Chapter Tour 4
FILM PRODUCTION ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
Subchapter I — Purpose, Scope and Authority
Tour 4.10 Purpose, scope and authority. Subchapter II — Accreditation of Production.
Tour 4.30 General eligibility criteria. Tour 4.31 Ineligible public programming. Tour 4.34 Obtaining accreditation. Tour 4.35 Ineligible expenditures. Tour 4.36 Determination of production expenditures and resident salary, wages, or labor-related contract payments. Subchapter III — Tax Credits for Establishing or Operating a Film Production Company
Tour 4.70 Certification of expenses relating to establishing a film production company. Subchapter IV — Submittal of Claims
Tour 4.10Tour 4.10 Purpose, scope and authority. Tour 4.10(1)(1) The purpose and scope of this chapter is to establish the procedures for obtaining any of the following from the department, for use in claiming corresponding tax credits: Tour 4.10(1)(b)(b) A determination of the amount of expenditures that are directly used to produce an accredited production. Tour 4.10(1)(c)(c) Certification of expenses that are related to establishing or operating a film production company in Wisconsin. Tour 4.10 HistoryHistory: CR 07-063: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08; CR 10-116: am. (1) (c) Register May 2011 No. 665, eff. 6-1-11; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672. Tour 4.20Tour 4.20 Definitions. In this subchapter: Tour 4.20 Note“1. “Accredited production” means a film, video, broadcast advertisement, or television production, as approved by the department of commerce or the department of tourism, for which the aggregate salary and wages included in the cost of the production for the period ending 12 months after the month in which the principal filming or taping of the production begins exceeds $50,000. “Accredited production” also means an electronic game, as approved by the department of commerce or the department of tourism, for which the aggregate salary and wages included in the cost of the production for the period ending 36 months after the month in which the principal programming, filming, or taping of the production begins exceeds $100,000. “Accredited production” does not include any of the following, regardless of the production costs:
Tour 4.20 Notea. News, current events, or public programming or a program that includes weather or market reports.
Tour 4.20 Noteb. A talk show.
Tour 4.20 Notec. A production with respect to a questionnaire or contest.
Tour 4.20 Noted. A sports event or sports activity.
Tour 4.20 Notee. A gala presentation or awards show.
Tour 4.20 Notef. A finished production that solicits funds.
Tour 4.20 Noteg. A production for which the production company is required under 18 USC 2257 to maintain records with respect to a performer portrayed in a single media or multimedia program. Tour 4.20 Noteh. A production produced primarily for industrial, corporate, or institutional purposes.
Tour 4.20 Note2. “Claimant” means a person who files a claim under this subsection.
Tour 4.20 Note3. “Production expenditures” means any expenditures that are incurred in this state and directly used to produce an accredited production, including expenditures for set construction and operation, wardrobes, make-up, clothing accessories, photography, sound recording, sound synchronization, sound mixing, lighting, editing, film processing, film transferring, special effects, visual effects, renting or leasing facilities or equipment, renting or leasing motor vehicles, food, lodging, and any other similar expenditure as determined by the department of commerce or the department of tourism. “Production expenditures” do not include salary, wages, or labor-related contract payments.”
Tour 4.20(2)(2) “Department” means the department of tourism. Tour 4.20(3)(3) “Incurred” means funds equal to the total cost have been disbursed by a potential claimant. Tour 4.20(4)(4) “Person” includes natural persons, fiduciaries, and corporations, unless the context requires otherwise. Tour 4.30Tour 4.30 General eligibility criteria. The department shall consider whether all of the following are likely, in determining whether to accredit a production: Tour 4.30(1)(1) The production would not occur in Wisconsin without the tax benefits provided under this chapter. Tour 4.30(2)(2) The production would enhance economic development in Wisconsin. Tour 4.30(3)(3) The production would enhance the potential for increasing the film, video or electronic game industry in Wisconsin. Tour 4.30(4)(4) The production would not hurt the reputation of the state of Wisconsin. Tour 4.30 HistoryHistory: CR 07-063: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08. Tour 4.31Tour 4.31 Ineligible public programming. Public programming of a civic or governmental function is not eligible for becoming an accredited production. Tour 4.31 HistoryHistory: CR 07-063: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08. Tour 4.34(1)(a)(a) A potential claimant shall submit a separate accreditation application for each production, to the department, on a valid, department-prescribed form. Tour 4.34 NoteNote: The application form that is currently valid can be obtained from the department at P.O. Box 8690, Madison, WI, 53708-8690; and may be available by accessing the department’s Web site at http://industry.travelwisconsin.com, and searching for the film production accreditation program. Tour 4.34 NoteNote: Under s. 41.155 (1), Stats., application for accreditation must be made to the department in each taxable year for which accreditation is desired. Tour 4.34(1)(b)(b) An application for accrediting a production shall be submitted at least 21 days prior to the start of filming or taping the production. Tour 4.34(1)(c)(c) Applications shall be reviewed by the department on a first-come, first-served basis. Tour 4.34(2)(2) Approval. A production shall become accredited upon issuance of a written approval from the department, to the claimant, reflecting that the submitted application complies with this chapter and provides any other information which the department deems is necessary to evaluate applications under this subchapter. Tour 4.34(3)(3) Revocation. The department may revoke any approval issued under sub. (2) if the supporting information is found to be inaccurate or significantly misleading. Tour 4.34 NoteNote: In accordance with s. 41.155 (3), Stats., the department will notify the department of revenue of every production accredited under this section, and of any such accreditation that is revoked. Tour 4.34 HistoryHistory: CR 07-063: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08; CR 10-116: renum. (1) to (1) (a), cr. (1) (b) and (c) Register May 2011 No. 665, eff. 6-1-11. Tour 4.35Tour 4.35 Ineligible expenditures. Expenditures for any of the following are not eligible for submittal or acceptance under s. Tour 4.36: Tour 4.35(1)(1) Marketing and distribution of an accredited production. Tour 4.35(8)(8) Legal fees, such as for development, marketing or business set-up. Tour 4.35(9)(9) Expenditures for forfeitures, fees, expenses and costs associated with violation of federal or state law or local ordinances. Tour 4.35 HistoryHistory: CR 10-116: cr. Register May 2011 No. 665, eff. 6-1-11; correction in (intro.) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register December 2011 No. 672. Tour 4.36Tour 4.36 Determination of production expenditures and resident salary, wages, or labor-related contract payments. Tour 4.36(1)(1) To obtain the department’s determinations in sub. (2), and prior to filing for tax benefits, a claimant shall submit all of the following to the department, in writing:
