Latest news with #Section181
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unions and MPA Urge Trump to Back Hollywood Tax Deductions
A coalition of entertainment unions, joined by the Motion Picture Association, urged President Trump on Monday to support tax deductions that benefit the entertainment industry. The unions organized a joint letter to Trump, which was also signed by two of Trump's three 'special ambassadors' to the industry, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone. More from Variety Cannes' Thierry Fremaux on Trump's Tariff Plan, Resilience of American Film Culture: 'The United States Remains a Great Country for Cinema' Trump Film Tariffs Plan Prompts Appeal From Global Industry Organizations Ahead of Cannes Film Festival Trump Interrupts 'SNL' Mother's Day Message to Talk Chicago Pope and Trade Deals as Cecily Strong Returns as Wine-Guzzling Jeanine Pirro In the letter, the unions thanked the president 'for the support you have shown our industry,' and for drawing attention to the flight of production overseas. Last week, Trump announced a 100% tariff on 'any and all' movies produced in 'foreign lands,' in an effort to bring production jobs back to the U.S. The joint letter does not mention the tariff, nor does it propose a federal film subsidy — a politically complicated undertaking which does not yet appear to have bipartisan support. Instead, the letter focuses on three relatively small-bore measures, and asks Trump to support including them in the budget reconciliation package currently working its way through Congress. Those measures include an extension of Section 181, which speeds up the deduction of up to $15 million in production expenses. The unions want to double that cap to $30 million — or up to $40 million for production in low-income areas. The letter also seeks support for another deduction, Section 199, that expired in 2017. The deduction reduced corporate tax rates for certain forms of domestic manufacturing, including filmmaking. 'A domestic production incentive would make the U.S. market more competitive and able to retain and return high-paying jobs tied to film and television productions – and the use of this deduction has historically promoted significant economic and job growth,' the letter states. The union letter also seeks reauthorization of Section 461, which allowed companies to carry back their net operating losses for up to five years, thus using those losses to lower prior year tax bills. That provision was included in the COVID relief package, but expired in 2022. The letter argues it particularly helps film companies, which have very uneven income patterns. The letter was signed by the leaders of the Directors Guild of America, SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America, the Teamsters, Producers United, and the Motion Picture Association. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jon Voight's Hollywood Coalition Asks Trump to Consider Tax Incentives, Too
Major Hollywood studios and unions have partnered with 'special ambassadors' Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to ask that Pres. Donald Trump consider backing their bid for further tax incentives for film and television productions. In a letter to the president on Monday, Voight, Stallone and a lengthy list of industry players including the Motion Picture Association, producers' groups and top industry labor organizations called for Trump to support their efforts to include Hollywood-friendly tax measures in a reconciliation package being put together in Congress. More from The Hollywood Reporter Cannes Dealmakers Are Already Sick of Talking About Trump's Tariffs Is Europe the Last Bastion of DEI in Film and TV? Suspended Writers Guild West Member Reacts to Strike Discipline Vote: "This Was Never, Ever a Clear-Cut Case" The letter notably did not mention tariffs, which Trump advocated for in a caps lock-laden social-media post on May 4. The letter specifically advocated for the package to revive Section 199 of the Internal Revenue Code, which once allowed film and TV productions to be eligible for a tax deduction as a form of 'domestic manufacturing.' The letter stated that the signatories 'strongly support' Trump's proposal to institute a reduced, 15 percent corporate tax rate for domestic manufacturing work. The industry stakeholders also wrote that they support extending and expanding Section 181, a decades-old provision allowing a certain amount of film and television production expenses to be tax deductible. The current limit on deductible expenses is $15 million, but the groups are asking for $30 million 'or up to $40 million if produced in low-income or economically distressed areas.' The signatories additionally proposed returning Section 461 to the Internal Revenue Code which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed businesses to spread net operating losses across five years. The authors argued that film production companies face major risk in financing projects that may be huge hits or massive flops and could benefit from using 'profitable years to offset later losses, resulting in greater financial stability.' The letter clearly aims to strike while the iron is hot, coming just over a week after Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he aimed to institute '100% tariffs' on films produced overseas. Though the White House later tempered that statement, saying 'no final decisions' have been made, industry leaders scrambled to respond in the days following. On May 5, Voight went public in the days with a detailed plan to 'make Hollywood great again,' presented to Trump the same weekend that the president tweeted about tariffs. The plan, produced after lengthy discussions with industry leaders, called for tariffs in 'limited circumstances' but also for tax incentives, tax code changes, infrastructure subsidies and co-production treaties. On Friday, studio executives huddled with MPA chair-CEO Charles Rivkin to discuss the developing situation. The MPA has yet to officially comment on the tariffs idea. Beyond Voight, Stallone and the MPA, the Directors Guild of America, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, Teamsters, Writers Guild of America West and East, Independent Film & Television Alliance, Producers Guild of America, Producers United and Film USA signed on to the statement. While these signatories pushed for incentives as a means of providing immediate relief to productions considering a U.S.