Film & TV Production




Film & TV Production

Tax Advisory for Film and TV Production Companies in Australia

Specialist tax advisory for film and TV production companies. QAPE guidance, SPV structuring, Producer Offset strategy, and financial oversight from development to delivery. Count Out Loud advises production companies across Australia.

Top 1%
Xero Platinum Champion Partner
SPA
Services & Facilities Business of the Year

Film and television production is not a normal business. It operates on fixed budgets with no margin for error. Revenue is uncertain and often delayed by 12 months or more. Funding comes from multiple sources – each with its own reporting requirements, compliance obligations, and drawdown conditions. Government incentives worth hundreds of thousands of dollars hinge on meticulous expenditure tracking. And the entire financial lifecycle of a project – from first dollar spent to final offset payment – can span three years or more, even though the actual production might last only eight weeks.

This is why productions cannot use a generalist accountant and expect a good outcome. The financial mechanics of the screen industry are fundamentally different from standard small business accounting, and the cost of getting it wrong is measured in six figures.

At Count Out Loud, tax advisory for the screen industry is not a sideline or a niche within a broader practice. It is the core of the practice. The specialist team works with production companies, post-production houses, and creative industry businesses across Australia – advising on QAPE strategy, SPV structuring, Producer Offset claims, and production tax compliance for projects ranging from $200K independent documentaries to multi-million dollar feature films and series. Count Out Loud is a Xero Platinum Champion Partner – placing the firm in the top 1% of Xero partners in Australia – and was named Services and Facilities Business of the Year by Screen Producers Australia.

If you are producing in Australia, this page walks through exactly how production finances work, what can go wrong, and how specialist tax advisory supports better outcomes.

Why Film and TV Productions Need Specialist Accounting

Film and television productions require specialist accountants because they operate under compressed timelines with complex multi-source funding, strict government offset requirements (QAPE tracking, Screen Australia compliance), and unique payroll structures with daily rates, penalty rates, and per diems across cast and crew. A standard business accountant does not have the systems, industry knowledge, or production experience to manage these requirements effectively.

Here is what makes production accounting fundamentally different:

Fixed Budgets with No Upside

A production’s budget is set before a single frame is shot. Unlike a normal business, you cannot simply earn more revenue to cover a cost overrun. Every dollar over budget comes directly out of the contingency, the producer’s fee, or – worst case – the production’s viability. The production accountant needs to track expenditure against budget in real time, flag variances the moment they appear, and provide accurate cost-to-complete projections so the producer can make decisions before problems become crises.

Compressed Timelines

The bulk of a production’s expenditure occurs during principal photography – often a window of four to twelve weeks. In that period, hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars flow through the production’s accounts. Crew payroll runs weekly. Supplier invoices arrive daily. Petty cash floats are distributed and reconciled constantly. The production accountant cannot process this work on a monthly cycle. They need to operate at the pace of the shoot.

Complex Funding Stacks

A typical Australian production might be funded by Screen Australia, a state screen agency, a broadcaster, a distributor providing a minimum guarantee, private equity investors, and the anticipated Producer Offset. Each funding source has its own drawdown schedule, reporting requirements, and compliance conditions. The accountant needs to manage cash flow across all of these sources simultaneously, ensuring drawdown requests are submitted on time and that each funder’s conditions are being met.

Government Incentive Dependency

For most Australian productions, the Producer Offset is not a bonus – it is a fundamental part of the financing plan. A 40% offset on qualifying expenditure for a feature film can represent the largest single source of funding. But claiming it requires meticulous tracking of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) throughout the entire production. Miss eligible expenditure, and you are leaving money on the table. Fail to document it properly, and Screen Australia will disallow it. Either way, the production loses.

Unique Compliance Requirements

Productions must comply with Single Touch Payroll for crew, superannuation obligations that apply differently to employees and contractors, workers compensation across multiple jurisdictions if shooting in different states, completion bond reporting requirements, and investor reporting obligations. Each of these sits on top of the standard GST, PAYG, and income tax compliance that every business faces.

A generalist accountant – even a very competent one – will not have the systems, the knowledge, or the pace of operation to manage these demands. That is not a criticism of generalist accountants. It is simply a recognition that production accounting is a specialist discipline.

The Financial Lifecycle of a Production

Every production moves through five distinct phases, and each phase has its own financial demands, compliance requirements, and accounting priorities. Here is how the financial journey typically unfolds – and what needs to happen at each stage to protect the production’s financial position.

