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Federal Register | Section 181--Deduction for Film and Television Production Cos
[TD 9312]
RIN 1545-BF95
Section 181--Deduction for Film and Television Production Costs
SUMMARY: This document contains temporary regulations relating to deductions for the cost of producing film and television productions under section 181. These temporary regulations reflect changes to the law made by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, and affect taxpayers that produce films and television productions within the United States. The text of these temporary regulations also serves as the text of the proposed regulations set forth in the notice of proposed rulemaking on this subject in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of theFederal Register.
DATES: Effective Date:These regulations are effective February 9, 2007.
Applicability Dates:For dates of applicability, see SS 1.181-6T.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard P. Harvey, (202) 622-3110 (not a toll-free number).
These temporary regulations are being issued without prior notice and public procedure pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553). For this reason, the collections of information contained in these regulations have been reviewed and, pending receipt and evaluation of public comments, approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1545-2059. Responses to these collections of information are required to obtain a tax benefit.
For further information concerning this collection of information, and where to submit comments on the collection of information and the accuracy of the estimated burden, and suggestions for reducing this burden, please refer to the preamble of the cross-referencing notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of theFederal Register.
This document contains amendments to 26 CFR part 1 to provide regulations under section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code). Section 181 was added to the Code by section 244 of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, Public Law 108-357 (118 Stat. 1418) (Oct. 22, 2004), and was modified by section 403(e) of the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, Public Law 109-135 (119 Stat. 2577) (Dec. 21, 2005).
For several years, independent filmmakers and television producers have moved production activities from the United States to other countries. Frequently, this has been motivated by credits and other incentives offered by foreign governments to attract the economic benefits gained by hosting these productions. Congress enacted section 181 to make domestic production more attractive to these taxpayers.
Section 181 permits the owner of a qualified film or television production to elect to deduct production costs in the year the costs are paid or incurred in lieu of capitalizing the costs and recovering them through depreciation allowances if the aggregate costs do not exceed $15 million for each qualifying production ($20 million if a significant amount of the production costs are incurred in certain designated areas) (the “production cost limit”). A film or television production is a qualified film or television production if 75 percent of the total compensation of the production is compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, directors, producers, and other relevant production personnel (the “75 percent test”).
The production costs that must be taken into account (for both the amount of the deduction and for the production cost limit) are the amounts that, absent section 181, are required to be capitalized under section 263A (or the amounts that would be required to be capitalized if the taxpayer was subject to section 263A). Although a film's budget might be evidence that the production costs will not exceed the production cost limit, the budget is not the same as production costs for purposes of section 181. All production costs eligible to be deducted under section 181 are subject to the production cost limit. Under the temporary regulations, distribution costs are specifically excluded from the definition of production costs under section 181, consistent with the exclusion of distribution costs under section 263A.
The temporary regulations treat the cost of acquiring a production as a production cost. This rule is premised upon the understanding that under section 1245, the seller would recapture upon the sale of the production any section 181 deduction that the seller had claimed. In the case of a sale between related parties, the purchaser must treat the greater of the acquisition cost or the seller's production cost as the purchaser's production cost for purposes of the production cost limit, notwithstanding that the purchaser's deduction under section 181 is based on the purchaser's actual acquisition cost.
In the film industry, once a prospective producer has determined the estimated budget for a production, it usually must obtain financing from a bank or other lender to cover at least part of the production cost. The producer may incur up-front costs in obtaining such financing. The producer's pre-sale agreements with distributors may be used as collateral for this financing. Generally, the financier will be repaid directly by these distributors upon delivery of the finished production. In addition, the financier will usually require that the producer obtain a completion guarantee (often referred to as a completion bond) as a condition of the loan. The completion guarantee is a guarantee that, if the production costs exceed the budgeted costs or the loan proceeds are mishandled, the film will still be completed and/or the financier will be made whole. A completion guarantee can be satisfied in a number of ways. For example, the guarantor may loan funds to the producer to finish the production, may finish the production itself (although this is rare), or may reimburse the financier for the amount loaned to the producer (plus interest and other charges). Generally, the producer must pay an up-front amount in order to obtain a completion guarantee.
Participations and residuals (P&R) are defined in section 167(g)(7)(B), as costs with respect to an item of property described in section 167(g)(6), the amount of which by contract varies with the amount of income earned in connection with the property. In the context of film and television production, participations are payments to actors, directors, and other talent based on a contractually-defined measure of future income from the production. Residuals are payments made pursuant to collective-bargaining agreements, such as those of the directors' and actors' guilds, based upon non-theatrical sales, under terms that differ between video, free television, and pay television sales. Participations are generally paid by the producer but may be assumed by a third-party distributor. On the other hand, residuals are generally paid by a distributor out of its gross receipts from the production. Industry accounting generally treats participation payments made by distributors as a reduction in the producer's profit rather than a production cost, and generally treats residual payments made by distributors as a distribution cost.
