Updated June 2026 · Verified against Province of Nova Scotia / Department of Finance guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Tax Credit Offset Est. 2007
Tax Credit Provincial Active

Nova Scotia Digital Media Tax Credit (NSDMTC)

Province of Nova Scotia / Department of Finance
Maximum Credit
25-50% of eligible costs
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Tax Credit Offset
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Credit rate
50%
Nova Scotia Digital Media Tax Credit (NSDMTC) provides up to 25-50% of qualifying expenditures; +10% geographic bonus outside Halifax; +$100K marketing/distribution per product. Tax credit of 25-50% of qualifying expenditures for interactive digital media development in Nova Scotia, with an additional 10% geographic bonus for development outside Halifax and up to $100,000 in marketing/distribution costs per product. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Tax credit of 25-50% of qualifying expenditures for interactive digital media development in Nova Scotia, with an additional 10% geographic bonus for development outside Halifax and up to $100,000 in marketing/distribution costs per product. Supports video game studios, interactive software developers, and digital media producers.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Corporation with qualifying expenditures in Nova Scotia
  • Developing eligible interactive digital media products
  • Products must meet interactivity and digital media requirements
  • Must obtain eligibility certificate from the province
  • Expenditures must be incurred in Nova Scotia
Provinces
Nova Scotia
Industries
Gaming Digital Technology Media Creative Industries
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
25-50% of qualifying expenditures; +10% geographic bonus outside Halifax; +$100K marketing/distribution per product
Type
Tax Credit
Level
Provincial
Credit rate
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Entitlement
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to claim NSDMTC

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How to claim

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

The 10% rural bonus for development outside Halifax is a significant differentiator — studios in Dartmouth, Truro, or other non-Halifax locations get up to 60% effective rate.

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 8 steps 6 docs

Application Steps

1 Download Part A (optional) and Part B application forms from the Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury Board website

Required Documents 6

✓ NSDMTC eligibility certificate application
✓ Detailed product description demonstrating interactivity

Eligible Expenses 5

Ineligible Expenses 6

Claim timing

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

SR&ED Tax Credits Canada Media Fund (CMF) — Experimental Stream ACOA — Business Development Program (BDP) Nova Scotia Creative Industries Fund
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

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How NSDMTC Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Nova Scotia Digital Media Tax Credit ... 25-50% of qualifying expenditures Moderate Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Canada Media Fund up to $250K Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing (multiple...
Nova Scotia Creative Industries Fund Up to $30,000 Easy Reimbursement Annual deadline...
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about NSDMTC

Free
Can I claim marketing costs with this credit?
Yes, up to $100,000 per product for marketing/distribution costs (e.g., Steam launch campaigns, console store fees) — often overlooked but valuable for indie studios.
What's the effective rate outside Halifax?
10% geographic bonus for non-Halifax development (e.g., Dartmouth, Truro) — total 60% effective rate (50% base + 10% bonus) for qualifying expenditures.
How does this stack with SR&ED?
SR&ED can be claimed on R&D components — but avoid double-claiming labour costs. Allocate expenses carefully to both programs for maximum benefit.
Do I need to be incorporated to apply?
Yes, only corporations with qualifying expenditures in Nova Scotia can apply — sole proprietors or partnerships are ineligible.
Why do applications get rejected?
Most common rejections: product not interactive enough, no qualifying Nova Scotia expenditures, or failing to obtain the provincial eligibility certificate first.

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