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Tom is a filmmaker, producer, and marketing specialist based in Los Angeles.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Massachusetts’ dynamic mix of modern cityscapes, coastal charm, and quaint New England towns, paired with the fact that the Commonwealth experiences all four seasons, make it an ideal destination for productions of all types and sizes.
Whether you’re filming a gritty crime thriller on the historic streets of Boston or a character-driven drama set amidst the scenic and serene Berkshires, you’ll find the perfect locations and a welcoming, robust production community in the Bay State.
Adding to Massachusetts’s allure, the Massachusetts film tax credit provides compelling financial incentives for feature films, television series, commercials, and a host of other projects.
Features including Academy Award-winner CODA, Challengers, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and series like City on a Hill, Dexter: New Blood, and Ted have all taken advantage of Massachusetts’s film incentives and production support.
For more on the Massachusetts film tax, check out Wrapbook’s comprehensive guide to the program. Below, we will walk through a few of the key forms that will help you unlock all of the filming opportunities that Massachusetts has to offer.
Wrapbook’s Government Form Database has you covered with all the Massachusetts forms you will need to keep your Bay State production running smoothly.
To ensure your production in Massachusetts is compliant and on track, here are some of the most in-demand forms available in our database:
The M-4 is an essential startwork form for all employees working in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
New employees hired to your production are required to fill out Massachusetts’s M-4 to declare their tax withholding exemptions. Make sure every crew member has filled this out to stay compliant with state tax regulations.
As an employer, you will also need to fill out Form NHR, the New Hire and Independent Contractor Reporting Form, for all newly hired Massachusetts employees and independent contractors who will be earning $600 or more.
Massachusetts film tax credits are transferable, allowing even out-of-state production companies to take advantage of the credits by selling them to Massachusetts taxpayers with in-state liability.
In order to transfer your Massachusetts film tax credits, you will first need to fill out and file Form TSA, the Film Credit Transfer or Sale Application. This form provides details about the intended tax credit sale or transfer to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue so that the DOR can approve the transfer.
Upon approval of the application, the DOR will issue a Transfer or Sale Film Credit Certificate indicating the amount of credit transferred.
Planning to use pyrotechnics for your film shoot in the City of Boston? You’ll need to plan carefully and apply for a special effects permit from the City with this application form.
The Boston Fire Department Application For a Special Effects Permit ensures you’re cleared by the Boston Fire Department to safely incorporate special effects into your shoot.
In addition to this municipal special effects permit application, you may also need to apply for a Massachusetts special effects permit and obtain a Special Effects Certificate of Competency from the Commonwealth.
If your shoot takes place outside of Boston, make sure you have all the required municipal filming permits for towns and cities like Cambridge, Gloucester, and Lowell.
If you’re applying for Massachusetts film tax credits, you’ll want to make sure you fill out and file a copy of Form LOA, the Loan-Out Affidavit/Allocation form, for every loan-out company included in your tax credit application.
This form ensures that all payments made to loan-out companies are properly documented so the payments can be eligible for tax credits. It’s a crucial form you don’t want to miss—failure to submit a complete Form LOA for a loan-out can result in the disallowance of the credit for that particular loan-out company.
The Massachusetts Film Office provides a whole host of resources to help productions succeed in the Bay State, from a location directory, to crew and support services listings, to assistance with the Commonwealth’s in-demand film tax incentive program.
To take full advantage of all the Massachusetts Film Office has to offer, productions should use this form to register with the Film Office before cameras roll. Completing and submitting the Massachusetts Film Office Production Registration Form is a key step to ensure your project is recognized and eligible for local support and resources.
Massachusetts just might be the perfect destination for your next production, and with Wrapbook’s Government Forms Database, managing your production paperwork has never been easier. Access all the forms you need in one place and focus on what truly matters—creating something amazing.
Ready to dive in? Visit our Government Forms Database and start exploring the tools that make production workflows simpler and smarter.
When you're filming in Massachusetts, the paperwork can pile up fast. From registering your production with the Massachusetts Film Office to applying for the state’s competitive tax incentives, you might feel like you’re navigating a maze of government forms as complex as Boston’s streets. Wrapbook is here to change that.
We’re excited to announce that Wrapbook’s Government Forms Database now includes essential forms for Massachusetts. From tax withholding to permit applications, employee startwork to LLC filings, finding the Massachusetts documents you need for your production has never been easier.
Producing a film comes with its fair share of challenges, but navigating government paperwork shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why Wrapbook’s Government Forms Database is here to help streamline the process by organizing all the federal, state, and local forms you need for production in one convenient place.
Wrapbook’s Government Forms Database is your one-stop shop for accessing vital production documents. From payroll compliance to permit applications, our database is designed to save you time and headaches by centralizing all the forms you will need. Ready to get started? Explore the Government Forms Center today.
