WHY SHOOT
IN COLOMBIA?
FFC – CASH REBATE
40% cash rebate of the expenses in audiovisual services* and 20% of the expenses of logistics services* in the country.
Local and foreign audiovisual projects in the following formats:
Film works
Series
Music Videos
Production categories:
Production
Production and postproduction
Animation
CINA – TRANSFERABLE TAX CREDIT
35% transferable tax credit of the expenses in audiovisual and logistics services* in the country.
Foreign audiovisual projects in the following formats:
Film works
Series
Music Videos
Video Games
Advertising Audiovisual
Production
Production categories:
Production
Production and postproduction
Animation
* Services provided by Colombian companies or natural persons of Colombian nationality and domiciled in the country.
For more information, consult the Resource Allocation Manual and Annexes.
More information about the negociation and use of the CINA incentive.
Consult the incentive booklet for the audiovisual sector regarding the Law 1556 of 2012.
Explanatory video of the CINA and FFC incentives
To learn more about the legal framework for incentives, please consult the Law 1556 of 2012, the Law 1955 of 2019, the Resolution 065 of 2021 and Decrees 1080 of 2015, Decrees 794 of 2018 y 474 of 2020
Have a minimum expenditure on audiovisual and logistics services in Colombia for a vale of $1.580.045.400 COP (USD $475.000*).
Series: Minimum expenditure distributed up to 4 episodes. Average cost per episode $400 millions COP (USD 114.000*).
Music Videos: Minimum expenditure distributed up to 20 videos. Average cost per video $80 millions COP (USD 23.000*).
*Approximately value in dollars.
EXECUTION TERM
Film works: 9 months.
Production and postproduction for up to 18 months.
Series: 12 months.
Production and postproduction for up to 24 months.
Music Videos: 18 months.
Production and postproduction.
Animation projects: 48 months.
Current legal monthly minimum wage. For 2021 the SMLMV is $908,526. Source: https://www.mintrabajo.gov.co/
CINA - TRANSFERABLE TAX CREDIT
Cabo de La Vela, Guajira - Cortesía: Revela Colombia.
The Audiovisual Investment Certificate – CINA – is a negotiable security that is issued in the name of the foreign producer, who can negotiate with natural or legal persons.
Have a minimum expenditure on audiovisual and logistics services in Colombia for a vale of $1.580.045.400 COP (USD $475.000*).
Series: Minimum expenditure distributed up to 4 episodes. Average cost per episode $400 millions COP (USD 114.000*).
Short content for web: Up to 20 episodes. Average cost per episode $80 millions COP (USD 23.000*).
Music Videos / Video Games / Advertising Audiovisual Production: Minimum expenditure distributed up to 5 works $316 millions COP (USD 95.000*).
Postproduction: Minimum expenditure $316 millions COP (US 95.000*).
*Approximately value in dollars.
EXECUTION TERM
Film works: 9 months. Production and postproduction for up to 18 months.
Series: 12 months. Production and postproduction for up to 24 months.
Music Videos: 18 months. Production and postproduction.
Video Games: 48 months.
Advertising Audiovisual Production: 18 months.
Animation projects: 48 months.
Postproduction: 18 months.
Current legal monthly minimum wage. For 2021 the SMLMV is $908,526. Source:, which will be discounted from the 5% over the 35% that must be deposited to the management entity for the operation of the CINA system.
PAYMENT OF TAXES WITH THE CINA
AVAILABLE BANK BRANCHES
The process of negotiation and use of the CINA is divided into two parts: the sale that the foreign producer makes of the CINA – usually to a brokerage firm – and the use that the Colombian beneficiary that purchases the CINA makes of it to pay taxes.
The process and its phases are explained below.
1. CINA ISSUANCE The CINA is issued by the Ministry of Culture on behalf of the beneficiary foreign producer through the DECEVAL system, which administers a quota with the amount that is issued annually.
2. Reception of the CINA by the brokerage firm or other direct depositor. The transfer to the CINA by the foreign producer (beneficiary of the CINA) must be done through a direct depositor, which may be a brokerage firm, or another entity in the financial system, such as a bank or trust company.
3. CINA sale (Foreign Producer)
The foreign producer sells the CINA to individuals or companies declaring income tax in Colombia in the secondary market, through a brokerage firm, by negotiation in the transactional system (Master Trader)
4. CINA Purchase (Colombian Beneficiary)
The Colombian beneficiary can buy the CINA from the foreign producer. This can be done by trading in the secondary market or through an over-the-counter sale. Subsequently, the Colombian beneficiary can sell the CINA again to natural or legal persons declaring income tax in Colombia or it can be used to pay this tax. If the intention of the Colombian beneficiary is to use it, they must request the change of depositor from the stock broker to a bank that can carry out said operation.
At the moment this payment can only be made at Bancolombia or at GNB Sudameris (business branches). See the Annex for the list of offices nationwide where the payment of taxes with CINA is accepted.
VAT EXEMPTION
In accordance with the Colombian Tax Statute, as it relates to sales tax (VAT), the services rendered in the country and used exclusively abroad by companies or persons without business or activities in Colombia, have the quality of exempt goods and services with the right to refunded bimonthly.
This information should not be used to make decisions regarding projects and/or film matters in Colombia. For this purpose, we recommend the user to seek advice from professionals in the film industry and lawyers with degrees in Colombia who are specialists in these matters.
The law specifies: “It is understood that there is an export of services in cases of services related to the production of film, television, audiovisual works of any kind and to the development of software, which are protected by copyright, and that once exported they are distributed abroad by the beneficiary in the international market and can be accessed from Colombia by any technological means” (Article 189 of Law No. 1819 of 2016).
The application of this exemption requires compliance with the regulations in force.
