The French Tax Rebate (TRIP) is a government-backed programme designed to support international filmmakers choosing France for their productions. Whether filming on location or working on visual effects (VFX), this incentive helps reduce costs while leveraging France’s world-class resources and expertise.
The rebate is calculated at 30% of eligible expenses incurred in France during production. For projects with substantial visual effects (VFX), the rate increases to 40%. The maximum rebate per project is capped at €30 million.
To access the rebate, the foreign producer works with a French production service company (like Mommy Production) to handle the local aspects of the production. The rebate is granted by the CNC to the French company after meeting all requirements.
The rebate is paid through the French tax system and usually arrives 6 to 18 months after the last project expenses are filed. Patience is key, but the savings are worth it!
To qualify, productions must spend at least €250,000 in France or ensure that 50% of the total budget is spent in France. Live-action projects also need a minimum of 5 filming days in France.
The project needs to pass a cultural test to demonstrate its connection to French or European culture. This includes elements like the story, characters, locations, or even the technical expertise involved. Different tests apply to live-action, animation, and VFX projects.
Projects involving significant visual effects undergo an additional cultural test, and if French VFX expenses exceed €2 million, they qualify for the higher 40% rebate.