Development

Development is where the financial foundations are laid, and decisions made here have consequences that echo through the entire production. During development, the key advisory and accounting tasks include:

  • Entity structuring – Most productions require a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – a company created specifically for the production. The SPV ring-fences the production’s assets and liabilities, simplifies Producer Offset claims, and protects the producer’s other business interests. Getting the entity structure right from the start avoids costly restructuring later. Count Out Loud advises on company type, shareholder structure, and director arrangements based on the production’s financing plan.
  • Budget preparation – The production budget is not just an internal planning document. It is the basis for every funding application, every investor pitch, and every completion bond assessment. Working alongside producers and line producers, this involves building budgets that are accurate, structured in the format required by Screen Australia and state screen agencies, and designed to facilitate QAPE tracking from the outset.
  • Financing strategy – Before approaching funders, the production needs a clear financial plan. How much of the budget will come from government funding? What is the anticipated offset amount? Is there a distributor advance or pre-sale in place? What is the equity gap? A specialist tax advisor models these scenarios to help producers understand their true financing position before they make commitments.
  • Provisional certificate planning – The provisional certificate application to Screen Australia should be prepared during development. The tax advisor assesses the production’s eligibility for the Producer Offset, identify any potential issues with the Significant Australian Content (SAC) test, and prepare the application so it is ready to lodge before significant expenditure begins.

Pre-Production

Pre-production is where the financial infrastructure gets built. Once financing is confirmed and the production is greenlit, a significant amount of accounting setup needs to happen quickly. This includes:

  • SPV registration and setup – Registering the production company with ASIC (every director will need a Director Identification Number), obtaining an ABN and TFN, registering for GST and PAYG withholding, and establishing the entity as a base rate entity where appropriate. Count Out Loud handles entity registration and can typically complete it within one to two weeks.
  • Bank account configuration – Opening production bank accounts with appropriate signatories, access controls, and online banking capabilities. For productions with multiple funding sources, separate accounts may be set up for different funding tranches to simplify drawdown tracking.
  • Xero configuration – This is where Count Out Loud\’s Xero Platinum Champion expertise pays off. Xero is configured with a chart of accounts mapped directly to the production budget, enabling real-time tracking of actual costs against budget at every line item. Tracking categories are set up for QAPE classification, so every transaction is tagged for offset purposes as it is entered. This is not a standard Xero setup – it is a production-specific configuration refined across dozens of productions.
  • Crew contracts and payroll setup – Working with the production’s legal team, it is important to ensure crew engagement structures are correct for tax and superannuation purposes. Payroll systems need to handle the complexity of daily rates, penalty rates, overtime, travel allowances, and per diems that are standard in production crew payroll.
  • Funding documentation – Providing the financial documentation required by each funding source, including budgets in specific formats, cash flow projections, and financial statements for the production entity.

Production (Principal Photography)

Principal photography is the most financially intense phase. Expenditure is rapid, volumes are high, and the producer needs accurate financial information in real time to make decisions on set. The accounting and advisory work during this phase includes:

  • Real-time cost reporting – Daily and weekly cost reports tracking actual expenditure against budget, flagging variances, and providing cost-to-complete projections. Producers and line producers have access to live Xero dashboards showing exactly where they stand at any point – accessible from a phone on set if needed.
  • Cash flow management – Managing the flow of funds across multiple sources, submitting drawdown requests to financiers on schedule, and projecting cash requirements for each week of the shoot. Cash flow timing is critical during production because spending peaks coincide with periods when offset payments are still 12 or more months away.
  • QAPE tracking – Every transaction is classified for QAPE eligibility as it is entered into Xero. This means the QAPE schedule builds progressively throughout the shoot rather than being assembled after the fact. This means the production team can access an up-to-date estimate of the expected Producer Offset at any point during production.
  • Crew payroll processing – Weekly or fortnightly payroll for all crew, including daily rate calculations, overtime and penalty rates, travel allowances, per diems, and living-away-from-home allowances. STP reporting to the ATO is handled alongside ensuring superannuation is paid correctly for every engagement, including for crew who invoice through an ABN but are employees for SG purposes.
  • Workers compensation management – Ensuring workers compensation policies are in place and correct for each jurisdiction where the production is operating. Interstate shoots add complexity here, and getting it wrong exposes the production to significant liability.
  • Completion bond reporting – If the production has a completion bond, the production accountant provides the regular financial reporting required by the bond company, including cost reports, cash flow projections, and cost-to-complete analyses in their required format.

