Income Tax Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 1 (5th Supp.))

Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit

Marginal note:Definitions

• 125.5 (1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section.

  accredited film or video production certificate

  accredited film or video production certificate, in respect of a film or video production, means a certificate issued by the Minister of Canadian Heritage certifying that the production is an accredited production. (certificat de production cinématographique ou magnétoscopique agréée)

  accredited production

  accredited production has the meaning assigned by regulation. (production agréée)

  assistance

  assistance means an amount, other than an amount deemed under subsection 125.5(3) to have been paid, that would be included under paragraph 12(1)(x) in computing the income of a taxpayer for any taxation year if that paragraph were read without reference to subparagraphs 12(1)(x)(v) to 12(1)(x)(vii). (montant d’aide)

  Canadian labour expenditure

  Canadian labour expenditure of a corporation for a taxation year in respect of an accredited production means, in the case of a corporation that is not an eligible production corporation in respect of the production for the year, nil, and in any other case, subject to subsection 125.5(2), the total of the following amounts in respect of the production to the extent that they are reasonable in the circumstances:

  • (a) the salary or wages directly attributable to the production that are incurred by the corporation after October 1997, and in the year or the preceding taxation year, and that relate to services rendered in Canada for the stages of production of the production, from the final script stage to the end of the post-production stage, and paid by it in the year or within 60 days after the end of the year to employees of the corporation who were resident in Canada at the time the payments were made (other than amounts incurred in that preceding year that were paid within 60 days after the end of that preceding year),

  • (b) that portion of the remuneration (other than salary or wages and other than remuneration that relates to services rendered in the preceding taxation year and that was paid within 60 days after the end of that preceding year) that is directly attributable to the production, that relates to services rendered in Canada after October 1997 and in the year, or that preceding year, to the corporation for the stages of production of the production, from the final script stage to the end of the post-production stage, and that is paid by it in the year or within 60 days after the end of the year to a person or a partnership, that carries on a business in Canada through a permanent establishment (as defined by regulation), and that is

    • (i) an individual resident in Canada at the time the amount is paid and who is not an employee of the corporation, to the extent that the amount paid

      • (A) is attributable to services personally rendered by the individual in Canada in respect of the accredited production, or

      • (B) is attributable to and does not exceed the salary or wages paid by the individual to the individual’s employees at a time when they were resident in Canada for personally rendering services in Canada in respect of the accredited production,

    • (ii) another corporation that is a taxable Canadian corporation, to the extent that the amount paid is attributable to and does not exceed the salary or wages paid to the other corporation’s employees at a time when they were resident in Canada for personally rendering services in Canada in respect of the accredited production,

    • (iii) another corporation that is a taxable Canadian corporation, all the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of which (except directors’ qualifying shares) belong to an individual who was resident in Canada and the activities of which consist principally of the provision of the individual’s services, to the extent that the amount paid is attributable to services rendered personally in Canada by the individual in respect of the accredited production, or

    • (iv) a partnership, to the extent that the amount paid

      • (A) is attributable to services personally rendered in respect of the accredited production by an individual who is resident in Canada and who is a member of the partnership, or

      • (B) is attributable to and does not exceed the salary or wages paid by the partnership to its employees at a time when they were resident in Canada for personally rendering services in Canada in respect of the accredited production, and

  • (c) where

    • (i) the corporation is a subsidiary wholly-owned corporation of another corporation that is a taxable Canadian corporation (in this section referred to as the “parent”), and

    • (ii) the corporation and the parent have filed with the Minister an agreement that this paragraph apply in respect of the production,

    the reimbursement made by the corporation in the year, or within 60 days after the end of the year, of an expenditure that was incurred by the parent in a particular taxation year of the parent in respect of the production and that would be included in the Canadian labour expenditure of the corporation in respect of the production for the particular taxation year because of paragraph (a) or (b) if

    • (iii) the corporation had had such a particular taxation year, and

    • (iv) the expenditure were incurred by the corporation for the same purpose as it was incurred by the parent and were paid at the same time and to the same person or partnership as it was paid by the parent. (dépense de main-d’oeuvre au Canada)

  eligible production corporation

  eligible production corporation, in respect of an accredited production for a taxation year, means a corporation, the activities of which in the year in Canada are primarily the carrying on through a permanent establishment (as defined by regulation) in Canada of a film or video production business or a film or video production services business and that

  • (a) owns the copyright in the accredited production throughout the period during which the production is produced in Canada, or

  • (b) has contracted directly with the owner of the copyright in the accredited production to provide production services in respect of the production, where the owner of the copyright is not an eligible production corporation in respect of the production,except a corporation that is, at any time in the year,