-based shoot, they noted that the issue of runaway production will take more than some tax code changes to solve. Stated the letter, 'Returning more production to the United States will require a national approach and broad-based policy solutions, including those we propose below as well as longer term initiatives such as implementing a federal film and television tax incentive.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jon Voight, Hollywood Studios And Unions Pen Letter To Donald Trump Calling For Expanded Incentives — But They Do Not Mention Tariffs
Leaders of Hollywood unions and representatives of major studios joined with Jon Voight in penning a letter to Donald Trump calling for expanded film and TV production incentives. What was left unmentioned in the letter was Trump's proposal for 100% tariffs on films produced in other countries. More from Deadline Trump Receives Jon Voight's Plan To 'Make Hollywood Great Again'; Studio Bosses Not Confirmed Yet To Meet POTUS Over Movie Tariffs Read Jon Voight's Plan To Save Hollywood: Midsize Federal Tax Credits, Increased Write-Offs & Harsh Tariffs On Overseas Incentives Chaos At The Copyright Office: Trump's Firing Of Register Shira Perlmutter Came After AI Report's Release, Leaving Industry Wondering What's Next 'We appreciate and thank you for the support you have shown the industry,' the letter read. 'We also appreciate your understanding of the need to increase domestic film and television production to bring back American jobs and write seeking your support for the inclusion of three film and television priorities in the reconciliation package currently being drafted in Congress.' Read the Hollywood letter to Trump. The letter was signed by leaders of the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America, the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the Producers Guild of America, Producers United, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, the Teamsters and the Motion Picture Association, among others. Also signing was Sylvester Stallone who, along with Voight, is serving as one of Trump's 'special envoys' to Hollywood. In addition to outlining the economic impact of the industry, the letter mentions that entertainment has a $15.3 billion trade surplus. The letter also noted that more than 80 countries offer production tax incentives and 'as a result, numerous productions that could have been shot in the United States have instead located elsewhere.' While the letter references the need for a larger federal film and TV incentive to compete with those offered other countries, it focuses on three tax provisions for the upcoming reconciliation bill. They include extending Section 199 domestic manufacturing and production incentive to film and television productions, expanding Section 181 to a higher, $30 million level of production expenditures, and reinstating the Section 461 ability to carry back losses. 'With your endorsement, these policy initiatives will help preserve and create American jobs, bolster local economies across the country, and ensure America remains the global leader in entertainment production,' the letter stated. Bloomberg first reported on the letter. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director of SAG-AFTRA, said in a statement that the union 'applauds President Trump's focus on protecting American jobs and affirms its support for urgent federal action to combat the exodus of film and television production. We joined the coalition of entertainment unions and studios, working with the President's Hollywood ambassador Jon Voight, to advocate together for tax incentives and job protections. When the U.S. film and television industry prioritizes work and jobs in America, it solidifies its status as the global leader in entertainment.' Trump's abrupt call for movie tariffs on May 4 rattled the entertainment industry, leaving it unclear as to how various sectors should respond. While SAG-AFTRA released a statement expressing receptivity for further discussions other groups, like the MPA, have been silent. Critics of Trump's tariff proposal have said that it would drive up costs and lead to reciprocal duties. The day after Trump's announcement, the White House said that no final decisions have been made, while the president said that he planned to meet with industry representatives. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media
Rhyl Journal
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Emma Little-Pengelly tells of fear after receiving online death threat
