Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) - Commercial Projects

The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program - Commercial Projects, is administered by the Texas Film Commission, a division of the Office of the Governor of Texas. The program is designed to attract and support film, television, and commercial production activity within the state by offering financial incentives tied to in-state spending and economic impact. The overarching goal is to stimulate job creation, promote the use of Texas-based production infrastructure, and enhance the state’s visibility as a filming destination. The program evaluates applicants not only on baseline eligibility criteria but also on their broader economic contributions to Texas, including tourism promotion and workforce engagement. The purpose of the incentive is to reimburse a portion of qualified expenditures incurred during production within Texas. Eligible spending includes wages and per diems paid to Texas residents, payments to Texas-based vendors, and other production-related costs that directly contribute to the physical creation of a project. However, strict limitations apply. Compensation for non-Texas residents, marketing and distribution costs, and general overhead expenses are excluded. Additionally, total compensation eligible for reimbursement is capped at one million dollars per worker per project, and only expenditures directly tied to in-state activity are considered. To qualify, applicants must meet several threshold requirements. A project must have a minimum of one hundred thousand dollars in eligible Texas spending. At least sixty percent of the production must occur within the state, and a minimum of thirty-five percent of all paid cast, crew, and extras must be Texas residents. Residency must be verified through formal documentation, including a Declaration of Texas Residency form supported by official identification. Projects that fail to meet these requirements are deemed ineligible for funding consideration. The application process requires an initial Incentive Inquiry Form submission to obtain access to the formal application. Applicants must then submit a complete package including an online application, an itemized budget of projected Texas expenditures, and a content document such as scripts or storyboards. Applications must be submitted no earlier than one hundred eighty days before production begins and no later than five business days prior to the first day of principal photography. Late submissions or projects that have already begun production are not accepted. During production, the Texas Film Commission may conduct periodic reviews to ensure compliance with program requirements, including verification of in-state spending and workforce composition. After production concludes, applicants must submit detailed documentation within sixty days, including financial records, payroll data, residency forms, and production reports. This verification process ensures that all claimed expenditures meet eligibility standards before reimbursement is considered. Final review and payment are contingent upon a compliance assessment conducted by the Governor’s Office Division of Compliance and Monitoring. Funds are disbursed only after all obligations to the state are satisfied and documentation is approved. The program does not guarantee funding for all applicants and reserves the right to deny projects that include inappropriate content or portray Texas negatively. For additional information or clarification, applicants may contact the Texas Film Commission directly via email or phone.

Ensure all Texas residency documentation is complete and valid; track eligible expenditures carefully; submit application within required production timeline window