2025 Instructions for Form FTB 3551 Sale of Credit Attributable to an Independent Film

What's New

Motion Picture Tax Credit 4.0 – For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, California Revenue and Taxation Code (R&TC) Sections 17053.98.1 and 23698.1 would allow a new motion picture credit (motion picture credit 4.0) to be allocated by the California Film Commission (CFC) on or after July 1, 2025, and before July 1, 2030, in an amount equal to 20% or 25% of qualified expenditures for the production of a qualified motion picture in this state, and would require the credit to be administered in accordance with the existing motion picture credit.

In addition, R&TC Sections 17053.98.1 and 23698.1 allow a qualified taxpayer to elect to be paid a refund if the amount allowable as a credit under the motion picture credit 4.0 exceeds the qualified taxpayer’s tax liability for the taxable year and would allow the excess to be carried over. Taxpayers who purchase a credit attributable to an independent film are not permitted to elect a refund.

For more information, go to the CFC website at film.ca.gov.

Sales and Use Taxes – For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2027, a taxpayer who has made an irrevocable election with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to apply a qualified motion picture tax credit against qualified sales and use taxes shall not receive refunds or credit offsets in excess of $5,000,000, for any taxable year. A taxpayer may use the credit amount, or assigned portion, that exceeds the $5,000,000 limitation against the qualified sales and use tax imposed during the reporting periods in the five years following, including the reporting period beginning on and after January 1, 2027. This limitation does not apply to irrevocable elections made prior to January 1, 2024.

Important Information

Soundstage Filming Tax Credit – For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, California R&TC Sections 17053.98(k) and 23698(k), allow a fourth film credit, the Soundstage Filming Tax Credit, against tax. The credit, which is allocated and certified by the CFC, is:

25% of the qualified expenditures attributable to the production of a qualified motion picture in California where the qualified motion picture is a television series that relocated to California in its first year of receiving an allocation of this tax credit or an independent film.
20% of the qualified expenditures attributable to the production of a qualified motion picture in California including, but not limited to, a feature or a television series that relocated to California that is in its second or subsequent years of receiving an allocation for this tax credit.
The qualified motion picture must be produced in California at a certified studio construction project and by a qualified taxpayer that provides a diversity workplan that is approved by the CFC.

Additional credits may be allowed for the following:

Up to 4% of qualified expenditure relating to statutory provisions.
5% of qualified expenditures relating to original photography outside the Los Angeles zone, excluding qualified wages used to calculate the 10% credit listed below.
5% of qualified expenditures relating to qualified visual effects attributable to the production of a qualified motion picture in California.
10% of qualified wages paid for services performed relating to original photography outside of the Los Angeles zone to qualified individuals that reside in California but outside of the Los Angeles zone would be allowed for the production of a motion picture within California.

In most cases, a qualified motion picture shall not be eligible to receive a credit allocation for the Soundstage Filming Tax Credit if it receives a credit allocation for the Program 3.0 California Motion Picture and Television Production Credit in the same fiscal year. For more information, go to ftb.ca.gov and search motion picture, or go to the CFC website at film.ca.gov and search for soundstage filming tax credit.

Program 3.0 California Motion Picture and Television Production Credit – For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, California Revenue and Taxation Code (R&TC) Sections 17053.98 and 23698 allow a third film credit, program 3.0, against tax. This tax credit is allocated and certified by the CFC. The credit is:

25% of the qualified expenditures attributable to the production of a qualified motion picture in California where the qualified motion picture is a television series that relocated to California in its first year of receiving an allocation of this tax credit or an independent film.
- An additional credit may be allowed in an amount equal to 5% of qualified wages paid for services performed relating to original photography outside of the Los Angeles zone to qualified individuals who reside in California but outside the Los Angeles zone for the production of a qualified motion picture.
20% of the qualified expenditures attributable to the production of a qualified motion picture in California including, but not limited to, a feature or a television series that relocated to California that is in its second or subsequent years of receiving an allocation for this tax credit.
Additional credits may be allowed for the following:
- 5% of qualified expenditures relating to original photography outside the Los Angeles zone, excluding qualified wages used to calculate the 10% credit listed below.
- 5% of qualified expenditures relating to qualified visual effects attributable to the production of a qualified motion picture in California.
- 10% of qualified wages paid for services performed relating to original photography outside of the Los Angeles zone to qualified individuals that reside in California but outside of the Los Angeles zone would be allowed for the production of a motion picture within California.

For more information, go to the CFC website at film.ca.gov and search for tax credit.

New California Motion Picture and Television Production Credit – For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, R&TC Sections 17053.95 and 23695 allow a qualified taxpayer credit against the “net tax” (individuals) or “tax” (corporations) for a percentage of the qualified expenditures for the production of a qualified motion picture in California.

