BCFM / Programs: Tax Credits: Film Incentive BC (FIBC)

FIBC is a labour based tax incentive that provides refundable tax credits to Canadian controlled production companies based on eligible BC labour costs. This tax credit is designed to encourage film, television, digital animation, and visual effects production in British Columbia. The program includes five initiatives: Basic, Regional, Distant Location Regional, Training, and Digital Animation or Visual Effects (DAVE).

How FIBC works

FIBC is a refundable corporate income tax credit. When filing tax returns, your corporation may claim a specified percentage of the labour costs incurred while making a production. The credits are applied to reduce tax payable, and any remaining balance is paid to the corporation. Please note that your production corporation must apply to BC Film + Media to receive an eligibility and completion certificate for your production. In order to claim FIBC tax credits, your production corporation must file a corporate income tax return, along with the certificates, with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Additional information about FIBC

Program Summary

Program Summary for Interprovincial Coproductions

Program Summary for International Treaty Coproductions

FIBC Information Bulletin

DAVE Information Bulletin

FAQ

Legislation and Regulations

Ministry of Finance - Film & Television Tax Credit

Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO)

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Apply online

Downloads

Application

Checklist

Fee Schedule and On-Screen Credit

Schedule A: Producer's Declaration of BC Residency

Schedule B: Certificate of an Officer

Regional and Distant Location Map

Public Corporation Affidavit

Schedule of BC and non-BC Expenditures Template

Sample Tax Credit Calculation

To see how FIBC and its related tax credits might work for your production, please use the interactive sample tax credit calculator below. Please note that this sample is for demonstration purposes only and is not an official tax credit estimate. If you have any questions about your calculation, or if you have a unique situation, please contact one of our staff and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Provincial tax credits - Domestic production
A	Total Cost of Production ^[1]		$
B	Labour cap	A x 60%	$ 0.00
C	BC net labour incurred by production company (excluding writer fees)		$
D	BC net labour directly attributable to creating VFX or digital animation		$
E	Total PP ^[2] (or key animation) days in BC (TD)
F	Total PP (or key animation) outside of Vancouver (RD)
G	Total PP (or key animation) days in Distant Location (DD)
H	Qualifed BC labour expenditures	lesser of B and C	$ 0.00
I	FIBC Basic	H x 35%	$ 0.00
J	Regional	F/E x H x 12.5%	$ 0.00
K	Distant Location Regional	G/E x H x 6%	$ 0.00
L	DAVE	D x 17.5%	$ 0.00
M	Total provincial tax credits	I + J + K + L	$ 0.00

Federal tax credit - CPTC ^[3]
	Total Cost of Production	A	$ 0.00
N	Less assistance ^[4]	M	$ 0.00
O	Adjusted total cost of production	A-N	$ 0.00
P	Labour cap	O x 60%	$ 0.00
Q	Canadian labour expenditures ^[5]	C	$ 0.00
R	Qualified Canadian labour expenditures	lesser of P and Q	$ 0.00
S	Total federal tax credit	R x 25%	$ 0.00
T	Total provincial and federal tax credits	M + S	$ 0.00