  • (c) a person all or part of whose taxable income is exempt from tax under this Part,

  • (d) controlled directly or indirectly in any manner whatever by one or more persons all or part of whose taxable income is exempt from tax under this Part, or

  • (e) prescribed to be a labour-sponsored venture capital corporation for the purpose of section 127.4. (société de production admissible)

  qualified Canadian labour expenditure

  qualified Canadian labour expenditure of an eligible production corporation for a taxation year in respect of an accredited production means the amount, if any, by which

  • (a) the total of all amounts each of which is the corporation’s Canadian labour expenditure for the year or a preceding taxation year

  exceeds the aggregate of

  • (b) the total of all amounts, each of which is an amount of assistance that can reasonably be considered to be in respect of amounts included in the total determined under paragraph (a) in respect of the corporation for the year that, at the time of filing its return of income for the year, the corporation or any other person or partnership has received, is entitled to receive or can reasonably be expected to receive, that has not been repaid before that time pursuant to a legal obligation to do so (and that does not otherwise reduce that expenditure),

  • (c) the total of all amounts, each of which is the qualified Canadian labour expenditure of the corporation in respect of the accredited production for a preceding taxation year before the end of which the principal filming or taping of the production began, and

  • (d) where the corporation is a parent, the total of all amounts each of which is included in the total determined under paragraph (a) in respect of the corporation for the year and is the subject of an agreement in respect of the accredited production referred to in paragraph (c) of the definition Canadian labour expenditure between the corporation and its subsidiary wholly-owned corporation. (dépense de main-d’oeuvre admissible au Canada)

  salary or wages

  salary or wages does not include an amount described in section 7 or an amount determined by reference to profits or revenues. (traitement ou salaire)

• Marginal note:Rules governing Canadian labour expenditure of a corporation

  (2) For the purpose of the definition Canadian labour expenditure in subsection 125.5(1),

  • (a) remuneration does not include remuneration determined by reference to profits or revenues;

  • (b) services referred to in paragraph (b) of that definition that relate to the post-production stage of the accredited production include only the services that are rendered at that stage by a person who performs the duties of animation cameraman, assistant colourist, assistant mixer, assistant sound-effects technician, boom operator, colourist, computer graphics designer, cutter, developing technician, director of post production, dubbing technician, encoding technician, inspection technician — clean up, mixer, optical effects technician, picture editor, printing technician, projectionist, recording technician, senior editor, sound editor, sound-effects technician, special effects editor, subtitle technician, timer, video-film recorder operator, videotape operator or by a person who performs a prescribed duty;

  • (c) that definition does not apply to an amount to which section 37 applies; and

  • (d) for greater certainty, that definition does not apply to an amount that is not a production cost including an amount in respect of advertising, marketing, promotion, market research or an amount related in any way to another film or video production.

• Marginal note:Tax credit

  (3) An eligible production corporation in respect of an accredited production for a taxation year is deemed to have paid on its balance-due day for the year an amount on account of its tax payable under this Part for the year equal to 16% of its qualified Canadian labour expenditure for the year in respect of the production, if

  • (a) the corporation files with its return of income for the year

    • (i) a prescribed form containing prescribed information in respect of the production,

    • (ii) an accredited film or video production certificate in respect of the production, and

    • (iii) each other document prescribed in respect of the production; and

  • (b) the principal filming or taping of the production began before the end of the year.

• Marginal note:Canadian film or video production

  (4) Subsection 125.5(3) does not apply in respect of a production in respect of which an amount is deemed to have been paid under subsection 125.4(3).

• Marginal note:When assistance received

  (5) For the purposes of this Act other than this section, and for greater certainty, the amount that a corporation is deemed under subsection 125.5(3) to have paid for a taxation year is assistance received by the corporation from a government immediately before the end of the year.

• Marginal note:Revocation of certificate

  (6) An accredited film or video production certificate in respect of an accredited production may be revoked by the Minister of Canadian Heritage where

  • (a) an omission or incorrect statement was made for the purpose of obtaining the certificate, or

  • (b) the production is not an accredited production,

  and, for the purpose of subparagraph 125.5(3)(a)(ii), a certificate that has been revoked is deemed never to have been issued.

