Incentive Calculator

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Refundable tax creditSource: Office for the Arts & Screen Australia; paid via the ATO· Last verified 2026-06-07
Your budget
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Production details
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Estimated incentive
Researched
A$0
0% of total budget · 0% of qualified spend
Below Australia's minimum qualified spend — no credit earned yet.
Total budget
A$1,200,000
Qualified spend
A$1,100,000
Base credit
A$330,000
Uplift
A$0
Line-by-line — why each number is what it is
Director · A$150,000A$45,000
30% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) · 30% on A$150,000
Lead cast · A$250,000A$75,000
30% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) · 30% on A$250,000
Local crew · A$400,000A$120,000
30% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) · 30% on A$400,000
Camera & grip rental · A$180,000A$54,000
30% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) · 30% on A$180,000
Locations & stage · A$120,000A$36,000
30% of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) · 30% on A$120,000
Post (out of state) · A$100,000—
Does not match this program's qualifying-spend definition.
From credit to cash

A refundable credit pays out in cash even if you owe no state tax: you file, the state applies the credit to any liability, and refunds the rest. Timing depends on the audit and filing cycle.

Gross creditA$0
Refunded as cash (above liability)A$0

Typical timing: ~6 months after audit/filing.

  • • Location Offset requires A$20M QAPE (TV series also A$1.5M QAPE/hour). PDV Offset minimum is A$500K QAPE.
  • • Only ONE federal offset per project. The Producer Offset (40% feature / 30% other) requires significant Australian content; Location/PDV are content-neutral.
  • • Minimum qualified spend of A$20,000,000 not met (A$1,100,000 qualified). No credit is earned until the threshold is reached.
Every figure is traceable to a named rule above.
This incentive is your first money in.

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This is an estimate, not advice.

Every number here is an estimate generated from published program rules and your inputs. Programs change with each legislative session, and qualification depends on details a calculator can't see. This is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Before you make a financing decision, confirm everything with the state film office and a qualified CPA and entertainment attorney.