B2B Service
Trinidad & Tobago
Production Expenditure Rebate
T&T's production incentive programme offers significant rebates on qualifying spend for international productions shooting on location. Galt Alliance Films was among the first companies in the country to successfully navigate and receive this rebate — on two consecutive international feature films.
The Incentive
What the Rebate Offers
35%
On-Location Production Spend
Maximum rebate on qualifying production expenditure incurred in Trinidad & Tobago. Minimum qualifying threshold applies.
Cap: US$1.5M for international crews
55%
Local Labour Costs
Higher rebate rate applies specifically to salaries and fees paid to Trinidad & Tobago residents employed in the production.
Cap: TT$9.6M for local crew
150%
Tax Deduction — Film Sponsorship
Companies that sponsor film productions in T&T may deduct 150% of their contribution as a tax expense, up to TT$1 million per year.
Limit: TT$1M sponsorship per year
0%
VAT & Customs on Foreign Equipment
Qualifying international productions may be exempt from VAT and customs duty on equipment imported for the production. Proper documentation required.
Exemption — foreign crew equipment only
The Process
How the Application Works
The Production Expenditure Rebate is administered by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Trinidad & Tobago. The application requires a qualifying production company to be registered in T&T, production expenditure to be documented and audited, and a formal rebate application to be submitted to the Ministry following completion of principal photography.
The audit component is a formal financial audit of production costs incurred in-country. This requires an accountant or auditing firm registered in T&T — the audit work for GAF productions was managed by the same team that now operates as part of the Scorpius F.A.R.M.S. professional services practice.
Key requirements include: T&T-registered production entity (we can assist with set-up), local bank account, documented payroll for T&T-resident crew, receipts for all qualifying local expenditure, and a post-production audit report prepared by a qualified accountant.
We Help You Set Up
- Register a production company in T&T
- Open a local bank account
- Set up statutory registrations (BIR, NIS)
- Structure employment contracts for local crew
We Handle the Numbers
- Rebate-ready cost reporting from day one
- Separate tracking of local vs. foreign expenditure
- Payroll management & compliance
- Post-production audit & report (via Scorpius F.A.R.M.S.)
Audit & Accounting Partner
Scorpius F.A.R.M.S.
The rebate application requires a certified financial audit by a T&T-registered accountant. This work is handled by Scorpius F.A.R.M.S. — Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, Syncretism — our ACCA-qualified professional services entity. A single enquiry covers both production consulting (GAF) and audit/accounting (Scorpius).
Know Before You Apply
Eligibility & Notes
Minimum spend thresholds apply. The rebate is designed for substantive international productions — not short-form content or commercial shoots. Contact us to assess whether your project qualifies.
Local content requirements. The programme is structured to incentivise employment of T&T residents and sourcing from local suppliers. Productions that minimise local hiring will also minimise their rebate value.
Timing matters. The rebate application is submitted after production, but cost-reporting infrastructure must be in place from the first day of local spend. Retrofitting your accounting after wrap is extremely difficult and can jeopardise the application. Start the conversation before you land.
Rebate programme details are set by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago and subject to change. The figures above reflect the programme as GAF experienced it in 2008–2009. Verify current terms with the Ministry of Trade and Industry before budgeting.