In addition, various comments expressed concerns about productions being subsequently disqualified if P&R costs are included in determining if the production cost limit is exceeded. For example, a taxpayer forecasts its production costs (including a reasonable amount of P&R costs based upon projected income from the production) and based upon this forecast the taxpayer determines it has a reasonable basis for making an election under section 181. However, if an unexpectedly large amount of P&R is later paid as a result of production earnings being much greater than wasinitially expected, with the result that the total production cost exceeds the production cost limit, the production would become disqualified from treatment under section 181.
The temporary regulations provide that P&R costs are considered production costs for purposes of the production cost limit. The IRS and Treasury Department recognize that P&R costs are costs that are generally subject to capitalization under section 263A (see § 1.263A-1(e)(2) and § 1.263A-1(e)(3)). Nonetheless, an explicit reference to P&R costs is provided in the temporary regulations in order to avoid any uncertainty with respect to these costs.
The IRS and Treasury Department believe that the statute requires P&R costs to be included in the production cost limit. For example, the statute specifically provides that participations and residuals are excluded from the definition of compensation for purposes of determining whether the production was a qualified film or television production, as defined in section 181(d)(1). This explicit exclusion is not found in the production cost limit of section 181(a)(2) or elsewhere in section 181.
In addition, the IRS and Treasury Department are concerned that if P&R costs were excluded from the definition of production costs under section 181, section 181(b) could cause them to be nondeductible under any provision of the Internal Revenue Code. Specifically, section 181(b) states that no depreciation or amortization deduction other than the deduction provided under section 181 is allowed for the basis of a qualified film or television production for which an election has been made. Therefore, if P&R costs were excluded from the definition of production costs under section 181, a taxpayer wishing to expense P&R costs under the holding ofAssociated Patentees, 4 T.C. 979 (1945), may be barred from doing so under section 181(b), as the holding in that case is explicit that a deduction underAssociated Patenteesis a depreciation deduction of basis.
The IRS and Treasury Department considered excluding from the amount to be taken into consideration as production costs any residuals (payments to actors' or directors' guilds based on gross income from exploitation in secondary markets) that are paid by the distributor or other third party, under the theory that these payments are costs of exploiting the finished production. However, the same argument could be advanced for participations contingent on income, notwithstanding that most participations are taken in lieu of compensation for services (normally a production cost). In addition, a payment of residuals by a third party is still made on the producer's behalf, and the producer remains the party with ultimate liability for the payment. Thus, the temporary regulations provide that P&R costs are production costs that are deductible under section 181 and are included in the production cost limit.
Section 181(a)(2)(B) provides a higher production cost limit for a qualified film or television production “the aggregate cost of which is significantly incurred” in a designated area. Designated areas include areas eligible for designation as low-income communities or certain distressed counties and isolated areas. However, neither the statute nor its legislative history provides a definition for “significantly incurred,” nor do they explain how the standard should be applied. However, Congress' stated intent in enacting section 181 was to encourage economic activity in these designated areas. Accordingly, the temporary regulations provide two different tests for establishing when production costs have been significantly incurred in a designated area. One test is based upon production costs while the other is based upon days of production. Under the first of these tests, the temporary regulations establish a 20 percent threshold for the “significantly incurred” standard (similar to the rules of § 1.199-3(g)(3)). This test compares production costs incurred in first-unit principal photography that takes place in a designated area to all production costs incurred for first-unit principal photography. First-unit principal photography typically films the primary actors, whereas second-unit principal photography typically films shots that establish location or context (exteriors of buildings, crowds, cars passing). Production costs of principal photography include, for example, compensation to actors, directors and other production personnel, location costs, camera rental and insurance, and catering. This 20 percent test is based upon production costs incurred in first-unit principal photography and ignores all other production costs such as preproduction, editing, and postproduction costs for purposes of the “significantly incurred” requirement. These other production costs often greatly exceed principal photography costs, and must be incurred where adequate production facilities exist (and it is likely that few such facilities are available in the designated areas). The IRS and Treasury Department believe that if all production costs were taken into consideration in determining whether the 20 percent “significantly incurred” threshold had been met, very few films would qualify for the higher production cost limit, even if a substantial amount of principal photography occurred in a designated area. However, we request comments regarding whether the exclusion of preproduction, editing, and postproduction costs will unfairly impact taxpayers.
