Wednesday, April 21, 2010

IMF proposes new taxes on financial institutions

In the paper called "A Fair and Substantial Contribution by the Financial Sector", the IMF argues the case for two new levies to be applied on financial institutions in as many countries as possible: More here and here. The full document is here.

(1) A "financial stability contribution" to pay for "the fiscal cost of any future government support to the sector". The levy would be paid by all financial institutions, not just banks, initially at a flat rate but eventually refined so that riskier institutions paid more.

(2) A "financial activities tax", which would be levied on the sum of financial institutions' profits and the remuneration they pay.