A luxury TV series is paying out a substantial amount in taxes to the state of Hawaii. The third season of “The White Lotus” has been edited on the island of Kaua’i and will benefit from a 27% tax refund for roughly $2 million in production costs.
Hawaii’s film industry is struggling, with only two productions currently filming at the moment. To boost the economy, lawmakers are considering expanding the state’s $50 million film tax credit program, which could help attract more high-paying jobs to the islands.
The program provides a 27% tax refund for productions that meet certain hiring and expenditure requirements. While some have questioned whether taxpayers get enough bang for their buck from these incentives, others argue they are necessary to bring in high-wage jobs and stimulate economic growth.
In recent years, there have been concerns over the effectiveness of the film tax credit program. A 2023 cost-benefit analysis found that every dollar spent on the program generated only 50 cents in state tax revenue, resulting in a net revenue loss of $19 million. However, it also reported that productions created more than 9,000 jobs, 85% of which were filled by locals.
State officials argue that the tax credit is necessary to attract and retain high-paying jobs in the film industry, particularly when competing with other states and countries. With only a handful of projects currently filming at the moment, it’s clear that additional support is needed to boost the economy and stimulate growth.
Source: https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/04/its-your-money-the-white-lotus-may-cost-hawaii-taxpayers-550000