Marginal note:Definitions

• 125.6 (1) The following definitions apply in this section.

  assistance

  assistance means an amount, other than an amount received from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund or an amount deemed under subsection (2) to have been paid, that would be included under paragraph 12(1)(x) in computing the income of a taxpayer for any taxation year if that paragraph were read without reference to

  • (a) subparagraphs 12(1)(x)(v) to (viii), if the amount were received

    • (i) from a person or partnership described in subparagraph 12(1)(x)(ii), or

    • (ii) in circumstances where clause 12(1)(x)(i)(C) applies; and

  • (b) subparagraphs 12(1)(x)(v) to (vii), in any other case. (montant d’aide)

  eligible newsroom employee

  eligible newsroom employee, in respect of a qualifying journalism organization in a taxation year, means an individual who

  • (a) is employed by the organization in the taxation year;

  • (b) works, on average, a minimum of 26 hours per week throughout the portion of the taxation year in which the individual is employed by the organization;

  • (c) at any time in the taxation year, has been, or is reasonably expected to be, employed by the organization for a minimum period of 40 consecutive weeks that includes that time;

  • (d) spends at least 75% of their time engaged in the production of original written news content, including by researching, collecting information, verifying facts, photographing, writing, editing, designing and otherwise preparing content; and

  • (e) meets any prescribed conditions. (employé de salle de presse admissible)

  low threshold qualifying labour expenditure

  low threshold qualifying labour expenditure of a taxpayer for a taxation year that begins before 2023 and ends after 2022, in respect of an eligible newsroom employee, means the lesser of

  • (a) the amount determined by the formula

    $55,000 × A ÷ 365

    where

    A

    is the lesser of 365 and the number of days in the taxation year that are before 2023 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

  • (b) the amount determined by the formula

    A − B

    where

    A

    is the amount determined by the formula

    C × D ÷ E

    where

    C

    is the salary or wages payable by the taxpayer to the eligible newsroom employee in respect of the portion of the taxation year throughout which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization,

    D

    is the number of days in the taxation year that are before 2023 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    E

    is the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    B

    is the amount determined by the formula

    F × G ÷ H

    where

    F

    is the total of all amounts each of which is an amount of assistance that

    • (i) the taxpayer has received, is entitled to receive or can reasonably be expected to receive, in respect of amounts described in C, and

    • (ii) has not been repaid before the end of the year pursuant to a legal obligation to do so,

    G

    is the number of days in the taxation year that are before 2023 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and 

    H

    is the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization. (seuil inférieur de dépense de main-d’oeuvre admissible)

  qualifying journalism organization

  qualifying journalism organization, at any time, means a qualified Canadian journalism organization that meets the following conditions:

  • (a) it does not hold a licence, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Broadcasting Act; and

  • (b) if it is a corporation having share capital, it meets the conditions in subparagraph (e)(iii) of the definition Canadian newspaper in subsection 19(5). (organisation journalistique admissible)

  • (c) [Repealed, 2021, c. 23, s. 23]

  • (d) [Repealed, 2021, c. 23, s. 23]

  qualifying labour expenditure

  qualifying labour expenditure of a taxpayer for a taxation year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee, for a taxation year

  • (a) that begins before 2023 and ends after 2022, means the lesser of

    • (i) the amount determined by the formula

      $85,000 × A ÷ 365

      where

      A

      is the lesser of 365 and the number of days in the taxation year that are after 2022 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    • (ii) the amount determined by the formula

      A − B

      where

      A

      is the amount determined by the formula

      C × D ÷ E

      where

      C

      is the salary or wages payable by the taxpayer to the eligible newsroom employee in respect of the portion of the taxation year throughout which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization,

      D

      is the number of days in the taxation year that are after 2022 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

      E

      is the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

      B

      is the amount determined by the formula

      F × G ÷ H

      where

      F

      is the total of all amounts each of which is an amount of assistance that

      • (A) the taxpayer has received, is entitled to receive or can reasonably be expected to receive, in respect of amounts described in C, and

      • (B) has not been repaid before the end of the year pursuant to a legal obligation to do so,

      G

      is the number of days in the taxation year that are after 2022 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and 

      H

      is the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization; and 

  • (b) that begins after 2022, means the lesser of

    • (i) the amount determined by the formula

      $85,000 × A ÷ 365

      where

      A

      is the lesser of 365 and the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    • (ii) the amount determined by the formula

      A − B

      where

      A

      is the salary or wages payable by the taxpayer to the eligible newsroom employee in respect of the portion of the taxation year throughout which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

      B

      is the total of all amounts each of which is an amount of assistance that

      • (A) the taxpayer has received, is entitled to receive or can reasonably be expected to receive, in respect of amounts described in A, and

      • (B) has not been repaid before the end of the year pursuant to a legal obligation to do so. (dépense de main-d’oeuvre admissible)

• Marginal note:Tax credit

  (2) A taxpayer (other than a partnership) that is a qualifying journalism organization at any time in a taxation year and that files a prescribed form containing prescribed information with its return of income for the year is deemed to have, on its balance-due day for the year, paid on account of its tax payable under this Part for the year