Original California Motion Picture and Television Production Credit – For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, R&TC Sections 17053.85 and 23685 allow a qualified taxpayer a credit against the “net tax” (individuals) or “tax” (corporations) for a percentage of the qualified expenditures for the production of a qualified motion picture in California.

Sale of Credit – A qualified taxpayer may sell tax credits that are attributable to an independent film to an unrelated party. For more information, refer to the original film credit allowed under R&TC Sections 17053.85 and 23685, the new film credit allowed under R&TC Sections 17053.95 and 23695, and the program 3.0 and soundstage filming credits allowed under R&TC Sections 17053.98 and 23698.

The CFC determines the amount of the credit and issues a tax credit certificate to the qualified taxpayer showing the amount of the credit. The maximum amount of credit that can be sold is the amount shown on the credit certificate. The full amount of credit or a portion of it may be sold.

Any portion of the credit that is not sold can be used by the qualified taxpayer to offset income or franchise tax or CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes. Credit not sold may also be assigned to an affiliate.

The qualified taxpayer selling the credit is required to report information related to the sale to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) prior to the purchase and sale of the credit. The requirement to notify FTB of the sale also applies to a partner, member, or shareholder who will sell any portion of their distributive share of the credit. After the sale of the credit, the unrelated party that has acquired the credit is subject to the requirements and restrictions of R&TC Sections 17053.85 and 23685, R&TC Sections 17053.95 and 23695, or R&TC Sections 17053.98 and 23698. The unrelated purchaser may use the credit against income or franchise tax, but may not sell it, assign it, or use it against CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes.

General Information

A. Purpose

Use form FTB 3551, Sale of Credit Attributable to an Independent Film, to report the sale of a credit attributable to an independent film.

The requirement to notify FTB of the sale also applies to a partner, member, or shareholder who will sell any portion of their distributive share of the credit.

See Section C Rules, for rules that apply to the selling of the credit and how to go about notifying FTB of the sale of the credit.

B. Definitions

California Film and Television Tax Credit Program Tax Credit Certificate (hereafter, CFC Tax Credit Certificate) means the actual tax credit certificate that is issued by the director of the CFC. This document may be requested by the FTB or the CDTFA. This certificate details the maximum amount of the credit that can be sold.

Certified studio construction project means a construction or renovation project certified for a period of five years by the CFC. For specific criteria regarding the project certification go to the CFC website at film.ca.gov.

Independent film, for the original credit, means a motion picture with a minimum budget of one million dollars ($1,000,000) and a maximum budget of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) that is produced by a company that is not publicly traded and publicly traded companies do not own, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the producing company.

For the new, program 3.0 soundstage filming and motion picture 4.0 credit, an independent film means a motion picture with a minimum budget of one million dollars ($1,000,000), and no maximum budget, that is produced by a company that is not publicly traded and publicly traded companies do not own, directly, or indirectly, more than 25% of the producing company.

Qualified taxpayer, for the original credit, means a taxpayer who has paid or incurred qualified expenditures and has been issued a tax credit certificate by the CFC. For the new, program 3.0, and motion picture 4.0 credit, a qualified taxpayer must also have participated in the Career Readiness requirement.

For the soundstage filming credit, a qualified taxpayer must also provide a diversity workplan that is approved by the CFC. For more information on the criteria for a qualified taxpayer claiming the soundstage filming credit see R&TC Sections 17053.98 and 23698.

In the case of any pass-through entity, the determination of whether a taxpayer is a qualified taxpayer is made at the entity level. Pass-through entity means any entity taxed as a partnership or S corporation. For the original, new, and program 3.0, and motion picture 4.0 credit, a qualified taxpayer cannot be a pass-through entity. The credit is passed through to the shareholders, beneficiaries, partners, or members only. A qualified taxpayer can be a pass-through entity for the soundstage filming credit. For more information, refer to R&TC Sections 23685, 23695 and 23698.

Face amount of credit means the amount shown in the Final Tax Credit box on the CFC Tax Credit Certificate.

Consideration received means the dollar amount the seller receives from the buyer for the sale of the credit. Stock, securities, or other property also count as consideration received.

C. Rules

The qualified taxpayer selling the credit must submit form FTB 3551 prior to the purchase and sale of the credit to notify FTB of the following:

Name, address, and tax identification number of the film company listed on the CFC Tax Credit Certificate, the seller, and the buyer.
Note: If the film company is a pass-through entity, the qualified seller is the partner, member, or shareholder.
Tax Credit Certificate number shown on the CFC Tax Credit Certificate.
Final Tax Credit amount shown on the CFC Tax Credit Certificate.
Partner’s, member’s, or shareholder’s name, address, tax identification number as well as the distributive share of the credit.
Amount of credit that will be sold.
Amount of consideration the seller will receive from the buyer.
Amount of credit the seller has applied or will apply against CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes.

