State Brief · MA

Massachusetts Film Tax Incentives

Headline rate, caps, minimum spend, payroll fringe, and the official film office for Massachusetts. Reference data for producers, line producers, and financiers structuring a Massachusetts shoot.

Program Type
Transferable Tax Credit
25%
Program Details
Annual Cap
No cap
Project Cap
Min. Spend
$50K
Comp. Cap
Labor & Fringe
Payroll Burden
26–30%
Workers' Comp
2.70%
Sales Tax
6.25% (production exempt)
Union Locals
IATSE 481 / 11
Official Sourcemass.gov

Illustrative reference. Verify before deal.

Production Brief

Massachusetts' 25% transferable tax credit is permanent with no sunset date and no annual cap, providing a level of program certainty that is rare nationally. The credit applies to qualified below-the-line spending, and a separate payroll credit can be layered for additional benefit, with credits refundable at 90% for productions meeting certain thresholds. The minimum qualifying spend is $50,000 or over 50% of principal photography in-state, making the program accessible across budget ranges. Boston and the surrounding communities offer a deep crew base, established stage facilities, and New England locations ranging from historic neighborhoods to coastal towns to university campuses. Credits are transferable with an established broker market, and the program's permanence means productions can plan multi-season series without sunset-date risk.

Massachusetts film incentive, at a glance.

The questions producers ask first when sizing a Massachusetts shoot, answered against the state's current program structure and fringe environment.

Is the Massachusetts film tax credit refundable or transferable?
Massachusetts's film tax credit is transferable. Producers can sell unused credits to a third-party taxpayer (typically a bank or insurance company) at a discount, which generally clears in 30 to 90 days at 88 to 95 cents on the dollar.
What is the Massachusetts film incentive rate?
Massachusetts offers a 25% rate on qualified production spend.
What is the minimum spend to qualify for the Massachusetts film incentive?
The minimum qualified-spend threshold to access the Massachusetts program is $50K. Productions below this threshold are not eligible for the incentive.
What is the annual cap on the Massachusetts film tax credit?
Massachusetts's film incentive program is not subject to an annual cap. Allocation availability is generally not a structural constraint, though producers should still verify with the state film office before relying on the credit in a capital stack.
What is the payroll burden for film production in Massachusetts?
Typical payroll burden in Massachusetts runs 26–30% on top of gross wages, covering payroll taxes, statutory insurance, and applicable union pension/health/welfare contributions. Workers' compensation rates for production work generally fall around 2.70%, and production purchases are subject to 6.25% (production exempt).
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Headline rate is the start, not the end. Compare Massachusetts side-by-side with every other U.S. jurisdiction on caps, minimum spend, refundability, and fringe before locking the location.

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