Incentive Calculator

Break out your budget the way states do. Change a line's residency or location and watch the result move — the math is always shown.

Already have a budget?

Import a PDF, CSV, Excel, JSON, or Google Sheet and we'll split it into lines for you.

Cash rebateSource: Department of Trade, Industry and Competition· Last verified 2026-06-07
Your budget
Set all:·
R
R
R
R
R
R
Production details
Sign in to save this scenario.
Estimated incentive
Researched
ZAR 0
0% of total budget · 0% of qualified spend
Below South Africa's minimum qualified spend — no credit earned yet.
Total budget
ZAR 1,200,000
Qualified spend
ZAR 1,100,000
Base credit
ZAR 275,000
Uplift
ZAR 0
Line-by-line — why each number is what it is
Director · ZAR 150,000ZAR 37,500
25% of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure · 25% on ZAR 150,000
Lead cast · ZAR 250,000ZAR 62,500
25% of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure · 25% on ZAR 250,000
Local crew · ZAR 400,000ZAR 100,000
25% of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure · 25% on ZAR 400,000
Camera & grip rental · ZAR 180,000ZAR 45,000
25% of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure · 25% on ZAR 180,000
Locations & stage · ZAR 120,000ZAR 30,000
25% of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure · 25% on ZAR 120,000
Post (out of state) · ZAR 100,000—
Does not match this program's qualifying-spend definition.
From credit to cash

A direct payment from the state after a CPA audit and compliance sign-off. There's no buyer or broker — the headline figure is the cash, paid on the state's timeline.

Gross rebate/grantZAR 0
Paid after auditZAR 0

Typical timing: ~12 months after audit/filing.

  • • Programme effectively frozen in 2026 (adjudication paused, payment backlog) — confirm current status before relying on it.
  • • Foreign production: QSAPE ≥ R12M with ≥50% of principal photography shot in South Africa.
  • • Post-production incentive is 20% of QSAPPE, rising to 22.5%/25% at higher post spend (not modeled here).
  • • Minimum qualified spend of ZAR 12,000,000 not met (ZAR 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.

Drop it into a capital stack and see how the rest of the raise — equity, pre-sales, gap — fits, and how investors get paid back.

Plan the raise →

Are you a film commissioner or agency with official updates to South Africa's program? Help us keep it accurate.

Submit an update →

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.