Governor John Baldacci meets with Maine high school students working as extras on the set of the HBO film “Empire Falls”.
“It is my pleasure to introduce you to the new Maine Attraction Film Incentive Plan. Maine is one of the most beautiful places in the country and is an ideal setting for many films. We believe this package of financial incentives will help you do business in Maine. Welcome to our state. We look forward to hosting your project.”
- John Baldacci, Governor of Maine
The Maine Attraction Film Incentive Package
Are you producing a feature film, TV show, professional photographic project or other media production? If you produce that work in Maine, you may be eligible for incentives from the Maine Attraction Film Incentive program.
The program includes a wage reimbursement plan and an income tax credit for investors in media production.
Who Is Eligible?
If your project or projects spend at least $250,000 on production related expenses in Maine during a continuous 12-month period, it is probably eligible.
How do I sign up?
To be eligible, a media production must first be certified by the Maine Film Office.
Additional Available Exemptions
In addition to the new Maine Attraction Film Incentive Plan outlined above, Maine also offers additional exemptions that may be used by some media productions.
Manufacturers' Exemptions
All manufacturers in Maine are eligible for certain salestax exemptions. Media productions that qualify as manufacturers, for example, may be eligible to make sales tax exempt purchases of production related products. To inquire about the possible eligibility of your media project as a manufacturer, contact Maine Revenue Services at 207-624-9693.
Maine Fuel and Electricity Sales-Tax Exemptions
Companies creating film, TV, video and new-media projects in Maine can be exempted from paying taxes on most fuel and electricity used for the production.
Contact the Maine Film Office for more information.
Long-Term Lodging tax reimbursement program
Lodging taxes are reimbursed for stays of more than 28 consecutive days and are exempted for any additional consecutive stay.
Contact the Maine Film Office for more information.
Non-Tax Incentives
Maine also provides non-tax incentives to productions. Those incentives include:
Fee-Free Locations
Many of Maine's State Parks and Lands are available fee-free. To use them, you must first get a free Special Use Permit.
For more information on southern and central Maine State Parks, contact:
Steve Curtis
(207) 624-6076
Email:
steve.o.curtis@maine.gov
For information on northern and eastern Maine State Parks, contact:
Tim Hall
(207) 941-4014
Email:
tim.hall@maine.gov
Maine Surplus Property Plan
Qualified productions can borrow - free of charge - furniture and other surplus property from the State of Maine. In the past, productions have found free furniture and equipment to outfit production offices and to use as props.
Contact the Maine Film Office for more information.