The Conference report underlying section 181 provides that, until theSecretary publishes specific guidance, taxpayers may make a valid election under section 181 by claiming the deduction on the taxpayer's return for the year that production costs are first incurred. H. R. Conf. Rep. 108-755. The IRS published the section 181 election requirements in Notice 2006-47 (2006-20 IRB 892, May 15, 2006). See § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b). The Notice also includes transition rules for taxpayers that incurred costs during the period prior to October 22, 2004 (the enactment of section 181) for productions that qualify under section 181 (that is, productions for which principal photography began on or after October 22, 2004). The temporary regulations provide the same election requirements and transition rules, along with a requirement that the taxpayer have a reasonable basis for claiming the deduction.
Many films are owned by a passthrough entity with more than one owner. The temporary regulations provide that if the production is owned by a partnership, the election is made at the partnership level.
Section 181(c)(2) provides that an election under section 181 may not be revoked without the consent of the Secretary. However, the election is effectively revoked if the production costs exceed the production cost limit or if the production fails to be a qualified film or television production. In recognition of the concerns expressed by commentators over the inclusion of P&R costs in the definition of production costs under section 181, and the fact that the requirements of section 181 may ultimately not be met notwithstanding a prior reasonable basis for believing otherwise, the temporary regulations permit taxpayers to revoke a section 181 election by filing a statement with the return for the taxable year in which the revocation is effective identifying the production for which the election is revoked. The return for that taxable year must also report compliance with the recapture provisions discussed in “Special Rules” in this preamble.
Qualified Film or Television Production (Definitions)
Both the Senate report and the Conference report underlying section 181 state that “the provision defines a qualified film or television production as any production of a motion picture (whether released theatrically or directly to video cassette or any other format); miniseries; scripted, dramatic television episode; or movie of the week” that satisfies the 75 percent test. The definition provided in the Senate report and the Conference report arguably would exclude productions that do not fall within these delineated categories, such as reality programming, documentaries, sports programs, news programs, variety shows, game shows, live performances, interview and talk shows, commercials and “infomercials,” religious/inspirational programming, educational programming, exercise shows, training videos, and others. Comments were received noting that it appeared from the legislative history that Congress intended for the provision to apply only to a motion picture, miniseries, scripted dramatic television episode, or movie of the week. Notwithstanding the legislative history, section 181(d)(2) itself defines a production as “property described in section 168(f)(3).” Section 168(f)(3) property is “any film or video tape.” Accordingly, the temporary regulations adopt the broader statutory definition provided in section 168(f)(3) and specifically define a production under section 181 to include any film or video tape production the production cost of which is subject to capitalization under section 263A.
Once a film or television production is released or broadcast, the taxpayer may face additional costs to prepare the production for foreign distribution, rebroadcast (for example, editing a theatrical film for television), or release to the home video market. Consistent with the approach taken under the income forecast method (see section 167(g)(5)(A)(ii)), these costs are not treated as production costs of the film or television production for purposes of the production cost limit under section 181(a)(2), and no deduction may be taken under section 181 for such costs.
Section 181(d)(1) compares qualified compensation to total compensation in applying the 75 percent test. Although qualified compensation is defined by section 181(d)(3)(A) as compensation for services performed in the United States by actors, directors, producers, and other relevant production personnel, the 75 percent test compares this amount to the “total compensation of the production.” In order to be consistent with the definition provided for in section 181(d)(3)(A), the temporary regulations define “total compensation of the production” as the total amount of compensation paid for services performed anywhere by actors, directors, producers, and other relevant production personnel in the production of the film or television production. In addition, the temporary regulations specifically provide that the terms compensation and qualified compensation include compensation paid to persons who are not directly employed by the producer.
The termqualified compensationis defined as compensation for services by various participants performed “in the United States.” The definition of “United States” in section 7701(a)(9) includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Although the goal of section 181 is to encourage economic activity within the United States as defined in section 7701(a)(9), the use of a standard based upon principal photography requires the use of a slightly broader definition that takes into account that the physical act of principal photography may take place on land, at sea, or in the air. Consequently, the temporary regulations provide that a service is performed in the United States for purposes of the 75 percent test if the principal photography to which the service relates occurs within the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the territorial waters of the continental United States, or the airspace or space above the continental United States and its territorial waters.
There are some services related to a production that may physically take place at a variety of places outside the control and knowledge of the producer (for example, training, rehearsal, and pre- and post-production). However, the producer has direct or indirect control and knowledge of the shooting location of principal photography with which these other services are associated. Therefore, the IRS and Treasury Department believe that as a general rule the 75 percent test should be based upon the locations where principal photography occurs.
