How this works

An indicative number, not a binding ruling.

This calculator queries the FixerSydney MCP server in real time and returns the same indicative figure I would quote on a first call. Pick the offset (Location, Producer, PDV) or leave it blank and the tool selects the most likely fit from your production type. It applies the relevant federal rate to your QAPE and flags whether you clear the minimum spend threshold.

It is not tax advice and it does not bind the Office for the Arts, Screen Australia or the ATO. Real applications turn on the significant Australian content test (Producer Offset), the QAPE per-hour minima (TV drama, documentary), Australian production company control and the live legislation. State-level incentives stack on top of the federal offset and are not modelled here. Use this for budgeting and shortlisting Australia against other jurisdictions. When the brief is real, send it over.

Production type Federal offsets cover feature film, telemovie, mini-series, TV drama, documentary, animation and PDV. Advertising, reality, sport, news, current affairs, training and games are not eligible for any of the three.

QAPE (AUD) Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure: spend on goods, services and labour provided in Australia. Excludes any spend incurred outside Australia.

Offset type Leave blank to let the MCP infer the offset from your production type. Pick explicitly when you already know which route fits.

What this tool can't see.

Significant Australian content test. The Producer Offset requires Australian production company control, Australian creative team, Australian IP. Genuinely Australian projects pass. International productions normally route through the Location Offset instead.
QAPE per-hour minima. TV drama needs AUD 1.5 million per hour for the Location Offset. Producer Offset TV drama needs AUD 500k per broadcast hour with minimum episode and series duration thresholds. Documentary AUD 250k per hour for the Producer Offset.
Crew training and capability obligations. The Location Offset at 30 percent carries significant Australian crew training and skills capability obligations. Not visible in the indicative rate.
Stacking rules. The same dollar of QAPE can only be claimed under one federal offset. Location plus PDV is possible if post is separately accounted for and was not already counted in Location QAPE. Producer Offset and Location Offset cannot be combined on the same project.
State-level incentives. NSW Made, Film Victoria VPI, Screen Queensland PISP, Ausfilm post-side incentives all stack on top of the federal offset and can add 10 to 15 percent to the return. Not modelled here.
Claimant structure. Australian-resident production company (Producer Offset, full domestic) or Australian-resident production company or PE (Location, PDV). International productions partner with an Australian production company that can hold the certificate.
Cash-flow timing. Federal offsets pay on lodgement of the corporate tax return for the income year QAPE was incurred. Specialist lenders advance against the certificate during production.

Australian film tax offset calculator.

An indicative number, not a binding ruling.

What this tool can't see.

Ready to structure a real offset claim?