Guidelines for the Croatian Cash Rebate

March 20, 2018 | Author: Srdjan Sarenac | Category: Tax Refund, Croatia, Audit, Crime & Justice, Justice


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Guideline  for  the  Croatian  Cash  Rebate    This  guideline  does  not  have  the  force  of  law  and  does  not  constitute  a  replacement  of   the  Regulations  to  Encourage  Investment  in  the  production  of  Audiovisual  works,  nor   does   it,   in   all   instances,   constitute   a   full   statement   of   the   law   as   it   applies,   or   has   applied.   This   guideline   should   only   serve   as   a   reference   to   the   producers   in   the   Cash   Rebate   application   process.   In   case   of   doubt,   only   the   Regulations   to   Encourage   Investment  in  the  production  of  Audiovisual  works  are  legally  applicable.  Unless  stated   otherwise,  all  statutory  references  are  to  the  Regulations  to  Encourage  Investment  in   the  production  of  Audiovisual  works     Type of Incentive? Refundable cash rebate. Total funding per year? 20,000,000.00 Kn, paid out on a first-come-first-serve basis Eligible entities? Croatian companies in the role of a producer, co-producer or production service provider who: 1. Either own the copyright to the screenplay or are the production service provider of the company that owns the copyright to the screenplay. 2. Have, within the last 3 years, produced at least one publically showcased AV work. 3. Have no outstanding balance/amount owed to any government department and are not in the process of liquidation or bankruptcy. 4. In case of a co-production, are registered as the Croatian co-producer of the work Maximum benefit? Up to 20% of the qualifying local expenditure Project cap? 20,000,000.00 Kn (roughly €2,674,000.00) of qualifying local expenditure per project. Projects exceeding 20 ml. Kn in qualifying local expenditure may apply to the Croatian Audiovisual Centre for an additional rebate, however, the decision and amount depends on the available reserves. Eligible projects? Feature Films, Documentaries, Short Films, Television Drama and Animation. The Rebate does not apply to Commercials, Reality Television, Game Shows and Soaps. What constitutes qualifying expenditure? Croatian cast and crew working in Croatia, as well as goods and services purchased in Croatia.   Page  1  of  6   Project criteria? Minimum local spend. in which case it can go up to 80%. scheduling. Qualifying test .00 Kn per episode of a TV drama What does the Qualifying test comprise of? The qualification test comprises three categories: ‘cultural content’. budgeting.000. including the Cash Rebate.   Page  2  of  6   . casting. at least 50% of the cast and crew hired must be Croatian citizens. of which at least 7 points must be scored in Section B (Creative Collaboration) and at least 4 points in Section C (Production/Use of Croatian Resources). including locations scouting.00 Kn for Documentaries 500. and for a final certificate upon completion of the production in Croatia. ‘creative talents’ and ‘production’. and is responsible for compliance with prescribed formal requirements. How does it work from the foreign producer’s point of view? The foreign producer must team up with a local Croatian co-producer or production service provider. funding restrictions Minimum local spend per project? 2.00 Kn for Feature films 300.necessary requirements? The project must score a minimum total of 15 points (from a maximum of 37). If the project is partly realized in Croatia. The Croatian partner provides the full range of production services. must not exceed 50% of the total production budget. The cumulative level of the state-aid in each European country.00 Kn for Animations 1.00 Kn for TV films 750.000. Financial requirements Projects must secure at least 70% of the total production budget before applying for the rebate.000. The Croatian entity also applies to the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC) for a provisional certificate before the start of production. at least 30% of the cast and crew hired in Croatia must be Croatian citizens.000. hiring quota.000.000.000. crewing and takes full responsibility for all production services carried out in the State throughout the life-span of the production. Hiring quota If the project is realized entirely in Croatia. qualification test. except in cases of “lowbudget and difficult” films. the Committee will examine whether these costs are directly connected with the production of the work. The Application will not be considered filed if any of the required documents is missing or incomplete.Procedure Filing the Application 1. 3. In addition to determining whether the submitted documentation complies with all legal and formal requirements. The Application and all its pertaining documents must be submitted in Croatian (Co-production and Service Agreements must be submitted in the form of a certified translation into Croatian). taking into consideration the shooting plan. The provisional certificate does not automatically guarantee payment of the rebate. The Croatian Audiovisual Centre reserves the right to request any additional documents it deems necessary in order to evaluate the Application. 3. Qualifying test and complete documentation (see “Application Documentation”) must be sent to the Croatian Audiovisual Centre no later than 30 days prior to the start of production in Croatia. comprising of 5 members. which is conditioned on the full compliance with prescribed formal requirements. 2. 5. 4. comprising of the completed Application Form (signed and notarized by the applicant’s legal representative). Changes to the Application The Applicant is required to promptly inform the Croatian Audiovisual Centre of any changes to the information provided in the initial application. 2. The Committee. 4. the conditions and deadlines under which it will be awarded. 5. Evaluating the Application – Provisional Certificate 1. All submitted documents shall remain property of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. In case of approval. the Committee reserves the right to evaluate individual cost items presented in the planned Croatian expenditure and to decide whether these costs are of the nature of Eligible Costs in terms of the objective and purpose of the Programme and in view of the binding rules. In evaluating the cost of items for goods and services. A hardcopy of the Application. the project will be awarded a provisional certificate stating the incentive amount. will evaluate the Application within 30 days of receipt of a valid Application. The Croatian Audiovisual Centre reserves the right to change its decision in the event that the legal   Page  3  of  6   . The provisional certificate will be voided if the commencement of production in Croatia is postponed for more than 30 days. the crew sheet and other details provided by Applicant. and within the period prescribed in the Provisional Certificate. the Committee adjusts the amount due to make sure they reflect the actually incurred costs. These copies of receipts will be kept at the Producer’s premises. However. Based on the submitted evidence. audit of the final cost statement and evidence that all the requirements have been met. copies of receipts that serve as proofs of costs incurred by the Applicant in connection with the production of the work in Croatia. Final certificate – guarantee of payment 1. guaranteeing the payment of the total amount due. Upon completion of production in Croatia. The  commencement  date  for  the  production  in  Croatia  has  been  delayed  for   more  than  30  days. The Croatian Audiovisual Centre will then issue the final certificate.upon the Committee’s request. In case of compliance.     