Important: This portion of the credit may not be sold.

Only qualified taxpayers who receive credits attributable to an independent film may sell the credit to an unrelated party.

A credit cannot be:

Sold to more than one taxpayer.
Resold, assigned, or used against CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes by the unrelated purchaser.

In no event may a qualified taxpayer assign or sell any tax credit to the extent the tax credit allowed is claimed on any tax return of the qualified taxpayer.

In the event the taxpayer that earned the credit and the buyer both claim the same credit amount on their tax return, the FTB may disallow the credit of either taxpayer.

D. Gain on Sale of Credit

The sale of the credit is a sale of property. The seller is required to report gain from the sale. Basis in property is generally the cost of the property. Since the seller did not pay for the credit, the seller does not have a basis in the credit.

The gain from the sale of the credit is the excess of the total consideration received over the basis. The total amount of consideration received is the sum of any money received plus the fair market value of the property (other than money) received. Since the seller’s basis in the credit is $0 (zero), the seller will recognize and report gain on the full amount of consideration received.

E. Filing Form FTB 3551

The form may be sent by mail or by fax to the following PO Box address or fax number:

Mail: Independent Film Tax Credit MS F350
Franchise Tax Board
PO Box 1779
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-1779
Fax: Fax: 916-855-5666

Specific Instructions

Part I – Seller and Buyer Information

If the seller is a single member limited liability company (SMLLC) or limited liability company (LLC), select the appropriate box. If the LLC is electing to be treated as a partnership then the LLC must fill out Part III, box 6. Since the LLC is a pass-through entity each member is considered the responsible party and each member’s name, address, tax identification number and distributive share must be disclosed for all levels of the pass-through entity.

Sellers of this credit must complete the “Seller” entity box by providing the qualified taxpayer’s information, which is found on the CFC Tax Credit Certificate.

The seller completes the second entity box only if the seller is a partner, member, or shareholder, selling their distributive share of pass-through credits.

The seller completes the third entity box with the buyer’s information.

Part II – Independent Film Questionnaire

The seller answers questions 1 and 2 in Part II to determine if the credit meets the requirements to be sold. If any of the requirements are not met, the credit cannot be sold.

If the answer to question 3 is “Yes,” attach a schedule listing the same information as requested in the seller entity box in Part I for each entity which the credit passed-through. Begin with the entity which generated the credit and end with the entity of which the seller is a partner, member, or shareholder.

If the credit does not meet the requirements to be sold, see “Important Information” section.

Part III – Credit Information

Box 4 – Tax Credit Certificate No. and Seller’s Permit No.

A copy of the CFC Tax Credit Certificate is needed to complete this box. Enter the tax credit certificate number and the seller’s permit number from the CFC Tax Credit Certificate. Do not enter the credit allocation or copyright registration number.

For more information, go to the CFC website at film.ca.gov or call the CFC at 323-860-2960 or 800-858-4749.

Box 5 – Final Tax Credit amount shown on certificate

Enter the amount shown in the Final Tax Credit box from the CFC Tax Credit Certificate.

Box 6 – Total amount of distributive share of credit if seller is a partner, member, or shareholder.

Enter the distributive share of credit from the applicable Schedule K-1 (565, 568, or 100S), Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc. Sellers who are partners, members, or shareholders must enter the distributive share of credit from Schedule K-1 (565, 568, or 100S). Attach a schedule showing the names, addresses, tax identification numbers, and the ownership percentages of the pass-through partners, members, or shareholders.

Box 9 – Total amount of credit seller applied or will apply to CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes

A qualified taxpayer may make an irrevocable election to apply the credit or a portion of it against CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes. If you made or will make this election, enter the amount of credit you applied or will apply against CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes. If you did not make or will not make the election, leave blank.

Do not enter more than box 5 minus box 7.

Important: If box 6 was completed, do not enter more than box 6 minus box 7.

You may not apply any of the credit being sold against CDTFA qualified sales and use taxes.

Franchise Tax Board Privacy Notice on Collection

Our privacy notice can be found in annual tax booklets or online. Go to ftb.ca.gov/privacy to learn about our privacy policy statement, or go to ftb.ca.gov/forms and search for 1131 to locate FTB 1131 EN-SP, Franchise Tax Board Privacy Notice on Collection – Aviso de Privacidad del Franchise Tax Board sobre la Recaudación. To request this notice by mail, call 800-338-0505 and enter form code 948 when instructed.