Post-Production

Post-production can stretch from three months to over a year, and costs can escalate if VFX, music licensing, or reshoots come into play. The accounting focus during this phase shifts to:

  • Ongoing cost tracking – Monitoring post-production expenditure against the remaining budget, providing regular updates to producers and financiers, and flagging any risk of overruns before they become unmanageable.
  • Final cost report preparation – As expenditure winds down, the production accountant begins preparing the final cost report – the complete, reconciled record of all production expenditure against the original budget. This is a critical deliverable for financiers, completion bond companies, and the Producer Offset claim.
  • QAPE schedule compilation – Compiling and reviewing the complete QAPE schedule, cross-referencing every item against the requirements set out in Division 376 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Because QAPE has been tracked throughout production, this is a review and finalisation exercise rather than a reconstruction from scratch.
  • Deliverables tracking – Many financing agreements tie final payments to specific deliverables – delivery of the finished film to the distributor, provision of marketing materials, or completion of specific technical requirements. The production accountant tracks these milestones and ensures the corresponding financial obligations are met on both sides.
  • Audit preparation – Preparing the production’s financial records for the audit required by Screen Australia for the final certificate application. Well-maintained records throughout production make this process significantly faster and less expensive.

Delivery and Recoupment

Once the production is delivered, the financial work is far from over. This is the phase where the production’s financial outcomes are realised – and where many producers are caught off guard by the complexity of what remains. Key tasks include:

  • Producer Offset claim – Lodging the final certificate application with Screen Australia, including the complete QAPE schedule, auditor’s report, and all supporting documentation. Once the final certificate is issued, the offset claim is lodged through the production company’s tax return. Count Out Loud’s proven track record with successful offset claims means the team knows exactly what Screen Australia and the ATO expect, delivering documentation that minimises processing delays.
  • Investor distributions – Managing the recoupment waterfall – the agreed order in which production revenues are distributed to financiers, investors, and profit participants. This requires careful tracking of all revenue sources (sales, broadcast fees, streaming deals, offset payments) and calculation of each party’s entitlement according to the terms of the financing agreements.
  • Tax lodgements – Preparing and lodging the SPV’s income tax return, Business Activity Statements, and any other required returns. The timing of these lodgements needs to align with the offset claim strategy to maximise cash flow for the production.
  • SPV wind-down – Once all financial obligations are met and revenues have been distributed, the SPV can be wound down. The deregistration process with ASIC is managed, including final distributions, cancellation of GST and PAYG registrations, and lodgement of final returns. A clean wind-down protects the producer from ongoing compliance obligations on a dormant entity.

Key Financial Challenges in Film and TV Production

Beyond the lifecycle phases, there are several financial challenges that are unique to the screen industry and that require specialist knowledge to navigate effectively.

Managing Multiple Funding Sources

A typical mid-budget Australian production might have six or more funding sources: Screen Australia, a state screen agency (such as Screen NSW or Film Victoria), a broadcaster or streaming platform, a domestic distributor providing a minimum guarantee, one or more private equity investors, and the anticipated Producer Offset. Each source comes with its own:

  • Drawdown conditions and schedules
  • Financial reporting requirements and formats
  • Compliance obligations and audit rights
  • Recoupment position and profit participation terms

Managing cash flow across all of these sources simultaneously – ensuring drawdowns are requested on time, that funds are applied correctly, and that each funder’s reporting requirements are met – requires an accountant who understands the structure of production financing. A generalist accountant who is used to businesses with one or two revenue streams will struggle with this complexity.

QAPE Documentation Throughout Production

It bears repeating: QAPE tracking cannot be an afterthought. Productions that attempt to compile their QAPE schedule retrospectively after wrapping consistently understate their qualifying expenditure. Industry experience shows that first-time features without a specialist production accountant leave 15-20% of eligible QAPE unclaimed. On a $2M production at the 40% feature film rate, that is $120,000 to $160,000 in lost offset payment.

The issue is not just about identifying qualifying costs – it is about having the documentation to support them. Screen Australia’s auditors will scrutinise the QAPE schedule, and expenditure without adequate supporting documentation will be disallowed regardless of whether it genuinely qualifies. Real-time tracking and documentation during production is the only reliable way to capture every eligible dollar.

Crew Payroll Complexity

Film and television crew payroll is one of the most complex payroll environments in Australia. Crew are typically engaged on daily or weekly rates, with penalty rates for overtime, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Travel allowances, per diems, and living-away-from-home allowances are standard. Some crew members operate through their own companies or ABNs but are still employees for superannuation guarantee purposes under the extended definition of employee in the SG Act.

