Frequently Asked Questions

Does Texas have any incentives?

Although Texas does not finance game developers, it does allow many of the items purchased by developers to be sales tax exempt.

There are many non-financial incentives about Texas including the strong infrastructure, low cost of living, clusters of talent, and large entertainment media population. It's just a friendly place to live and work!

I just read the information about the sales tax exemption. Are utilities sales tax exempt?

Utilities can be sales tax exempt, but you must do a usage study before you can claim any such exemption. Please see section (f) Determining predominant use: utility studies of Comptroller Rule 3.295

I just moved to Texas and want to be a part of the game development community. What should I do?

First of all, welcome to Texas! We're glad to have you. Your first step should be to visit our Animation & Game Positions on our Job Hotline. You might also be interested in checking out your local organizations, and in attending the various conferences that go on throughout the year. These are good ways to meet people from the local game community.

I am starting my own development studio here. What information do I need to know?

The State of Texas does not require game developers to have a license, however there are still many chooses and decisions to make as a small business owner. Here are some helpful resources to guide you through the process:

Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division
The Small Business Advocate section will take you through the steps of setting up your business, including your tax responsibilities and employer requirements. Economic Development also holds Small Business Summits throughout the year to discuss issues that are of common concern to small business owners.

Chamber of Commerce
Your local chamber of Commerce is a wealth of information about working and living in your city. To find your chamber, visit the Commerce Connection on the Lone Star Internet.

Does the Texas Film Commission have internships?

Yes. Please visit the internship section of our Web site for further information.