Ohio

Applicant must register to do business with the Ohio Secretary of State; submit an online application during the application period; upon approval, pay a nonrefundable application fee equal to 1.0% of the estimated value of the credit provided in the application, up to $10,000; begin production within 90 days of the date on the award letter; provide evidence of funding for at least 50% of the total production budget is in place; and meet the minimum in-state spending requirement of more than $300,000. Loan out companies must be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State.

Qualified spend consists of eligible expenditures made for goods and services purchased and consumed in Ohio related to resident and nonresident (above-the-line and below-the-line) compensation, accommodations, set construction and operations, editing and related services, photography, sound synchronization, lighting, wardrobe, make-up and accessories, film processing, transfer, sound mixing, special and visual effects, music, location fees, and the purchase or rental of facilities and equipment. Only expenditures made on or after the date on the award letter will be eligible for the incentive.

This program is not administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Ohio offers a 30% fully refundable tax credit that may be applied against the financial institutions, commercial activity, or personal income tax. The director of development services will review and approve applications in two rounds. For each round, the director shall rank and approve applications based on the extent of positive economic impact in the state and the effect on developing a permanent workforce in the motion picture or theatrical production industries in the state. Priority will be given to tax credit eligible productions that are television series or mini-series, as defined. The first round of credits will be awarded by July 31st of each year and the second round will be awarded by January 31st of each year. Not more than $25 million may be awarded during the first round of approvals. While there is a state funding cap of $50 million per fiscal year (7/1 – 6/30), there is not a per project cap. Five million of the $50 million funding is reserved for Broadway theatrical productions. Any unused portion of the $50 million annual funding may be rolled over to the following fiscal year.