Incentives

Published on Filmin Serbia: Link

The Ministry of Economy of the Government of Serbia has announced a Call for Applications on April 15, 2016 for film and TV incentives that is open year round. The program provides a 20% cash rebate on qualified Serbian spend for feature films, TV series, animation films and visual effects, TV commercials and documentaries.

The applications should be submitted to the Film Center Serbia.

Relevant documents with details of the program, what is and is not considered qualified Serbian spend and the procedure are attached below. These include the Decree on the Incentive Program, the Rulebook (Guidelines) and the public Call for Applications.

Should you need any help with understanding the regulations and preparing your application, we will be happy to assist you. Please contact us at info@filminserbia.com.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

1.INCENTIVE TYPE

Cash rebate

2.AMOUNT

20% of Qualifying Serbian Spend.

3.DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 

Open all year.

4.WHO CAN APPLY

Applicants must be a legal entity registered in Serbia and which is responsible for paying all relevant Serbian taxes for the production.

5.MINIMUM LOCAL SPEND

Feature films, TV films and TV series: 300,000.00 EUR

Animated film, audio and/or visual postproduction of an audiovisual work: 150,000.00 EUR;

Special-purpose film/TV Commercials: 100,000.00 EUR;

Documentary films: 50,000.00 EUR.

6.FORMATS

-Feature film, TV film, feature-length documentary film and animated film intended for broadcasting, that last at least 70 minutes

– TV series containing at least three episodes not shorter than 40 minutes;

-Documentary programmes not shorter that 40 minutes

-TV Commercials

-Post-production or VFX for any of the abovementioned formats

7.QUALIFYING SERBIAN EXPENDITURE

The following are considered Qualifying Expenditure towards the incentive:

-Costs pertaining to the production of an audiovisual work that have occurred and that have been disbursed to legal or natural entities in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. These include purchased goods and provided services, use of locations, crew payments and royalties to individuals who are residents of the Republic of Serbia or to foreigners who are legally residing for at least a year in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Serbia;

-Incurred costs pertaining to the use of goods, ie. leasing of movables and immovables may be recognised only if the goods, and/or movables and immovables, are the property of legal or natural entities, in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

8.NON-QUALIFYING EXPENDITURE

The following costs do not qualify for the incentive:

– Marketing costs, costs related to real estate purchase, distribution costs, costs of VAT.

Types and content of qualifying and non-qualifying expenditure are prescribed in more detail in the Guidelines for the incentive programme.

9.FUNDING AND CAPS

There is no cap per project. Every year the Serbian government will allocate funds for the incentive programme.  The budget for 2017 is 400.000 million dinars (around EUR 3,2 million or $3,4 million).

10.PROCEDURE

The applicant applies for the incentive programme to the government organization Film Center Serbia, providing an estimated budget, a production schedule together with a completed application form and other required documents. The Commission will review the application within 7 days. If approved, the Ministry of Economy will sign a contract with the applicant. Upon completion of the production, the applicant needs to conduct an independent audit and submit a Request for Payment within 45 days from the completion of production. The Commission will pay the 20% rebate within 60 days of the Commission’s meeting to review the completed production reports and financial information.

11.VAT

Serbia has a VAT of 20% on all goods and services except hotels and other accommodation where VAT is 10%. VAT is NOT considered qualified Serbian spend.

Full information for applicants in Serbian is provided by Ministry of Economy.