In this regard, the temporary regulations provide a special rule for animated productions. Although these productions may have a “principal photography” analogue, the production process is completely different and the majority of the work of the “talent” is performed independent of the actual frame photography. Computer-generated animation is not photographed at all. Hand-drawn animated films involve the creation of a storyboard (sketches of the story action) by the principal artists. Once the storyboards are approved, individual frames showing important moments in the action called “keyframes” are created by the principal artists, after which the frames in between these frames (the “in-betweens”) are produced by assistant animators. These in-betweens are frequently outsourced overseas. Background art is created separately. The animation frames are transferred to plastic cels with a copier or, in some cases, are hand painted on the cels (orboth). The cels are then photographed against the background art. Voice acting, music, and Foley (sound effects) are recorded independently. All of these elements are then combined into the finished film.
The production process for computer animation is similar, except that the principal artists work directly with computer programmers to create keyframe images in the animation software. In-between work is less likely to be outsourced, as the computer can generate most in-between frames from the keyframes themselves. Background art can be created within the computer program or scanned in from physical artwork. Post-production is generally done completely in the digital realm, and the final product is output to disc.
The temporary regulations apply the 75 percent test to animated productions based upon the production locations for (at least) the keyframe animation, the in-between animation, the animation photography, and the recording of the voice acting performances instead of the location where principal photography takes place. A separate rule is provided for productions that combine animation and live action, taking into account the production locations for the animation functions in addition to the location of principal photography.
The version of the legislation that became section 181 (as originally passed by the Senate) provided a deduction for production costs up to $15 million, and allowed production costs in excess of $15 million to be depreciated using the straight-line method over a 36-month period. Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act, S. 1637, 108th Cong. § 321 (2003). The depreciation provision was removed in conference, with the result that the deduction does not apply to qualified film or television productions with an aggregate production cost in excess of $15 million ($20 million if a significant amount of the production costs are incurred in designated areas.) Section 181 is silent as to what should happen when a production appears to meet the requirements of section 181 in the year the election is first made, but fails to meet those requirements thereafter (for example, when the production cost exceeds $15 million, or when the production no longer meets the 75 percent test).
The temporary regulations provide a recapture provision that requires the recapture of any production costs previously deducted under section 181 in the year the election is voluntarily revoked or the production fails to meet the requirements of section 181. For property already placed in service, the taxpayer must include in income the difference between the aggregate amount claimed under section 181 and the depreciation that would have been otherwise allowable with respect to the production in the same years. For a production not yet placed in service, the taxpayer must include in income the aggregate amount claimed under section 181. The structure of the recapture provision is intended in part to alleviate concerns that including P&R in the definition of production costs under section 181 would cause taxpayers to completely forgo the benefits of section 181. Under the temporary regulations, a taxpayer with a reasonable belief that it is producing a qualified film or television production, and that the production cost will not exceed the production cost limit, will be permitted to elect to currently deduct production costs under section 181 with the understanding that a recapture may be required in a later year if circumstances or expectations change. A taxpayer that is required to recapture previously deducted production costs under section 181 will nonetheless be permitted to deduct otherwise allowable depreciation expenses in future years.
Prior to the technical correction enacted in the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005, a taxpayer could potentially incur production costs, deduct the production costs under section 181 against ordinary income, then sell the film after holding it for one year and report the proceeds (including the gain attributable to the basis reduction from the section 181 deduction) as a long-term capital gain, effectively converting ordinary income to capital gain. This potential “tax flip,” existed because, as originally enacted, the statute did not specify that the deduction under section 181 is a deduction for depreciation or amortization, or state that it is subject to recapture under section 1245. The technical correction specifically treats a deduction under section 181 as a deduction for depreciation or amortization that is subject to recapture under section 1245, and the temporary regulations follow this rule.
The temporary regulations apply to qualified film and television productions with respect to which principal photography or, in the case of an animated production, in-between animation, commenced on or after February 9, 2007 and before January 1, 2009.
The following publications are modified as of February 9, 2007:
Notice 2006-47 (2006-20 IRB 892) is modified by removing section B.2. in the INTERIM PROVISIONS of Notice 2006-20.
Rev. Proc. 2002-9 (2002-1 CB 327) is modified and amplified to include the automatic changes in methods of accounting in § 1.181-2T(d)(2) and (e)(1) in the Appendix of Rev. Proc. 2002-9.
It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It also has been determined that section 553(b) and (d) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations. For applicability of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6), please refer to the Special Analyses section of the preamble to the cross-reference notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of theFederal Register. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Code, these regulations have been submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on its impact on small business.
Amendments to the Regulations Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 1 and 602 are amended as follows: PART 1—INCOME TAXES Paragraph 1.The authority citation for part 1 continues to read, in part, as follows: Authority:
Par. 2.Sections 1.181-0T through 1.181-6T are added to read as follows:
§ 1.181-0T Table of contents (temporary).
This section lists the table of contents for §§ 1.181-1T through 1.181-6T.