Getting crew payroll wrong creates two problems. First, incorrect withholding or superannuation underpayment creates direct compliance risk – the ATO does not treat these as minor issues. Second, poorly documented payroll expenditure can result in QAPE being disallowed, reducing the offset claim. Count Out Loud advises production companies of all sizes on crew payroll structuring and documentation, ensuring every engagement is set up correctly from the outset.

Cash Flow Timing Mismatches

This is one of the most significant financial challenges in production, and one that catches many first-time producers off guard. The production spends the bulk of its budget during principal photography and post-production. But the Producer Offset – which may represent 30-40% of the production’s funding – is not received until 6-12 months after the production wraps, and sometimes longer.

This creates a substantial cash flow gap that needs to be bridged. Options include offset gap financing (borrowing against the anticipated offset payment), structuring drawdowns from other funders to cover the gap period, or managing expenditure timing to align with available cash. These scenarios should be modelled during development and pre-production so producers understand their cash position at every stage and can plan accordingly.

Cross-Border Co-Production Accounting

Official co-productions between Australia and treaty partner countries add another layer of financial complexity. Each country’s expenditure needs to be tracked separately. Currency exchange creates ongoing reconciliation challenges. Tax treatment may differ between jurisdictions. And the QAPE calculation for the Australian component needs to be clearly separated from the co-production partner’s expenditure.

Count Out Loud has advised on the Australian tax aspects of co-productions with partners in the UK, Canada, and other treaty countries. The key is establishing clear accounting protocols at the outset – before expenditure begins – so that the financial records support each country’s incentive claims without requiring retrospective reconstruction.

Completion Bond Requirements

Most productions with external financing require a completion bond – an insurance policy that guarantees the production will be delivered on time and on budget. The bond company has a direct financial interest in monitoring the production’s finances, and they require regular reporting including weekly cost reports, cash flow projections, and cost-to-complete analyses.

The format and level of detail expected by completion bond companies is specific and non-negotiable. A specialist production accountant knows exactly what is required and delivers it without the producer needing to act as intermediary. Delays or inadequacies in completion bond reporting can trigger closer scrutiny or, in extreme cases, bond company intervention in the production.

Australian Screen Industry Incentives

Australia’s screen production tax incentives are among the most competitive globally. Understanding which incentives apply to your project – and structuring your production to maximise your entitlement – is fundamental to production financial planning. Here is an overview of the main incentives available. For a comprehensive breakdown, read the complete guide to Australian film tax offsets.

Producer Offset 40% / 30%

The Producer Offset is the primary incentive for Australian-owned productions and the most commonly claimed by Australian-owned productions. It provides a refundable tax offset calculated as a percentage of Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE):

  • 40% for feature films that receive a theatrical release in Australia
  • 30% for other qualifying formats including television series, telemovies, documentaries, short films, and qualifying online content

“Refundable” means the offset is paid out as a cash refund even if the production company has no tax liability. For most productions, this is the single most important source of funding after direct investment. A $3M feature film with $2.5M in QAPE would receive a Producer Offset of $1,000,000 at the 40% rate. Ensuring every eligible dollar is captured and documented is not a nice-to-have – it is essential to the production’s financial viability.

Count Out Loud has detailed the full Producer Offset advisory process on a dedicated page, covering the journey from initial assessment through to offset payment.

Location Offset 30%

The Location Offset targets foreign productions that bring principal photography to Australia. At 30% of QAPE, the rate matches the Producer Offset rate for non-feature-film formats, and the productions that qualify tend to have budgets in the tens or hundreds of millions. The minimum QAPE threshold is $20 million, effectively limiting this offset to major international productions.

The Location Offset has been instrumental in attracting large-scale Hollywood productions to Australian studios and locations, generating significant economic activity and employment in the local screen industry.

PDV Offset 30%

The Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Offset provides a 30% refundable tax offset on qualifying post-production, digital effects, and visual effects expenditure carried out in Australia. The minimum QAPE threshold is $500,000, making it accessible to a wider range of productions than the Location Offset.

The PDV Offset can be claimed alongside the Location Offset, meaning a foreign production shooting in Australia can claim 30% on location expenditure and 30% on post-production and VFX work done here. This combination has made Australia one of the world’s leading destinations for post-production and visual effects work.

