Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12
Rick Jackson Battles IRS Over $90 Million Film Tax Deductions Before Georgia Runoff
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12

Rick Jackson Battles IRS Over $90 Million Film Tax Deductions Before Georgia Runoff

1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12

Summary

  • $90 million in deductions claimed by Rick Jackson’s investment group from four money-losing films are at the center of three court battles with the IRS.
  • Those tax fights stem from accounting maneuvers that turned low-budget productions into tax windfalls even though the movies barely registered at the box office.
  • "The Best of Enemies," Jackson’s biggest film, grossed about $10 million in 2019 and still failed to break even despite state and federal tax breaks.
  • The dispute adds scrutiny to the billionaire Republican gubernatorial candidate as he heads into Tuesday’s Georgia primary runoff on a message of affordability and self-made business success.

Insights

How can losing millions on a film become a massive tax advantage for a billionaire investor?
Are state film tax credits a smart investment for taxpayers or a billion-dollar drain on public funds?