Wisconsin reboots Film Tax Incentives to compete with Illinois

• By Barbara Roche
• July 18, 2025

Wisconsin wants back in the game. More than a decade after ending its film tax incentives, the state has passed a new incentive program aimed at bringing productions north and competing directly with Illinois.

Governor Tony Evers signed the legislation into law on July 3 as part of the state’s 2025–27 budget.

It’s a return to the incentive space after a long absence. Wisconsin last offered a tax credit between 2008 and 2013. The credit is set to become available in early 2026, giving them time to prepare. The department will need to be built from the ground up in the coming months. The legislation calls for the creation of a state film office, as that office does not exist and they are now looking for someone to head up the office.

Those film productions who qualify for the Wisconsin film tax credit are feature film, short film, scripted or unscripted television series, documentary, and commercial advertising. They must meet certain minimum spending requirements: feature films need to spend at least $100,000, while short films need to spend at least $50,000.

The program offers a 30% refundable tax credit on in-state wages, production costs, and capital investments. It includes a $1 million cap per production and an annual $10 million program limit, which is significantly smaller than what Illinois offers.

Here in Illinois, the industry tells a very different story. The Illinois Film Production Tax Credit, in place since 2009, remains one of the strongest in the country. In 2024 alone, Illinois logged $653 million in production spending, $351 million in wages, and roughly 18,200 crew hires. The Illinois Film Production Tax Credit is uncapped, transferable, and includes a 15% wage bonus for hiring in economically disadvantaged areas. Since 2017, it has generated more than $4.5 billion in economic activity.

That structure hasn’t just attracted shows and features—it’s built a foundation for long-term, year-round work. Crews are busy. Vendors are busy. Talent is staying in-state.

Wisconsin’s new incentive could bring regional competition, especially for smaller productions looking to stretch their budgets. But with spending caps and no film office yet in place, it may take time to gain traction.

Illinois still leads the Midwest in film and television production.

NOTE BY REX: The incentives in WI were offered from Jan 2008 until June 30 2009 when the then governor removed them retroactively back to Jan 1 2009. There were no incentives from that time UNTIL the present when Governor Evers signed them into law recently. Walker became governor in 2010 and said he’d look into the incentives in 2013 but not before. In 2013 he did not approve the incentives but passed on them. Thankfully, the push for incentives in Wisconsin continued and today we have a new pilot program.

Reprinted from Barb-ReelChicago.com Read more at Reel Chicago Website