Tax Exemption

Eric Coughlin

Eric Coughlin

Veteran
B&H and Adorama both indicated to me that I as an LLC can get sales tax exemption in Georgia for film equipment. B&H rep said that a sole proprietor cannot get this exemption, but I recently became an LLC. Does anyone know where to apply for this?

Anyone else gotten tax exemption?
 
Maybe reach out to the GA department of revenue, because I'm sure you have to file paperwork with the state to verify what type of business you are and that you qualify for the exemption.

Is it really worth the trouble with B&H, though, since they have the PayBoo card? I don't know if I've ever bought more than $5k-$6K worth of gear at one time with them, which I think is the limit on my card there. Really big ticket items, like cameras and lenses, I'm going through my main dealer, so that I can have some real support, if I need it.
 
PayBoo card means you don’t also get cash back from your ordinary credit card. My credit card is 2% cash back and I spend around $100k on equipment per year, so that’s $2000 in cash back in addition to zero tax if tax exempt. Also, B&H accounts for perhaps half of my equipment purchases, so that still leaves the other half.

Guess I’ll try the department of revenue then.
 
Two, maybe three used AMIRAS and the works will probably push one back over $60K in one shot...then the rest adds up quickly.

This year it's going to be two, maybe three ALEXA Mini LFs, lol.
 
As a fiduciary officer of an LLC who has annual gear expenditures of $100k+ (among other expenses), wouldn't it be prudent to consult with the tax professional who does your filings each year? (If you don't have one yet, maybe LegalZoom will extend you a discount with one of their affiliates?)
 
Not sure about Georgia, but generally you either pay sales tax up front or you pay a use tax if the purchase is for your business use and not for resale. A state retail business license is all you need for the exemption.
The tax gets paid by the buyer when resold.
Any way you cut it, your business pays the tax unless you are a reseller.
 
Seanik said:
As a fiduciary officer of an LLC who has annual gear expenditures of $100k+ (among other expenses), wouldn't it be prudent to consult with the tax professional who does your filings each year? (If you don't have one yet, maybe LegalZoom will extend you a discount with one of their affiliates?)
Click to expand...

Nah. That would just be logical. :)
 
Georgia doesn't not have a Sales Tax Exemption for Film & TV Gear.

Below are most of the states with Sales Tax Exemptions for Film & Television:

California, Partial Exemption
Connecticut
Florida
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New York
Texas
Virginia
Washington State
 
Mark, have you actually used the Georgia Exemption? The Georgia Film Commission doesn't have any mention of it that i could find, but i did see Rule 560-12-2-.109 below.
https://www.georgia.org/industries/...rgia-film-tv-production/production-incentives

I had been told previously by someone at the Georgia Department of Economic Development that the sales tax exemption had expired when I was trying to do a lease in Georgia.

PDF application available here to apply:
http://www.georgia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SalesUseTaxIncentiveApp.pdf

