Salvini Seeks 5% Annual Tax on Italy’s Ten Largest Banks

The proposal, aimed at the 2027 budget, targets the nation's major lenders while exempting smaller local institutions. Salvini pointed to the combined first-half profits of Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit—which neared €12 billion—as evidence that the industry can absorb the additional burden. He estimated that if the sector maintains annual profits around €30 billion, the levy would secure a steady stream of state income.

This initiative follows a previous effort in the 2026 budget, which raised approximately €6 billion through targeted tax hikes across the financial and insurance industries. As the banking sector undergoes a wave of consolidation, Salvini expressed confidence that his coalition partners will back the plan. The government currently faces the challenge of managing public finances while balancing the interests of major market players against fiscal demands.