Stock option tax in Italy. Unimpresa: a bluff with no impact on state revenue

Italian Government’s action on banks: two parallel paths

The government is addressing the banking sector on two fronts. On one hand, there’s the liquidity advance, with banks showing availability by leveraging deferred tax assets (DTA). On the other hand, there’s talk of a tax on stock bonuses, or stock options, for high-level executives.

A tax aimed at top managers

According to Unimpresa’s Research Center, the fiscal measure seems to have little effect on state revenue. Experts are evaluating a special tax on stock bonuses granted to top managers in major companies. This tax could also be extended to other sectors, such as insurance and energy.

Irpef addition: a 2010 provision

The key focus is on the additional Irpef tax on stock bonuses. This is an extra 10% tax introduced in 2010 by Berlusconi’s government, applied when the bonus exceeds the fixed salary. The operation wouldn’t affect bank balances but would fall on executives receiving the stock options.

A compromise for all parties

This measure would satisfy various parties. The government could claim it taxed bankers, the banks wouldn’t see an impact on their balance sheets, and managers wouldn’t be greatly affected by the higher tax thanks to rising stock prices.