By DAMIAN PALETTA And DEBORAH SOLOMON
WASHINGTON—The White House intends to propose taxing a portion of banks’ liabilities as a way to recover losses from the taxpayer bailout in 2008, people familiar with the matter said.
The government would likely calculate liabilities by subtracting the total of a bank’s equity and insured deposits from its assets, these people said.
A more precise calculation couldn’t be learned, and some details of the proposal are in flux. President Barack Obama is scheduled to provide more information Thursday.
It was previously known that the administration has been considering how to tax financial firms. It wasn’t previously clear which route it would pick. The administration considered other avenues, including an additional tax on profits.
