NEW TAX BILL RETAINS INCENTIVES FOR MOVIE PRODUCERS

The new “compromise” tax bill will extend a provision of the previous bill that allows motion picture and television producers to deduct up to $15 million in production costs if they are incurred in the United States ($20 million if they are incurred in an “economically depressed area”). Continuation of the tax benefit is seen as particularly good news for independent film producers, whose investors will be able to keep on taking tax deductions for qualified productions. Chicago business attorneys Levin Ginsburg commented: “These [federal and state tax] benefits provide a possibility for investment in independent films and a forum for taxpayers who have never invested in films to consider as a choice for disposable funds.”