Pročitajte ovu stranicu na srpskom →
The Serbian film incentive in brief
Serbia refunds 25% of qualifying production expenditure, and 30% for larger projects, to foreign and domestic productions shooting or doing post-production in the country. The scheme is administered by the Film Center of Serbia and is one of the most competitive in the region, which is why Belgrade has hosted a steady run of international features and series.
The rebate is paid in cash after production wraps. The one document the claim cannot do without is an expenditure report verified by a licensed Serbian auditor. That is where Most revizija comes in.
What we do for foreign productions
- Audit of the qualifying expenditure report required for the incentive claim — existence, payment, documentation and eligibility of every cost.
- Pre-production set-up of the cost ledger by Decree categories, so qualifying and non-qualifying spend is separated from day one.
- Interim reviews during the shoot for longer projects, so documentation gaps are fixed while suppliers are still reachable.
- Bilingual reporting — Serbian for the Film Center, English for your co-producer, completion guarantor or financier.
- Cost reports and production accounting reviews for financiers outside the incentive scheme.
From project approval to payment
- Application. Before shooting, the investor applies to the Film Center of Serbia with the budget, schedule and estimate of qualifying spend. We help with the financial part of the application.
- Ledger set-up. We agree with the production service company how costs, contracts, invoices and proofs of payment are recorded.
- Interim review. For longer shoots we review part of the spend mid-production.
- Audit of the expenditure report. After wrap we verify the full report of qualifying expenditure.
- Audit report and claim. We issue the report and support the production in completing the claim for payment.
Why productions choose us
We are a licensed audit firm and member of the Chamber of Authorised Auditors of Serbia, led by two partners with auditor licences since 2009. Film and audiovisual production is one of our specialisations: we understand that a production's books look nothing like a factory's, that the schedule is set by the shoot and not by the fiscal year, and that the people asking the questions are often in London or Berlin, not Belgrade. Every engagement is led by a partner, and we answer in English the same day.
Read a case study of an incentive audit for a European TV series shot in Serbia.
Frequently asked questions
How much of our Serbian spend can we get back?
The Serbian cash rebate refunds 25% of qualifying expenditure incurred in Serbia, rising to 30% for projects whose qualifying Serbian spend exceeds the threshold set in the Decree. The rebate is paid after production wraps, on the basis of an expenditure report verified by a licensed auditor.
Who can apply for the Serbian film incentive?
Domestic and foreign investors — producers, co-producers and production service companies — producing a feature film, documentary, animated film, TV film or series, or doing post-production in Serbia, provided the project is approved before shooting starts and meets the minimum qualifying spend for its format.
Which costs qualify?
Goods and services purchased from Serbian legal entities and individuals, and fees paid to Serbian cast and crew, directly connected with the production and paid through Serbian bank accounts. Costs incurred abroad, foreign crew fees above the prescribed limits, and marketing and distribution costs do not qualify.
Why is an auditor required?
The claim for payment must include a report on qualifying expenditure verified by a licensed Serbian auditor. The audit report confirms that the costs were actually incurred, paid, documented and eligible. Without it the Film Center of Serbia cannot approve the claim.
How long does the audit take and in what language is the report?
Typically two to six weeks after wrap, depending on the volume of transactions and the state of the documentation. We issue the report in Serbian for the Film Center and in English for the co-producer or financier, with identical figures.
Can you start before we shoot?
Yes, and we recommend it. Setting up the cost ledger by Decree categories before day one means every cost is tagged as qualifying or non-qualifying as it is booked, and the final audit becomes a formality rather than a reconstruction.
Planning a project in Serbia?
Email us the outline — we will tell you within two business days what the audit involves and how long it takes — every project is different, so we quote only after a free review of your outline.