4. The   actual   costs   incurred   in   connection   with   the   production   in   Croatia   are   smaller  than  the  minimum  required  local  spend  per  project. In case the production costs were lower than initially estimated. the Committee determines the Applicant’s compliance with all legal and financial obligations. 4. as well as whether the actual costs correspond with the projected costs submitted in the Application.grounds and the actual state of affairs have changed significantly in relation to the information provided in the application. . Disbursment   The net benefit will be made available on completion of production. confirmed by an authorized auditor whose services shall be paid by the applicant. The  applicant  failed  to  comply  with  all  of  his  financial  and  legal  obligations  in   connection  with  the  production  in  Croatia   3.       Cancellation  of  payment  in  case  of  non-­‐compliance   The  payment  will  be  cancelled  if:     1. the amount will remain the same as the one stated in the provisional certificate. including liabilities to the government. The   payment   will   be   made   to   the   applicant’s   designated   account   opened   exclusively   for   the   purpose   of   the   production   of   the   work   for   which   the   incentive   is   being   requested.a complete statement of actual production costs incurred in Croatia. the amount due will be proportionally lowered. confirmed by an authorized auditor whose services shall be paid by the applicant. in the event the production costs were higher. The  project  did  not  secure  the  funding  as  announced  in  the  application   2.         Page  4  of  6   . 3. 2. the Applicant must provide the Croatian Audiovisual Centre with the following documents: . Certificate  of  Incorporation   Issued  by  the  Commercial  Registry  Office   4.  including  the  exact  amount  of  state  subsidies  provided  by   the   Republic   of   Croatia   and   European   Union   member   countries.  must   be   sent   by   certified   mail   with   return   receipt   requested   along   with  a  copy  of  the  documents  in  electronic  format   2.   3.   the   certificate   must   verify   that   the   entity   satisfied   all   tax   obligations   due   to   the   State.   confirmation   of   national   support.   including   taxes.     Enclose  all  items  of  evidence  of  financing  (contracts.       Page  5  of  6   . For   feature   films:   a   confirmation   of   the   screening   issued   by   a   film   distributor   or   screening   company   and   an   extract   from   a   newspaper  as  proof  of  the  screening  in  regular  distribution.  deal-­‐memos. The  Project  Budget   i.   etc…)   8.     5.  or   a   confirmation   issued   by   a   national   television   broadcaster   of   the  broadcasting  of  the  work. For   animated.   letters   of   intention.   ii.   detailed  project  budget   ii. A  financing  plan  for  the  production  of  the  entire  work   The   plan   must   state   all   sources   of   funding   (whether   local   or   foreign). A  screenplay  and  synopsis  of  the  work     6. Tax  Clearance  Certificate   Issued   by   the   Department   of   Revenue. Application  form   The   completed   form.  along  with  the  pertaining  documents.  the  company’s   founder  or  Director  must  have  produced  such  a  work. A  list  of  planned  production  costs  to  be  incurred  in  Croatia   Includes   details   of   each   element   of   expenditure   that   may   be   accepted   as   an   eligible   cost   incurred   directly   in   Croatia   on   the   employment   of   eligible   individuals   and   on   the   provision   of   eligible   goods. For   international   productions   with   a   local   production   service   provider:  the  total  project  budget  amount   7. For   local   productions   or   co-­‐productions   and   international   co-­‐ productions   with   a   Croatian   co-­‐producer:   a   preliminary. Proof   of   the   public   screening   of   a   work   produced   by   applicant   within  the  last  three  years:   i.   interest.   charges   and   any   other   liabilities.Documentation   1.   penalties.   as   well  as  the  percentage  of  participation  of  each  individual  source  in   the  total  budget.   short   feature   and   documentary   films:   proof   of   screening   within   the   official   program   of   at   least   one   international  film  festival   In  the  event  that  the  company  lacks  such  credits.   fees.  services  and  facilities.   signed   and   sealed   by   the   applicant’s   authorised  signatory.   decisions. Proof   of   security   of   financing   for   70%   of   the   Project’s   production   costs  in  Croatia   Copies   of   contracts.               Page  6  of  6   . A   certified   copy   of   the   Preliminary   Contract   or   Contract   on   Co-­‐ production  (for  international  co-­‐productions)     OR   A  Service  Level  Agreement  between  the  original  producer  and  a   local  production  service  provider  (for  international  productions)   16. A   production   plan   with   the   final   completion   date   of   the   entire   work   12. Applicant’s  duly  executed  Statutory  Declaration   Wherein  the  Applicant  consents  to  all  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the   Regulations   and   provides   a   statement   of   truth   verifying   the   facts   provided  in  the  Application.     10. Project  cash  flow  forecast     Schedule  for  the  project’s  disbursement  and  receipts   13. A   list   of   all   staff   (crew)   and   personnel   employed   in   the   production  of  the  work  in  of  Croatia  (crew  list). A  production  plan  for  Croatia   11.   preliminary   contracts.9. A  completed  qualifying  test  from  Annex  2  of  the  Regulations   15.   letters   of   intent   or   commitment  stating  the  exact  amount     14.
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