How to Stay Audit-Ready in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi

Producing a film is hard work. Getting paid your tax credits shouldn’t be. If you're shooting in New Mexico, Louisiana, or Mississippi, staying audit-ready can be the difference between receiving your full incentive or losing valuable dollars due to missing records or late submissions.

At Turner Media Holdings, we help productions stay ahead of the curve. Here's a few tips to consider:

🎬 1. Start With a Budget That Speaks the State’s Language

Each state has different definitions of qualified spend, from payroll thresholds to in-state vendor requirements.

• New Mexico wants proof of residency and local vendors.

• Louisiana rewards above-the-line and below-the-line spend differently.

• Mississippi prioritizes in-state hiring and physical spend within borders.

📁 2. Track Every Dollar Like It’s Being Watched

And it will be. When the audit rolls around, your expenses need to match your general ledger, invoices, bank records, and proof of payment.

• Keep vendor W-9s, invoices, and payment records together.

• Tag all transactions with cost codes that match your incentive worksheet.

• Keep clear digital backups with proper naming conventions.

🕒 3. Don’t Wait Until Wrap to Get Organized

State audits can happen months after production, but prepping starts Day 1.

• Submit vendor approval forms early (especially in Louisiana).

• Ensure residency affidavits and union paperwork are collected weekly.

• Save final invoices and backup before vendors disappear.

  
  

💼 4. Hire Experts Who’ve Been There Before

If your bookkeeper has never done a film tax credit audit, it can cost you tens of thousands in disallowed expenses. That’s where we come in.

We’ve helped productions across New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi recover millions in qualified spend and pass their audits with zero findings.

✅ Ready to Film Smart?

If you’re budgeting your next shoot, our team is ready to help, from eligibility planning to audit submission.

📅 Book a free consultation with Turner Media Holdings.

🎯 Film smart. File clean. Get paid.