The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) announced on 23 June 2017 that it has approved a six-month extension of the Norwegian special tax system for shipping (tonnage tax). The current tax scheme was originally approved by ESA as from the fiscal year 2007 and was to expire 31 December 2016. The extension is to allow Norway time to finalize a new tonnage tax system that will apply for ten years and includes new rates and method of calculation.