What application, certificate, spending, banking, and compliance requirements governed Louisiana's 2003 state sales-tax exclusion for motion picture productions?

Plain-English summary

Under the 2003 program, an approved motion picture production company received a certificate excluding qualifying Louisiana purchases from state—but not local—sales and use tax.

The company had to spend at least $250,000 with Louisiana vendors during a consecutive 12-month period and pay those expenditures from a checking account at a Louisiana financial institution.

Application and certificate

The production company applied through the Department of Economic Development's film office. After approval, that office notified the Department of Revenue, which issued Form R-1036. The company furnished a copy to vendors as evidence of the state exemption.

Qualifying production spending

The ruling counted amounts facilitating Louisiana filming, including office space and furniture rental, cast and crew lodging and dining, catering, equipment rentals, labor, production insurance, attorney fees, promotional materials, and production-related social, marketing, or promotional events.

Items the production company bought for distribution to cast or crew qualified; cast or crew members' private purchases did not.

Audit and retroactive assessment

The Department could examine company records at any time. If the company failed the statutory conditions, it could be assessed all state sales and use tax as though relief had never been granted.

Once the company met the $250,000 requirement within the consecutive 12-month period, the ruling said relief continued until production was completed.

Common questions

Q: Did the certificate exempt local sales and use tax?

A: No.

Q: What spending threshold applied?

A: At least $250,000 from Louisiana vendors within 12 consecutive months.

Q: Did the payment account matter?

A: Yes. Expenditures had to come from a checking account at a Louisiana financial institution.

Q: Could relief be revoked retroactively?

A: Yes, if the company failed to meet the requirements.

Citations and references

• La. R.S. 47:1121 et seq. — Motion Picture Incentive Act
• La. R.S. 47:1123-1125
• La. R.S. 47:301(10)(a)(vi) — former sale-at-retail exclusion
• Act 5 of the 2002 First Extraordinary Session
• Act 551 of the 2003 Regular Session
• LAC 61:III.101.C — Revenue Ruling authority and reliance statement

Source

• Landing page: Louisiana Department of Revenue Policies
• Original PDF: LA Revenue Ruling 03-003

Original ruling text

Revenue Ruling
No. 03-003
July 03, 2003
Sales and Use Tax
Sales Tax Exclusion Under The Motion Picture Incentive Act
This Revenue Ruling explains the requirements for obtaining sales and use tax relief granted by
the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act, Revised Statute 47:1121 et seq.
Background Information
Act 5 of the 2002 First Extraordinary Session of the Louisiana Legislature amended the Motion
Picture Incentive Act to change the sales tax rebate to a sales tax exclusion. The Act also made
changes to the definitions of “motion picture” and “motion picture production company.” The
changes made by Act 5 include the following:
1.

Amended R.S. 47:1123(4) regarding the definition of “motion picture” to mean a nationally
distributed feature-length film, video, television series, or commercial made in Louisiana, in
whole or in part for theatrical or television viewing or as a television pilot and not the
production of television coverage of news and athletic events.

2.

Amended R.S. 47:1123(5) regarding the definition of “motion picture production company”
to mean a company engaged in the business of producing nationally distributed motion
pictures, videos, television series, or commercials intended for a theatrical release or for
television viewing. Motion picture production company does not mean any company owned,
affiliated, or controlled, in whole or in part, by any company or person that is in default on a
loan made by the state or a loan guaranteed by the state.

3

Amended R.S. 47:1124 to provide relief from the payment of state sales and use tax on
purchases made in Louisiana in connection with filming or producing a nationally
distributed motion picture, video, television series, or commercial. Previously, this section
allowed reimbursement for the state taxes paid on these purchases.

4

Enacted R.S. 47:301(10)(a)(vi) to exclude from the definition of “sale at retail” those
“purchases made in connection with the filming or production of a motion picture by a
motion picture production company which has been relieved from the payment of state sales
and use tax under the provisions of … the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act.” The
exclusion may be retroactively revoked if it is determined that the motion picture production
company failed to meet the conditions for relief as defined in the Motion Picture Incentive
Act.