§ 1.181-1T Deduction for qualified film and television production costs (temporary).
(b) Limit on amount of production costs and amount of deduction.
(ii) Significantly incurred.
(iii) Animated film and television productions.
(iv) Productions incorporating both live action and animation.
(v) Records required.
(c) No other depreciation or amortization deduction allowed.
§ 1.181-2T Election (temporary).
(b) Election by entity.
(1) Initial election.
(2) Subsequent taxable years.
(3) Deductions by more than one owner.
(1) Costs first paid or incurred prior to October 23, 2004.
(2) Returns filed after June 14, 2006, and before March 12, 2007.
§ 1.181-3T Qualified film or television production (temporary).
§ 1.181-4T Special rules (temporary).
(2) Principal photography not commencing prior to January 1, 2009.
§ 1.181-5T Examples (temporary).
§ 1.181-6T Effective date (temporary).
(b) Application of regulation project REG-115403-05 to pre-effective date productions.
(c) Special rules for returns filed for prior taxable years.
(a)Deduction—(1)In general.The owner (as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of this section) of any film or television production (as defined in § 1.181-3T(b)) that the owner reasonably expects will be, upon completion, a qualified film or television production (as defined in § 1.181-3T(a)) for which the production costs (as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section) will not be in excess of the production cost limit of paragraph (b) of this section may elect to treat all production costs incurred by the owner as an expense that is deductible in the taxable year in which the costs are paid (in the case of a taxpayer who uses the cash method of accounting) or incurred (in the case of a taxpayer who uses the accrual method of accounting). This deduction is subject to recapture if the owner's expectations prove to be inaccurate. This section provides rules for determining who is the owner of a production, what is a production cost, and the maximum production cost that may be incurred for a production for which an election is made under section 181 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Section 1.181-2T provides rules for making the election under section 181. Section 1.181-3T provides definitions and rules concerning qualified film and television productions. Section 1.181-4T provides special rules, including rules for recapture of the deduction. Section 1.181-5T provides examples of the application of §§ 1.181-1T through 1.181-4T, while § 1.181-6T provides the effective date of §§ 1.181-1T through 1.181-5T.
(2)Owner.For purposes of this section and §§ 1.181-2T through 1.181-6T, the owner of a production is any taxpayer that is required under section 263A to capitalize costs paid or incurred in producing the production into the cost basis of the production, or that would be required to do so if section 263A applied to that taxpayer. A taxpayer that obtains only a limited license or right to exploit a production, or receives an interest or profit participation in a production as compensation for services, generally is not an owner of the production for purposes of this section and §§ 1.181-2T through 1.181-6T.
(3)Production costs.(i) The termproduction costsmeans all costs paid or incurred by the owner in producing or acquiring a production that are required, absent the provisions of section 181, to be capitalized under section 263A, or that would be required to be capitalized if section 263A applied to the owner. These production costs specifically include, but are not limited to, participations and residuals, compensation paid for services, compensation paid for property rights, non-compensation costs, and costs paid or incurred in connection with obtaining financing for the production (for example, premiums paid or incurred to obtain a completion bond for the production).
(iii) Production costs do not include the costs to prepare a new release or new broadcast of an existing film or video after the initial release or initial broadcast of the film or video (for instance, the preparation of a DVD release of a theatrically-released film, or the preparation of an edited version of a theatrically-released film for television broadcast). Costs paid or incurred to prepare a new release or a new broadcast of a film or video that has previously been released or broadcast, therefore, are not taken into account for purposes of paragraph (b) of this section, and may not be deducted under this paragraph (a).
(iv) If a production (or any right or interest in a production) is acquired from any person bearing a relationship to the taxpayer described in section 267(b) or section 707(b)(1), and the costs paid or incurred to acquire the production are less than the seller's production cost, the purchaser must treat the seller's production cost as a production cost of the acquired production for purposes of determining whether the aggregate production cost paid or incurred with respect to the production exceeds the applicable production cost limit imposed under paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section. Notwithstanding this paragraph (a)(3)(iv), the taxpayer's deduction under section 181 is limited to the taxpayer's acquisition cost of the production plus any further production costs incurred by the taxpayer.
(v) The provisions of this paragraph (a) apply notwithstanding the provisions of section 167(g)(7)(D).
(b)Limit on amount of production cost and amount of deduction—(1)Ingeneral.Except as provided under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the deduction permitted under section 181 does not apply in the case of any production, the production cost of which exceeds $15,000,000.
(2)Higher limit for productions in certain areas—(i)In general.This section is applied by substituting $20,000,000 for $15,000,000 in the case of any production the aggregate production cost of which is significantly incurred in an area eligible for designation as—
(B) A distressed county or isolated area of distress by the Delta Regional Authority established under 7 U.S.C section 2009aa-1.
