Independent QAPE Opinions for Film Finance
Count Out Loud provides independent QAPE opinions accepted by all major Australian film lenders — Fulcrum, Mind the Gap, Head Gear, Icon, and Screen Queensland’s RFFF.
A QAPE opinion is a formal assessment that estimates how much of your production budget qualifies as Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure (QAPE) under Division 376 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. Lenders require this opinion before advancing funds against your anticipated Producer Offset.
Our QAPE opinions are prepared by qualified Chartered Accountants with hands-on production accounting experience. We analyse your budget line by line, classify each expense as QAPE or non-QAPE, and deliver a comprehensive opinion that satisfies your lender’s due diligence requirements.
Production Budgets Managed
Producer Offsets Claimed
Working Days Turnaround
Qualified Accountants
What Our QAPE Opinion Covers
Budget Analysis
- Line-by-line QAPE/non-QAPE classification with supporting rationale
- Estimated QAPE total and resulting Producer Offset value
- Offset rate confirmation (30% features / 40% other formats)
- QAPE threshold verification for your production format
Technical Assessment
- Superannuation, workers comp and multi-state payroll tax treatment
- Interested party expenditure analysis under Producer Offset Rules
- VFX and post-production splits (Australian vs overseas)
- Methodology statement, assumptions, and accountant qualifications
Accepted by All Major Film Lenders
Fulcrum Media Finance
Australia’s market-leading cashflow financier. $847M+ deployed across 455+ screen productions. Lends against Producer Offset, PDV Offset, and Location Offset.
Mind the Gap Film Finance
Specialist lender for the lower-budget sector. 250+ productions financed. Offset cashflow, gap financing, and distribution advance lending.
Head Gear Films
International film financier. 550+ titles, $400M+ USD deployed. Gap funding and lending against government incentives including the Australian Offset.
Screen Queensland RFFF
Revolving Film Finance Fund — explicitly requires “a third-party QAPE opinion from a reputable CPA or CA.” Also Icon Film Finance and Jake Film Finance.
Why Choose Count Out Loud
We do not just prepare QAPE opinions in isolation — we work inside production budgets every day as production accountants. This means we understand where QAPE issues actually arise, not just where the rules say they might. Our opinions are built on practical experience across feature films, television series, documentaries, and digital content.
- End-to-end service — from QAPE opinion through to QAPE tracking during production, cost reporting, and support for the final QAPE audit
- Fast turnaround — QAPE opinions delivered within 5 to 10 working days of receiving your locked budget
- Xero Platinum Champion Partner — production accounting workflows that integrate seamlessly with Xero
- All production formats — features, TV series, documentaries, online content, PDV and Location Offset projects
Our QAPE Opinion Process
Initial consultation
We discuss your production, financing structure, and lender requirements.
Documentation review
We review your locked budget, key contracts, deal memos, and related party details.
QAPE analysis
We classify each budget line item, applying our experience with VFX splits, payroll tax, and interested party expenditure.
Draft opinion
We prepare the QAPE opinion with full supporting schedules and share a draft for your review.
Final opinion
We issue the final QAPE opinion addressed to your lender (or jointly to multiple parties).
Ongoing support
As your budget evolves, we can update the opinion. We also provide ongoing Producer Offset services through production and claim.
Related Services
Production Accounting
Producer Offset claims | QAPE tracking | SPV setup | Cost reporting
Offset Services
Producer Offset services | Offset calculator | PDV Offset | Business advisory
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a QAPE opinion?
A QAPE opinion is a formal assessment prepared by an independent Certified Practising Accountant or Chartered Accountant that estimates how much of a film or television production’s budget qualifies as Qualifying Australian Production Expenditure. Lenders require this document before advancing funds against the anticipated Producer Offset.
Which lenders require a QAPE opinion?
All major Australian film finance lenders require a QAPE opinion, including Fulcrum Media Finance, Mind the Gap Film Finance, Head Gear Films, Icon Film Finance, and Screen Queensland’s RFFF. The opinion is a standard condition of lending against anticipated Producer Offset rebates.
How long does it take to get a QAPE opinion?
A comprehensive QAPE opinion typically takes 5 to 10 working days from the date we receive your locked budget and supporting documentation. Complex productions with significant international elements or VFX components may require additional time.
How much does a QAPE opinion cost?
Fees depend on the size and complexity of the production. For Australian feature films and television series, contact us for a quote based on your specific production. QAPE opinion fees are themselves eligible as QAPE.
Get a QAPE Opinion
Whether you need a QAPE opinion for a finance application or ongoing offset support through production, we can help.
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