The one-year reprieve on the withholding tax for foreign actors – which was to end Jan. 1, 2000 – has been extended by Revenue Canada for an undetermined period of time, says Robin Chetwynd, chief administrative officer at actra, Toronto.

In January, Revenue Canada announced it was replacing the standard 15% withholding tax placed on foreign above-the-line film personnel working in Canada with a 55% tax rate. In response to an immediate outcry from Canadian and foreign producers, Revenue Canada granted a one-year reprieve on Jan. 22.

Since then, several working committees, including representatives from actra, have been in ongoing discussions with Revenue Canada to find a solution to the tax crisis.

Chetwynd says he expects the issue to be resolved by the spring.