(ii)Significantly incurred.The aggregate production cost of a production is significantly incurred within one or more areas specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section if—
(A) At least 20 percent of the total production cost incurred in connection with first-unit principal photography for the production is incurred in connection with first-unit principal photography that takes place in such areas; or
(iii)Animated film and television productions.For purposes of an animated film or television production, the aggregate production cost of the production is significantly incurred within one or more areas specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section if—
(A) At least 20 percent of the total production cost incurred in connection with keyframe animation, in-between animation, animation photography, and the recording of voice acting performances for the production is incurred in connection with such activities that take place in such areas; or
(iv)Productions incorporating both live action and animation.For purposes of a production incorporating both live action and animation, the aggregate production cost of the production is significantly incurred within one or more areas specified in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section if—
(A) At least 20 percent of the total production cost incurred in connection with first-unit principal photography, keyframe animation, in-between animation, animation photography, and the recording of voice acting performances for the production is incurred in connection with such activities that take place in such areas; or
(B) At least 50 percent of the total number of days of first unit principal photography, keyframe animation, in-between animation, animation photography, and the recording of voice acting performances for the production consists of days during which such activities take place in such areas.
(v)Records required.A taxpayer intending to utilize the higher production cost limit under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section must maintain records adequate to demonstrate qualification under this paragraph (b)(2).
(c)No other depreciation or amortization deduction allowed.(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, an owner that elects to deduct production costs under section 181 with respect to a production may not deduct production costs for that production under any provision of the Code other than section 181 unless § 1.181-4T(a) applies to the production. In addition, except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, an owner that has, in a previous taxable year, deducted any production cost of a production under a provision of the Code other than section 181 is ineligible to make an election with respect to that production under section 181.
(2) An owner may make an election under section 181 despite prior deductions claimed for amortization of the cost of acquiring or developing screenplays, scripts, story outlines, motion picture production rights to books and plays, and other similar properties for purposes of potential future development or production of a production under any provision of the Code if such costs were incurred before the first taxable year in which an election could be made under § 1.181-2T(a). However, the production cost of the production does not include costs that a taxpayer has begun to amortize prior to the time that the production is set for production (for further guidance, see Rev. Proc. 2004-36 (2004-1 CB 1063) and § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter).
(a)Time and manner of making election.(1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a taxpayer electing to deduct the production cost of a production under section 181 must do so in the time and manner described in this paragraph (a). Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(2) and (e) of this section, the election must be made by the due date (including extensions) for filing the taxpayer's Federal income tax return for the first taxable year in which production costs (as defined in § 1.181-1T(a)(3)) have been paid or incurred. See § 301.9100-2 of this chapter for a six-month extension of this period in certain circumstances. The election under section 181 is made separately for each production produced by the owner.
(2) An owner may not make an election under paragraph (a)(1) of this section until the first taxable year in which the owner reasonably expects (based on all of the facts and circumstances) that—
(i) The production will be set for production and will, upon completion, be a qualified film or television production; and
(ii) The aggregate production cost paid or incurred with respect to the production will, at no time, exceed the applicable production cost limit set forth under § 1.181-1T(b) of the regulations.
(3) If the election under this paragraph (a) is made in a taxable year subsequent to the taxable year in which production costs were first paid or incurred because paragraph (a)(2) of this section was not satisfied until such subsequent taxable year, the election must be made in the first such taxable year, and any production costs incurred prior to the taxable year in which the taxpayer makes the election are treated as production costs (except as provided in § 1.181-1T(c)(2)) that are deductible under § 1.181-1T(a) in the taxable year paragraph (a)(2) of this section is first satisfied and the election is made.
(b)Election by entity.In the case of a production owned by an entity, the election is made by the entity. For example, the election is made for each member of a consolidated group by the common parent of the group, for each partner by the partnership, or for each shareholder by the S corporation. The election must be made by the due date (including extensions) for filing the return for the later of the taxable year of the entity in which production costs are first paid or incurred or the first taxable year in which § 1.181-2T(a)(2) is satisfied.