Ms Little-Pengelly told the Stormont Assembly she had received an online threat and that an individual had been prosecuted and is awaiting sentencing. The DUP minister received support from a number of MLAs during ministerial question time as she revealed the abuse. In response to a question about ending violence against women and girls, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced new UK-wide laws that protect both children and adults from online harm and place specific obligations on online service providers. 'We support Ofcom's call to tech companies to play their part in addressing the risk of online harm and recently met with them to discuss this important issue.' She added: 'I am pleased to have got confirmation in the last couple of weeks that a person had been successfully prosecuted under a Section 181 charge against me. 'That was sending messages by way of online communication, conveying a threat of death or serious harm, and at the time of sending, intended the individual, which was me, would be in fear that the threat would be carried out. 'That is one of the more serious charges in that legislation. 'I am pleased there has been a successful prosecution of that and that he will be sentenced very shortly.' Alliance Party MLA Eoin Tennyson, who had asked the original question, sent his solidarity to the deputy First Minister. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The member will be aware that for many years, myself, along with my colleagues, have advocated for stronger protections of women. 'We have seen in recent months threats and abuse of public representatives right across this house, men and women. 'We have raised before there is a particular issue, as recognised by a number of reports, towards women. 'In this particular incident, and I know many of us get a significant amount of abuse, but in this particular case with a specific threat of death being communicated. 'I am glad that legislation was there. It is a good demonstration that the Online Safety Act can and will be used to successfully prosecute. We await the sentencing of that. 'I think it is incredibly important that the courts do take these matters seriously. 'This is an issue which unites all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it is absolutely wrong that there is abuse, threats of violence towards any public person, never mind elected representatives just trying to do their job.' She added: 'Women have a right to participate in public life without suffering abuse or threats of violence. 'Indeed we want to actively encourage women to get into public life. 'However, we sadly do know that women in public life are subjected to sustained and serious abuse on social media.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who has also been the subject of online abuse, said nobody should face any kind of threat just for doing their job. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'I felt afraid, I continue to feel afraid in terms of looking to the future because of the actions of this individual. 'I think that is utterly wrong.'
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Emma Little-Pengelly tells of fear after receiving online death threat
Ms Little-Pengelly told the Stormont Assembly she had received an online threat and that an individual had been prosecuted and is awaiting sentencing. The DUP minister received support from a number of MLAs during ministerial question time as she revealed the abuse. In response to a question about ending violence against women and girls, Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The Online Safety Act of 2023 introduced new UK-wide laws that protect both children and adults from online harm and place specific obligations on online service providers. 'We support Ofcom's call to tech companies to play their part in addressing the risk of online harm and recently met with them to discuss this important issue.' She added: 'I am pleased to have got confirmation in the last couple of weeks that a person had been successfully prosecuted under a Section 181 charge against me. 'That was sending messages by way of online communication, conveying a threat of death or serious harm, and at the time of sending, intended the individual, which was me, would be in fear that the threat would be carried out. 'That is one of the more serious charges in that legislation. 'I am pleased there has been a successful prosecution of that and that he will be sentenced very shortly.' Alliance Party MLA Eoin Tennyson, who had asked the original question, sent his solidarity to the deputy First Minister. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'The member will be aware that for many years, myself, along with my colleagues, have advocated for stronger protections of women. 'We have seen in recent months threats and abuse of public representatives right across this house, men and women. 'We have raised before there is a particular issue, as recognised by a number of reports, towards women. 'In this particular incident, and I know many of us get a significant amount of abuse, but in this particular case with a specific threat of death being communicated. 'I am glad that legislation was there. It is a good demonstration that the Online Safety Act can and will be used to successfully prosecute. We await the sentencing of that. 'I think it is incredibly important that the courts do take these matters seriously. 'This is an issue which unites all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder to say it is absolutely wrong that there is abuse, threats of violence towards any public person, never mind elected representatives just trying to do their job.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter sent her support to the deputy First Minister (Liam McBurney/PA) She added: 'Women have a right to participate in public life without suffering abuse or threats of violence. 'Indeed we want to actively encourage women to get into public life. 'However, we sadly do know that women in public life are subjected to sustained and serious abuse on social media.' SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who has also been the subject of online abuse, said nobody should face any kind of threat just for doing their job. Ms Little-Pengelly said: 'I felt afraid, I continue to feel afraid in terms of looking to the future because of the actions of this individual. 'I think that is utterly wrong.'
