The audiovisual tax credit system is set to undergo a structural revision following the draft interministerial decree submitted by the Ministry of Culture (MIC) to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT). The measure implements the provisions introduced by the 2026 Budget Law and reshapes the incentive framework, revising tax credit rates, caps and access criteria.
A key element of the reform is the transition to a model based on predefined resources, in line with the reduction of the Cinema and Audiovisual Fund, set at €610 million for 2026 and €500 million annually from 2027. In this context, the mechanism that previously allowed tax credits to exceed spending limits is being phased out, introducing a system subject to financial caps.
Tax credit rates and caps
The decree revises tax credit rates across different types of productions. For film, the tax credit is set at 30% for independent producers and 20% for non-independent companies. For TV and web productions, base rates are set at 20% and may increase to 30%. Similar reductions apply to documentaries, animation, short films and music videos, with mechanisms linked to the production capacity of companies.
Maximum tax credit thresholds per project are also introduced: up to €4 million for films and €6 million for TV and digital productions, with the possibility of increasing to €6 million and €10 million respectively in the presence of significant international participation. Annual caps per company are also established, differentiated between film and audiovisual sectors, defining an overall limit on accessible tax credits each year.
Further provisions concern the structure of eligible costs and production requirements, including the introduction of insurance coverage and updated criteria for low-budget works. The decree also addresses rights management, allowing greater flexibility in the handling of international rights, while leaving open some aspects related to resource monitoring and cost control procedures, which may be clarified during the implementation phase.