(c)Information required—(1)Initial election.For each production to which the election applies, the taxpayer must attach a statement to the return statingthat the taxpayer is making an election under section 181 and providing—
(i) The name (or other unique identifying designation) of the production;
(ii) The date production costs were first paid or incurred with respect to the production;
(iii) The amount of production costs (as defined in § 1.181-1T(a)(3)) paid or incurred with respect to the production during the taxable year (including costs described in § 1.181-2T(a)(3));
(iv) The aggregate amount of qualified compensation (as defined in § 1.181-3T(d)) paid or incurred with respect to the production during the taxable year (including costs described in § 1.181-2T(a)(3));
(v) The aggregate amount of compensation (as defined in § 1.181-3T(c)) paid or incurred with respect to the production during the taxable year (including costs described in § 1.181-2T(a)(3));
(vi) If the owner expects that the total production cost of the production will be significantly paid or incurred in (or, if applicable, if a significant portion of the total number of days of principal photography will occur in) one or more of the areas specified in § 1.181-1T(b)(2)(i), the identity of the area or areas, the amount of production costs paid or incurred (or the number of days of principal photography engaged in) for the applicable activities described in § 1.181-1T(b)(2)(ii), (iii), or (iv), as applicable, that take place within such areas (including costs described in § 1.181-2T(a)(3)), and the total production cost paid or incurred (or the total number of days of principal photography engaged in) for such activities (whether or not they take place in such areas), for the taxable year (including costs described in § 1.181-2T(a)(3)); and
(vii) A declaration that the owner reasonably expects (based on all of the facts and circumstances at the time the election was filed) both that the production will be set for production (or has been set for production) and will be a qualified film or television production, and that the aggregate production cost of the production paid or incurred will not, at any time, exceed the applicable dollar amount set forth under § 1.181-1T(b).
(2)Subsequent taxable years.If the owner pays or incurs additional production costs in any taxable year subsequent to the taxable year in which production costs are first deducted under section 181, the owner must attach a statement to its Federal income tax return for that subsequent taxable year providing—
(ii) The date the production costs were first paid or incurred;
(iii) The amount of production costs paid or incurred by the owner with respect to the production during the taxable year;
(iv) The amount of qualified compensation paid or incurred with respect to the production during the taxable year;
(v) The aggregate amount of compensation paid or incurred with respect to the production during the taxable year, and the aggregate amount of compensation paid or incurred with respect to the production in all prior taxable years;
(vi) If the owner expects that the total production cost of the production will be significantly paid or incurred in (or, if applicable, if a significant portion of the total number of days of principal photography will occur in) one or more of the areas specified in § 1.181-1T(b)(2)(i), the identity of the area or areas, the amount of production costs paid or incurred (or the number of days of principal photography engaged in) for the applicable activities described in § 1.181-1T(b)(2)(ii), (iii), or (iv), as applicable, that take place within such areas, and the total production cost paid or incurred (or the number of days of principal photography engaged in) for such activities (whether or not they take place in such areas), for the taxable year; and
(vii) A declaration that the owner continues to reasonably expect (based on all of the facts and circumstances at the time the election was filed) both that the production will be set for production (or has been set for production) and will be a qualified film or television production, and that the aggregate production cost of the production paid or incurred will not, at any time, exceed the applicable dollar amount set forth under § 1.181-1T(b).
(3)Deductions by more than one owner.If more than one taxpayer will claim deductions under section 181 with respect to the production for the taxable year, each owner (but not the members of an entity who are issued a Schedule K-1 by the entity with respect to their interest in the production) must provide a list of the names and taxpayer identification numbers of all such taxpayers, the dollar amount that each such taxpayer is entitled to deduct under section 181, and the information required by paragraphs (c)(1)(iii) through (vi) and (c)(2)(iii) through (vi) of this section for all owners.
(d)Revocation of election—(1)In general.An election made under this section may not be revoked without the consent of the Secretary.
(2)Consent granted.The Secretary's consent to revoke an election under this section with respect to a particular production will be granted if the owner—
(i) Files a Federal income tax return in which the owner complies with the recapture provisions of § 1.181-4T(a) to recapture the amount described in § 1.181-4T(a)(3); and
(ii) Attaches a statement to the owner's return clearly indicating the name (or other unique identifying designation) of the production, and stating that the election under section 181 with respect to that production is being revoked pursuant to § 1.181-2T(d)(2).
(e)Transition rules—(1)Costs first paid or incurred prior to October 23, 2004.If a taxpayer begins principal photography of a production after October 22, 2004, but first paid or incurred production costs before October 23, 2004, the taxpayer is entitled to make an election under this section with respect to those costs. If, before June 15, 2006, the taxpayer filed its Federal tax return for the taxable year in which production costs were first paid or incurred, and if the taxpayer wants to make a section 181 election for that taxable year, the taxpayer may make the election either by—
(i) Filing an amended Federal tax return for the taxable year in which production costs were first paid or incurred, and for all subsequent affected taxable year(s), on or before November 15, 2006, provided that all of these years are open under the period of limitations for assessment under section 6501(a); or
(ii) Filing a Form 3115, “Application For Change in Accounting Method,” for the first or second taxable year ending on or after December 31, 2005, in accordance with the administrative procedures issued under § 1.446-1(e)(3)(ii) for obtaining the Commissioner's automatic consent to a change in accounting method (for further guidance, for example, see Rev. Proc. 2002-9, 2002-1 CB 327, and § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter). This change in method of accounting results in a section 481 adjustment. Further, any limitations on obtaining the automatic consent of the Commissioner do not apply to a taxpayer seeking to change its method of accounting under this paragraph (e)(1). Moreover, the taxpayer must include on line 1a of the Form 3115 the designated automatic accounting method change number “100”.
