and an application’s merits including:

• Expected economic impact.
• Number of jobs created.
• Overall positive impact for Colorado.

The EDC reviews applications at its monthly meetings on the third Thursday of each month. All application materials will be due three weeks prior to the intended EDC meeting.

Regardless of actual expenses, the incentive amount cannot exceed the incentive amount approved by the Economic Development Commission.

If documentation meets all requirements, the office will issue a Film Incentive Tax Credit certificate to your production company after approving the Certified Public Accountant report and other required documentation. The Film Incentive Tax Credit is a refundable income tax credit that your production company may claim by marking it in the appropriate spot on your income tax return and submitting a copy of the certificate to the Colorado Department of Revenue upon filing.

Your production company needs to retain a Colorado Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to review and report – in writing and following professional standards – the accuracy of financial documents that detail the expenses incurred during production activities in Colorado. The CPA must be on COFTM's Approved CPA List (PDF). The report will be submitted to the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM).

The Colorado CPA needs to:

• Be certified by COFTM by submitting a certification letter*.
• Submit the document outlined in the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media CPA Agreed Upon Procedures*.

Your production company needs to certify in writing that the amount of your actual qualified local expenses equals or exceeds the minimum requirement for the incentive. You will also need to submit:

• Copies of all invoices, receipts, and other documentation of qualified Colorado expenses.
• Declaration of Colorado Residency Forms* for local cast and crew members.
• Insurance policy for the production with an effective date before the start of production.
• Detailed plans for film distribution, including name(s) of distributor(s).
• Total payroll report indicating qualified Colorado payroll, Colorado state income tax withholding, and number of hours worked by employee (excluding/obscuring social security numbers).
• Completed Workforce and Payroll and Vendor Spend Template*.
• Call sheets – Submit in one document, organized by date.
• Final crew list separated by the total crew, total Colorado crew or extras per definitions, and non-qualifying crew or extras.
• Final Colorado vendor list, including addresses and contact information.
• List of all cities and specific locations used in Colorado.
• At least one copy/link/invitation to the production (due upon completion).
• At least five digital still photos from production, with rights cleared for promotional use (due upon completion).
• At least one digital poster copy to promote a feature film (if available, due upon completion) – not applicable for commercials.

* These forms, templates, lists and letters will be provided by COFTM during the application process.