  • (a) if the year begins before 2023 and ends after 2022, an amount determined by the formula

    0.25 × A + 0.35 × B − C

    where

    A

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a low threshold qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    B

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee, and

    C

    is the amount received by the taxpayer from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the year;

  • (b) if the year begins after 2022 and ends before 2027, an amount determined by the formula

    0.35 × A − B

    where

    A

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee, and

    B

    is the amount received by the taxpayer from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the year;

  • (c) if the year begins before 2027 and ends after 2026, an amount determined by the formula

    0.35 × A + 0.25 × B − C

    where

    A

    is the amount determined by the formula

    D × E ÷ F

    where

    D

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    E

    is the number of days in the taxation year that are before 2027 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    F

    is the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization,

    B

    is the amount determined by the formula

    G × H ÷ I

    where

    G

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    H

    is the number of days in the taxation year that are after 2026 during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    I

    is the number of days in the taxation year during which the taxpayer is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    C

    is the amount received by the taxpayer from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the year; and

  • (d) if the year begins after 2026, an amount determined by the formula

    0.25 × A − B

    where

    A

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the year in respect of an eligible newsroom employee, and

    B

    is the amount received by the taxpayer from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the year.

• Marginal note:Partnership — tax credit

  (2.1) If a taxpayer (other than a partnership) is a member of a partnership (other than a specified member of the partnership) at the end of a fiscal period of the partnership that ends in a taxation year of the taxpayer, the partnership is a qualifying journalism organization at any time in that fiscal period and the partnership files an information return in prescribed form containing prescribed information for that fiscal period, then the taxpayer is deemed to have, on the taxpayer’s balance-due day for the taxation year, paid on account of the taxpayer’s tax payable under this Part for the taxation year

  • (a) if the fiscal period begins before 2023 and ends after 2022, an amount determined by the formula

    (0.25 × A + 0.35 × B − C) × D ÷ E

    where

    A

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a low threshold qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the fiscal period in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    B

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the fiscal period in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    C

    is the amount received by the qualifying journalism organization from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the fiscal period,

    D

    is the specified proportion of the taxpayer for the fiscal period, and

    E

    is the total of all specified proportions of members of the partnership for the fiscal period, other than members that are partnerships or specified members of the partnership;

  • (b) if the fiscal period begins after 2022 and ends before 2027, an amount determined by the formula

    (0.35 × A − B) × C ÷ D

    where

    A

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the fiscal period in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    B

    is the amount received by the qualifying journalism organization from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the fiscal period,

    C

    is the specified proportion of the taxpayer for the fiscal period, and

    D

    is the total of all specified proportions of members of the partnership for the fiscal period, other than members that are partnerships or specified members of the partnership;

  • (c) if the fiscal period begins before 2027 and ends after 2026, an amount determined by the formula

    (0.35 × A + 0.25 × B − C) × D ÷ E

    where

    A

    is the amount determined by the formula

    F × G ÷ H

    where

    F

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the fiscal period in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    G

    is the number of days in the fiscal period that are before 2027 during which the partnership is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    H

    is the number of days in the fiscal period during which the partnership is a qualifying journalism organization,

    B

    is the amount determined by the formula

    I × J ÷ K

    where

    I

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the fiscal period in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    J

    is the number of days in the fiscal period that are after 2026 during which the partnership is a qualifying journalism organization, and

    K

    is the number of days in the fiscal period during which the partnership is a qualifying journalism organization,

    C

    is the amount received by the qualifying journalism organization from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the fiscal period,

    D

    is the specified proportion of the taxpayer for the fiscal period, and

    E

    is the total of all specified proportions of members of the partnership for the fiscal period, other than members that are partnerships or specified members of the partnership; and

  • (d) if the fiscal period begins after 2026, an amount determined by the formula

    (0.25 × A − B) × C ÷ D

    where

    A

    is the total of all amounts each of which is a qualifying labour expenditure of the qualifying journalism organization for the fiscal period in respect of an eligible newsroom employee,

    B

    is the amount received by the qualifying journalism organization from the Aid to Publishers component of the Canada Periodical Fund in the fiscal period,

    C

    is the specified proportion of the taxpayer for the fiscal period, and

    D

    is the total of all specified proportions of members of the partnership for the fiscal period, other than members that are partnerships or specified members of the partnership.

• Marginal note:Partnership — application rule

  (2.2) In this section, a taxpayer includes a partnership.

• Marginal note:When assistance received

  (3) For the purposes of this Act other than this section, and for greater certainty, the amount that a taxpayer is deemed under subsection (2) or (2.1) to have paid for a taxation year is assistance received by the taxpayer from a government immediately before the end of the year.