(2)Returns filed after June 14, 2006, and before March 12, 2007.If, after June 14, 2006, and before March 12, 2007, the owner of a film or television production filed its original Federal income tax return for a taxable year ending after October 22, 2004, without making an election under section 181 for production costs first paid or incurred after October 22, 2004, and if the taxpayer wants to make an election under section 181 for production costs first paid or incurred during that taxable year, the taxpayer must make the election within the time provided by paragraph (a) of this section and in the manner provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, except that the election statement attached to the return must include the information required in paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (vi) of this section.
(3)Information required.If, in accordance with paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the taxpayer is making an election for a prior taxable year by filing amended Federal tax return(s), the statement and information required by paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section must be attached to each amended return. If, in accordance with paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the taxpayer is making a section 181 election for a prior taxable year by filing a Form 3115 for the first or second taxable year ending on or after December 31, 2005, the statement and information required by paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this section must be attached to the Form 3115. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the amount of the cost or compensation paid or incurred for the production must only include the amount paid or incurred in taxable years prior to the year of change (for further guidance on year of change, see section 5.02 of Rev. Proc. 2002-9 and § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter).
(a)In general.The termqualified film or television productionmeans any production (as defined in paragraph (b) of this section) if not less than 75 percent of the total amount of compensation (as defined in paragraph (c) of this section) paid with respect to the production is qualified compensation (as defined in paragraph (d) of this section).
(b)Production—(1)In general.Except as provided in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, for purposes of this section and §§ 1.181-1T, 1.181-2T, 1.181-4T, 1.181-5T, and 1.181-6T, a film or television production (or production) means any film or video (including digital video) production the production cost of which is subject to capitalization under section 263A, or that would be would be subject to capitalization if section 263A applied to the owner of the production.
(2)Special rules for television productions.Each episode of a television series is a separate production to which the rules, limitations, and election requirements of this section and §§ 1.181-1T, 1.181-2T, 1.181-4T, 1.181-5T, and 1.181-6T apply. A taxpayer may elect to deduct production costs under section 181 only for the first 44 episodes of a television series (including pilot episodes). A television series may include more than one season of programming.
(3)Exception for certain sexually explicit productions.A production does not include property with respect to which records are required to be maintained under 18 U.S.C. 2257. Section 2257 of Title 18 requires maintenance of certain records with respect to any book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, or other matter that—
(i) Contains one or more visual depictions made after November 1, 1990, of active sexually explicit conduct; and
(c)Compensation.The termcompensationmeans, for purposes of this section and § 1.181-2T(c), all payments made by the owner (whether paid directly by the owner or paid indirectly on the owner's behalf) for services performed by actors (as defined in paragraph (f)(1) of this section), directors, producers, and other relevant production personnel (as defined in paragraph (f)(2) of this section) with respect to the production. Indirect payments on the owner's behalf include, for example, payments by a partner on behalf of an owner that is a partnership, payments by a shareholder on behalf of an owner that is a corporation, and payments by a contract producer on behalf of an owner. Payments for services include all elements of compensation as provided for in § 1.263A-1(e)(2)(i)(B) and (3)(ii)(D). Compensation is not limited to wages reported on Form W-2, “Wage and Tax Statement,” and includes compensation paid to independent contractors. However, solely for purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the term “compensation” does not include participations and residuals (as defined in section 167(g)(7)(B)). See § 1.181-1T(a)(3) for additional rules concerning participations and residuals.
(d)Qualified compensation.The termqualified compensationmeans, for purposes of this section and § 1.181-2T(c), all payments made by the owner (whether paid directly by the owner or paid indirectly on the owner's behalf) paid for services performed in the United States (as defined in paragraph (f)(3) of this section) by actors, directors, producers, and other relevant production personnel with respect to the production. A service is performed in the United States for purposes of this paragraph (d) if the principal photography to which the compensated service relates occurs within the United States and the person performing the service is physically present in the United States. For purposes of an animated film or animated television production, the location where production activities such as keyframe animation, in-between animation, animation photography, and the recording of voice acting performances are performed is considered in lieu of the location of principal photography. For purposes of a production incorporating both live action and animation, the location where production activities such as keyframe animation, in-between animation, animation photography, and the recording of voice acting performances for the production is considered in addition to the location of principal photography.
(e)Special ru