Digital Games Tax Offset 30%

The Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) provides a 30% refundable tax offset on qualifying expenditure for Australian game development. The minimum QAPE threshold is $500,000 over the life of the game’s development. While the DGTO targets the gaming industry specifically, the accounting and compliance requirements overlap significantly with film and TV offset work – particularly around QAPE tracking and documentation – which is why game developers increasingly seek out production accounting specialists.

State Screen Agency Incentives

In addition to the federal offsets, each state and territory operates its own screen agency with funding programmes and incentives designed to attract productions. Key state agencies include:

Agency Key Incentives
Screen NSW Production funding, post-production and digital effects (PDV) funding, and regional filming incentives for productions shooting in New South Wales
Film Victoria (VicScreen) Production investment, post-production investment, and regional filming incentives for Victoria
Screen Queensland Production attraction funding, post-production and VFX incentives, and the Queensland Screen Finance Programme
Screenwest (Western Australia) Production funding, post-production funding, and location incentives
Screen Territory (Northern Territory) Production funding and the NT Screen Incentive, which offers additional cash-back incentives for qualifying expenditure in the Territory
Screen Tasmania, Screen Canberra, and the South Australian Film Corporation Each offering production funding and incentives tailored to their jurisdictions

Each agency has its own application processes, eligibility criteria, and financial reporting requirements. Count Out Loud has worked with Screen NSW, Screen Australia, and state agencies across the country, and the team knows what each expects in terms of budget submissions, acquittal reports, and financial compliance.

Count Out Loud’s Experience in Film and TV

Count Out Loud brings deep experience in film and TV production tax advisory:

Proven Producer Offset Track Record

Every offset claim the team has lodged has been approved. Count Out Loud’s thorough QAPE guidance consistently identifies qualifying expenditure that would otherwise be missed.

$200K to Multi-Million Dollar Budgets

From independent documentary makers on their first production through to established production companies managing multi-project slates, Count Out Loud’s advisory model scales to match the project.

Xero Platinum Champion Partner Since 2016

Placing the firm in the top 1% of Xero partners in Australia. For production accounting, this means Xero can be configured with production-specific charts of accounts, automated QAPE tracking categories, and real-time budget-versus-actual dashboards that give producers financial visibility from day one.

SPA Business of the Year

Named Services and Facilities Business of the Year by Screen Producers Australia, the peak industry body. This recognition reflects the direct contribution that expert financial management makes to production outcomes.

Specialist Team

Led by Carmel (CA, CPA, firm founder) and supported by a team with deep expertise in production tax advisory, compliance, and financial advisory for production companies. Every team member understands the screen industry. Nobody on the team is learning on your project.

Count Out Loud has seen the patterns that trip productions up – the QAPE that gets missed, the entity structures that create problems at offset time, the cash flow gaps that catch producers off guard. The firm’s advisory processes are built specifically to help production companies prevent these issues before they arise.

How Tax Advisory Works Across Production Phases

Count Out Loud’s advisory model is designed around how productions actually operate – not around traditional accounting firm structures.

Advisory That Matches the Pace of Production

When a producer needs a cost report at 7pm on a Sunday because a financing decision has to be made before Monday’s call time, the team delivers it. When a location falls through mid-shoot and the budget needs reforecasting overnight, it gets turned around. Production does not wait for business hours, and neither does Count Out Loud.

Advisory That Scales to Fit the Project

A $200K documentary does not need the same level of advisory as a $10M feature. Count Out Loud tailors engagements to the size and complexity of each production, ensuring the right level of expertise without unnecessary cost. For smaller productions, fixed-fee arrangements are typical. For larger projects, retainers during production and fixed fees for specific deliverables like offset claims.

Direct Access to Senior Advisors

Every production engagement includes direct access to senior team members. Productions are not handed off to junior staff who are still learning the industry. When you call Count Out Loud, you speak to someone who has advised on productions like yours and can answer your questions without having to “check and get back to you.”

Technology-Driven Advisory

Xero is the primary platform, and as a Platinum Champion Partner Count Out Loud uses it to its full potential. Integration with cloud-based tools for payroll processing, expense management, document storage, and financial reporting means producers get real-time dashboards accessible from any device – including on set during a shoot. Count Out Loud’s business advisory services for entertainment industry clients are built on this same technology foundation, giving production companies ongoing financial visibility well beyond individual projects.

Resources for Film and TV Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a production company engage a specialist accountant?

