Track the proposed U.S. federal film, television and VFX production incentive, understand its current status, and see what it could mean for productions in America.
The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act was introduced in Congress in September 2026. The legislation proposes a new federal production tax credit for qualifying U.S. film, television, post-production and visual-effects activity.
House bill H.R. 10582 and Senate bill S. 5552 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to establish an American film and television production credit.
The legislation would create a labor-based federal tax credit tied to qualified compensation for eligible production work performed in the United States.
The proposed base credit equals 20% of qualifying compensation.
Qualifying bonus provisions could increase the rate, subject to a proposed 30% maximum.
At least 75% of principal photography days would generally need to occur in the United States.
Qualifying film and television productions would generally need total costs exceeding $1 million.
The legislation includes several possible 5-percentage-point bonuses. The overall applicable percentage would be capped at 30%.
Qualifying productions completed by an eligible independent producer could receive an additional 5 percentage points.
Productions meeting specified principal-photography requirements in qualifying rural Opportunity Zones could receive additional credit treatment.
Certain productions filming in qualifying federally declared disaster areas could receive a bonus.
The bill includes additional treatment intended to encourage qualifying production activity across multiple U.S. states.
Taxpayers demonstrating measurable increases in U.S. production compared with foreign production could potentially qualify for additional credit treatment.
Bonus provisions would not increase the overall applicable percentage above 30%.
The introduced bill defines eligible and excluded production categories. Final rules could change during the legislative process.
The introduced legislation contains special rules that could allow qualifying post-production and visual-effects activity to receive federal credit treatment.
The introduced proposal is designed to supplement state production incentives. However, producers should not assume exact stacking, tax treatment or interaction rules until federal legislation is enacted and implementing guidance exists.
The legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress. It must move through the legislative process before any federal credit becomes law.
Until legislation becomes law and implementation guidance exists, producers should treat these provisions as proposed rather than guaranteed.
Use official legislative and government sources when making material decisions.
While Congress considers a federal incentive, many U.S. states already offer production tax credits, rebates, grants and other film incentives.
Explore State Film Incentives →