Rule 560-12-2-.109. Film Producer or Film Production Company
(1) A Film Producer or Film Production Company is primarily engaged in the production of feature films, training films, series, pilots, movies for television, commercials, music videos or sound recordings captured on film, video or digital format. Such entities are subject to sales and use tax on all purchases and taxable services unless otherwise exempt within the Act and this Regulation.
(2) Definitions. For purposes of qualifying for the exemption provided for by O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(73), and as used in this Regulation, the following definitions and explanation of terms shall apply:
(a) "Certified Film Producer or Certified Film Production Company" means any person that is certified by the Georgia Film and Videotape Office of the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism that is engaged in the business of organizing and supervising qualified production activities.
(b) "Film Producer" means any person engaged in the business of organizing and supervising qualified production activities. Such person may also be engaged in the business of organizing and supervising nonqualified production activities.
(c) "Film Production Company" means any company that employs one or more film producers and whose goal is to engage in film production activity. Such company may also be engaged in the business of organizing and supervising nonqualified production activities.
(d) "Nation-Wide Commercial Distribution" means intended for commercial distribution extending outside the State of Georgia. Such term shall not mean distribution primarily via Internet or live coverage of an event, including, but not limited to news, sporting events, and concerts.
(e) "Production Equipment" means items purchased or leased for use exclusively in qualified production activities in Georgia, including, but not limited to, cameras, camera supplies, camera accessories, lighting equipment, cables, wires, generators, motion picture film and videotape stock, cranes, booms, dollies and teleprompters.
(f) "Production Services" means services purchased for use exclusively in qualified production activities in Georgia, including, but not limited to, digital or tape editing, film processing, transfers of film or tape or digital format, sound mixing, computer graphics services, special effects services, animation services and script production.
(g) "Qualified Production Activities" means the production or postproduction of film or video projects including feature films, series, pilots, movies for television, commercials, music videos or sound recordings used in feature films, series, pilots or movies for television, for which the film producer or film production company will be compensated and which are intended for nation-wide commercial distribution.
(3) Purchases. Except as provided for in paragraph (4) of this Regulation, the tax does not apply to all tangible personal property or taxable services purchased, leased, or rented for use in production activities. Such purchases include, but are not limited to, office equipment, furniture or supplies, maintenance or janitorial equipment and supplies, motor vehicles, trailers and motor homes, nonqualified production equipment, telecommunications equipment, catering services, including food and beverages and restaurant meals, any fuel or gas, lodging, flowers and gifts.
(4) Production Equipment or Production Services Exemption.
(a) In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(73), transactions occurring on or after January 1, 2002, which involve the purchase of production equipment or production services for exclusive use in Georgia, not otherwise exempt under Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, will be exempt from sales and use tax.
(b) General Requirements for the Production Equipment or Production Services Exemption. In order to qualify for the production equipment or production services exemption provided for in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(73) and this Regulation, the following conditions must be met:
1. The qualified purchasers, renters or lessees of such production equipment or production services must obtain a Certificate of Exemption from the Commissioner as provided in paragraph (4)(c) of this Regulation. The application for such Certificate of Exemption must be requested using the Application for Certificate of Exemption (Form ST-PE1) and contain an itemized listing of the production equipment or production services.
2. The production equipment or production services must be purchased, rented or leased for exclusive use in this state by a certified film producer or certified film production company.
3. As a condition precedent to the issuance of the Certificate of Exemption, a film producer or film production company must submit an application to the Commissioner with their designation as a certified film producer or certified film production company.
4. The application shall not be valid without prior written approval by the Georgia Film and Videotape Office of the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism designating the film producer or film production company to be a certified film producer or certified film production company.
(c) Application and Certificate of Exemption.
1. Any purchaser or lessee desiring to secure the benefits of the exemption provided by O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(73)must file an Application for Certificate of Exemption (Form ST-PE1). The application shall include the following information: name of the producer, name of the production company, title of the project, type of project (feature film, television series, commercial, etc.), dates of project (production through final shoot day), federal employer's identification number, description of the property anticipated to be purchased, including the sales price or rental or lease amount payable, and a copy of the certification from the Georgia Film and Videotape Office of the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism. In addition thereto, the Commissioner may require such other information as deemed necessary for the determination of the claim for exemption.