As early as possible – ideally during development. The entity structure, budget format, and accounting systems established during development and pre-production determine how effectively you can track QAPE, manage cash flow, and claim incentives throughout the production’s life. Engaging a specialist accountant after the production has wrapped is the most expensive option because reconstructing QAPE documentation from incomplete records is time-consuming, costly, and almost always results in a lower offset claim than proper tracking from the start would have achieved.

What is the difference between a production accountant and a standard business accountant?

A standard business accountant manages ongoing tax compliance, BAS lodgements, and annual financial statements for businesses that operate on a continuous basis. A production accountant does all of that, plus manages project-based budgets with fixed funding, tracks expenditure in real time against production phases, handles complex crew payroll with daily rates and penalty calculations, tracks QAPE for government incentive claims, produces cost reports for financiers and completion bond companies, and manages SPV setup and wind-down. The skill set is substantially different, and the pace of work during production is far more intense than standard accounting practice. For a broader view of the firm’s capabilities, visit the services page and expertise page.

How much does specialist production accounting cost?

Fees depend on the size and complexity of the production. As a general guide: small documentaries ($200K-$800K budget) typically cost $5,000-$15,000 for full production accounting including offset claims. Mid-budget productions ($800K-$5M) range from $15,000-$40,000. Large features and series ($5M+) start at $40,000. In almost every case, the additional offset recovered through thorough QAPE tracking far exceeds the firm’s fees. On a $2M production claiming the 40% Producer Offset, proper QAPE tracking helps maximise your eligible expenditure — ensuring every qualifying dollar is captured for your offset claim.

Can you work with productions outside Sydney?

Yes. While Count Out Loud is based in North Sydney (1 James Place, North Sydney NSW 2060), the cloud-based approach means location does not limit the firm’s ability to provide real-time financial management. Count Out Loud works with production companies based anywhere in Australia and has advised on productions shooting in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and interstate. The firm also handles the Australian tax advisory for international co-productions with financial partners overseas.

What if our production is already in post and we need help with the offset claim?

It is not too late, but the work will be more intensive. If QAPE has not been tracked throughout production, the QAPE schedule needs to be reconstructed from the production’s financial records. This typically takes longer and costs more than if tracking had been in place from the start, and there is a risk that some qualifying expenditure cannot be adequately documented after the fact. That said, Count Out Loud has taken on productions at this stage and consistently identified significant QAPE that would otherwise have been missed. In one case, the team identified significant undocumented QAPE from a documentary production that had prepared their own schedule – translating to a substantial additional offset payment. Learn more about the offset claim process.

Count Out Loud has seen the patterns that trip productions up – the QAPE that gets missed, the entity structures that create problems at offset time, the cash flow gaps that catch producers off guard. Whether you are a first-time producer structuring your debut feature or an established production company looking for a more proactive tax advisory partner, Carmel, Blake and the team bring the specialist expertise your project requires.

Count Out Loud – Tax Advisory for Film & TV Production

Start the Conversation

If you are developing, financing, or producing a film, television series, or documentary in Australia, Count Out Loud would welcome the opportunity to discuss how the firm can support your production’s financial and tax advisory needs.

Whether you are a first-time producer structuring your debut feature, an established production company looking for a more proactive accounting partner, or a post-production house exploring PDV Offset opportunities, Carmel, Blake and the team bring the specialist expertise your project requires.

Every conversation starts with understanding your production – its scale, its funding structure, its timeline, and its specific financial challenges. From there, Count Out Loud provides a clear picture of how the firm can help and what it will cost.

Contact Count Out Loud:

Explore Count Out Loud’s Services

Production Tax Advisory

Production tax advisory for film, TV, and documentary projects in Australia.

Producer Offset Services

Maximise your Producer Offset claim with specialist QAPE tracking and Screen Australia lodgement.

Business Advisory

Strategic financial advice for production companies, studios, and creative businesses.

Virtual CFO

CFO-level financial strategy on a fractional basis for growing production companies.

Documentary Production

Accounting and offset services tailored to documentary and factual content production.

Post-Production & VFX

Financial management, PDV Offset claims, and R&D Tax Incentives for post and VFX studios.

Creative Freelancer

Tax returns, BAS, deductions, and business structuring for freelancers in the screen industry.

Related Resources

Guides for Film & TV Professionals

Case Studies

Tax & Budget Updates

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Disclaimer: This content is general information only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. It does not take into account your individual circumstances. You should seek professional advice from a qualified accountant or tax agent before acting on any information contained here. Tax laws change frequently — information on this page was current at the time of publication but may not reflect the latest legislation. Contact Count Out Loud for advice specific to your situation.