“The European Union proposed a far- reaching tax on financial transactions which could be collected worldwide as soon as Jan. 1 next year by the 11 nations that have so far signed up to participate.
The EU plan invokes “residence” and “issuance” ties to firms in participating countries, in a bid to prevent traders from escaping the levy by trading outside the tax’s zone, according to the proposal unveiled by EU Tax Commissioner Algirdas Semeta today in Brussels. To escape the proposed tax entirely, firms in other nations would have to entirely cease financial-services business with the 11 nations involved, according to the EU.
The proposal marks a new stage in the EU’s efforts to raise revenue from the financial sector and curb what it sees as a “patchwork” of local levies. Like a prior, failed proposal for all 27 EU nations, today’s plan would set a rate of 0.1 percent for stock and bond trades and 0.01 percent on derivatives trades.
The EU estimates the arrangement could raise 30 billion euros ($40 billion) to 35 billion euros per year. It would need approval by the 11 participants to proceed. All EU nations can sit in on the talks and have the option to join.
The proposals exclude certain types of trading from the scope of the tax: day-to-day transactions by individuals and non-financial firms; primary offerings of stocks and bonds; and trades with central banks, the European Stability Mechanism and other official institutions. It also excludes primary market trades in units of collective investment funds along with certain restructuring operations.
