Producer Steven Paul details a new U.S. tax incentive for film and television production targeting economically distressed areas and independent films.
Producer Steven Paul has shared significant updates regarding a proposed U.S. tax credit aimed at boosting film and television production domestically. Announced on September 16, 2026, Paul revealed that the legislation under consideration includes four potential uplifts of 5% each. These uplifts are designed for productions shooting in economically distressed areas, independent films, those bringing productions back to the U.S., and productions that span multiple jurisdictions within the country. This information was reported by Deadline.
According to Paul, the foundational credit is set at a base of 20%, which could be elevated to a maximum of 30% by incorporating up to two of the four uplifts. He notes, “Those are the four being talked about,” referring to the uplift categories. This developed as part of a broader effort involving discussions with key industry stakeholders and legislative figures, including Jon Voight, who served as the Trump administration’s Ambassador to Hollywood.
The four potential uplifts aim to tailor the credit to specific categories:
Paul also discussed the possibility of an uplift for productions filmed in federally declared disaster zones, although this element may evolve or be replaced in the final draft of the legislation.
The initiative seeks to counter the trend of runaway productions leaving the U.S. for locations with more favorable tax arrangements. A coalition known as the U.S. Film & TV Production Coalition has formed alongside the introduction of this incentive, supported by a report from the consultancy Olsberg SPI commissioned by the Motion Picture Association. The report projects that the federal incentive could lead to the creation of approximately 143,500 jobs annually from 2027 to 2035 and a substantial increase in production spending.
The proposed incentive is particularly relevant given the recent formation of the American Film & TV Production Caucus in Congress, aimed at promoting U.S. film and television industry growth. Lawmakers, including both Republicans and Democrats, are collaborating to refine and advocate for this legislation.
Timing is critical for this proposed legislation as the U.S. House of Representatives is currently in recess and will not reconvene until after the midterm elections. However, draft legislation could be finalized within the next week, and there is a strong desire among proponents to see the bill passed by the year's end.
The proposed U.S. production incentive could have a transformative impact on the domestic film and television industry. If successfully implemented, it would likely encourage increased production within the U.S., promote job creation, and enhance competitiveness against international locations with favorable fiscal policies. The evolving landscape of film production in America is closely tied to this legislation as it aims to reclaim a larger share of the global production market.
Entertainment news
EpisodeBreakdown may use automated tools to assist research, drafting, and formatting. Published pages are governed by our editorial and corrections policies, and source links are shown when they are available in the article record.
Discovery source: Deadline. The source identifies where the topic was discovered; EpisodeBreakdown is responsible for the commentary published on this page.
Reader response
Reactions and poll results are based on real reader responses. No account is required.
