Tax shelter

The Belgian Tax Shelter is a government-approved tax incentive designed to encourage the production of audiovisual works in Belgium. The system is open to Belgian productions as well as international co-productions with Belgium that meet certain criteria.

All three parties benefit from this arrangement: the producer is offered a very attractive way to finance projects; the investor obtains tax exemption through a virtually risk-free investment; and the Belgian state gains from increased economic activity and spend.

How does it work?

Based upon the amount of qualifying audiovisual costs the production will spend in the European Economic Area, and upon the amount of direct and indirect Belgian-eligible expenses, the Federal Public Service Finance can provide Tax Shelter certificates to local investors. The investor must make its full payment within three months of signing the framework agreement. Through the system, the investor pre-finances the production and/or post-production costs in return for tax benefits and a possible fixed return on investment.

What’s the advantage for the producer?

The Tax Shelter can provide additional funding up to 33% of the total qualifying expenses in the EEA. It allows the finance of up to 40% of the Belgian-eligible expenses.

Which works qualify for the Tax Shelter?

European audiovisual works such as:

A fiction film
A documentary
An animation film
A short film
fiction or animation series
The works must be produced with a commercial purpose other than for advertising purposes with the aim of being shown to a wide audience and must be approved by the competent services of the community concerned as being European works within the meaning of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive of 10 March 2010 (2010/13/EU)

International productions such as a feature film, documentary or animation film intended for a wide audience, provided that is

either the scope of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive of 10 March 2010 (2010/13/EU)
or within the scope of a bilateral agreement as regards the co-production concluded by Belgium (or one of its Communities) with another State.

The best and easiest way to gain access is to first find a local producer to make a co-production. More information is available in the brochure “Belgian Tax Shelter - 2024".

Contact

Federal Public Service Finance - International Investments Department
North Galaxy
Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 33 – box 22
BE - 1030 Brussels

taxinvest@minfin.fed.be