2. Upon approval of an application, the Commissioner will issue a Certificate of Exemption (Form ST-PE2) for presentation by the purchaser, renter or lessee to the production equipment or production service suppliers, whereupon the purchaser or lessee shall be relieved from the payment of the tax and the equipment suppliers shall be relieved from the collection of the tax.
3. Where the Certificate of Exemption (Form ST-PE2) has not previously been obtained and tax is collected or accrued on the purchase or lease of production equipment or production services, which may qualify for exemption, the purchaser or lessee may apply for a refund of such tax. The Claim for Refund (Form ST-12) shall be accompanied by an Application for Certificate of Exemption (Form ST-PE1) and any other documentation deemed necessary by the Commissioner.
(d) Specific Applications; Exemptions and Exceptions Relating Thereto.
1. Production equipment when sold or leased to a certified film producer or certified film production company and used exclusively in connection with a qualified film production activity in Georgia is exempt from Georgia sales and use tax. Such equipment shall include, but is not limited to:
(i) Camera equipment, supplies and accessories;
(ii) Motion picture film and videotape stock;
(iii) Digital discs and masters;
(iv) Lighting equipment, including gel, bulbs and lamps;
(v) Stage equipment;
(vi) Cranes, booms, dollies and jibs;
(vii) Electric stands, cables and wires;
(viii) Generators used to operate tax exempt lighting and stage equipment;
(ix) Time code equipment;
(x) VTR and digital editing equipment;
(xi) Switchers;
(xii) Character generators;
(xiii) Sound recording equipment;
(xiv) Costumes, props, scenery and materials to construct them;
(xv) Design equipment;
(xvi) Heating and air conditioning equipment that is not a part of the realty and is used on the set;
(xvii) Drafting equipment;
(xviii) Special effects supplies and equipment;
(xix) Photographic film;
(xx) Animation equipment;
(xxi) Computer graphic and image equipment;
(xxii) Motor vehicle rentals and leases that are exclusively used on film production sets; and
(xxiii) Equipment and supplies for dubbing, mixing, editing and cutting.
2. Production or post production services when sold to a certified film producer or certified film production company and used exclusively in connection with a qualified film production activity in Georgia are services exempt from Georgia sales and use tax. Such services shall include, but are not limited to:
(i) Film processing;
(ii) Computer graphics services;
(iii) Photography on the set used in the film; and
(iv) Fabrication, printing, or production of scripts, storyboards, costumes, wardrobes, props, scenery or special effects.
3. The exemption provided for under O.C.G.A. § 48-8-3(73)shall not extend to:
(i) Leases or rentals that are continuous in nature where the leased or rented equipment is not exclusively for use in Georgia;
(ii) Equipment used for both qualifying production activities and non-qualifying production activities;
(iii) Any person who contracts to furnish tangible personal property and perform services under a real property contract. Contractors are deemed to be the consumers of all tangible personal property used in a real property contract and shall pay the tax at the time of purchase; and
(iv) Items not considered production equipment or production services. Such items include, but are not limited to, office supplies and furniture, bottled water, catered food and beverages, crew uniforms, flowers and plants used off the set, personal gifts, utilities, cell phones, pagers and battery chargers, hotel rooms and lodging, reusable shipping cases and packaging materials, janitorial supplies, make-up, motor fuel, repairs to equipment, transportation services, purchases of motor vehicles or motor vehicle leases or rentals used to transport items or individuals and any other tangible personal property or taxable services not specifically exempt under this Regulation.
4. If, after obtaining the Certificate of Exemption required under paragraph (4)(c) of this Regulation, the actual purchase(s) or lease(s) fails to meet the requirements for this exemption, the dealer will be liable for tax, penalty and interest on the purchase(s) or lease(s).
(5) Sales.
(a) Charges for services rendered by a film producer or film production company are exempt when performing production or postproduction work on a motion picture master under the direction of another producer or production or post-production company. Postproduction work includes, but is not limited to, editing and synchronization of a motion picture master.
(b) The sale or rental of master tapes or master records that are used by the recording industry in reproducing audio recordings and visual images for showing on screens or television are not considered subject to sales and use tax.
(c) Sales of training films or other non-qualified production activities that are not reproduced are subject to sales and use tax.
(d) Retail sales of any film producer's or production company's assets that would not otherwise be exempt from Georgia sales and use tax, are subject to sales and use tax.
(e) A transaction involving only a charge for a copyright license and does not include a sale, lease, or rental of video tape or motion picture film would not be considered taxable.
 
I emailed film@georgia.org last night about Sales Tax Exemption Rule 560-12-2-.109. Film Producer or Film Production Company and got the following response:

No, not for film production companies. The sales tax exemption program ended in June 2012.

Our website www.georgia.org/film has been updated with a new look and easier navigation including information for the GA film tax incentive such as the forms, Rules & Regs, and other important stuff. Please refer to https://www.georgia.org/industries/...rgia-film-tv-production/production-incentives for the most current information. The production company should submit the 20% and 10% applications for the Georgia film tax credit incentive program when the project is fully funded, green-lit and opening the production office in Georgia but before the completion of principal photography in Georgia.​
 
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