To qualify for sales and use tax relief under the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act, a
motion picture production company must make at least $250,000 in purchases from Louisiana
vendors during a consecutive 12-month period and the expenditures must be made from a
checking account at a Louisiana financial institution.

Revenue Ruling 03-003
Page 2 of 3

Applications
Motion Picture Production Companies must submit their application for tax relief to the
Department of Economic Development, Governor's Office of Film and Television Development1
in accordance with the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act and the regulations adopted by
the Department of Economic Development. If the application is approved, the Governor's Office
of Film and Television Development will notify the Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services
Division and the Department of Revenue will issue a Motion Picture Production Exemption
Certificate (Form R-1036) to the Motion Picture Production Company. A copy of the certificate
must be provided to vendors as evidence of the exemption. The exemption does not apply to
local sales and use taxes.
Compliance and Verification
Motion Picture Production Companies must spend at least $250,000 in Louisiana within a
consecutive 12-month period and the expenditures must be paid from a checking account at a
Louisiana financial institution. Any amount spent to facilitate the filming of a motion picture by
a motion picture production company in Louisiana qualifies toward the $250,000 purchase
requirement. Purchases considered necessary to facilitate filming of a motion picture include, but
are not limited to amounts paid to Louisiana vendors for:
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Office space to maintain a Louisiana base of operations;
Office furniture rental;
Hotel and dining expenses for cast and crew;
Catering;
Equipment rentals;
General labor services;
Insurance for production liabilities;
Attorney fees;
Flyers and brochures; and
Social, marketing, or promotional events affiliated with the filming.

Items purchased by the production company for distribution to the cast or crew qualify for the
sales and use tax relief. However, private purchases by members of the cast or crew do not.
The Department of Revenue may examine the records of motion picture production companies at
any time to verify compliance with the requirements in R.S. 47:1124 and 1125. If it is
determined that a company has not met the requirements for state sales and use tax relief, the
Motion Picture Production Company will be assessed for all taxes as if the relief had never been
granted.
Summary
Requests for relief from the payment of state sales and use tax under the Louisiana Motion
Picture Incentive Act must be submitted to the Louisiana Department of Economic
1

Act 551 of the 2003 Regular Legislative Session abolished the Louisiana Film and Video Commission within the
Department of Economic Development and created the Governor's Office of Film and Television Development with
its authority. The effective date of Act 551 is August 15, 2003.

Revenue Ruling 03-003
Page 3 of 3

Development, Governor's Office of Film and Television Development in accordance with the
rules and regulations established by that agency. The Governor's Office of Film and Television
Development will notify the Department of Revenue when a motion picture production company
has been approved for state sales and use tax relief. The Department of Revenue will issue an
exemption certificate to the qualified motion picture production company that must be provided
to vendors. The Department of Revenue may audit these companies to determine if they have
abided by the terms of the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act. Companies that fail to
comply with the terms of the Act will be assessed for any unpaid sales and use tax. Once a
motion picture company has spent at least $250,000 in Louisiana within a consecutive 12-month
period, the relief from payment of state sales and use tax will continue until the production is
completed.
For more information regarding this topic, taxpayers should contact the Taxpayer Services
Division at 225-219-7356.
Cynthia Bridges
Secretary
By: J.A. Cline, Jr., CPA
Tax Research Analyst
Policy Services Division

A Revenue Ruling is written to provide guidance to the public and to Department of Revenue employees.
It is issued under Louisiana Administrative Code 61:III.101.C to apply principles of law to a specific set of
facts. A Revenue Ruling does not have the force and effect of law and is not binding on the public. It is a
statement of the Department’s position and is binding on the Department until superseded or modified by
a subsequent change in statute, regulation, declaratory ruling, or court decision.