Only a few days after Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, said her draft budget bill for next year would contain an “exit tax” on wealthy emigrants(移居国外者，移民（迁出）)’ capital gains, she was back-pedalling(退缩，出尔反尔). On November 5th her deputy economy minister, Maurizio Leo, said the government was “open to changes”. From tax lawyers to politicians, critics have been vocal. They include Matteo Renzi, who as prime minister proposed a flat tax(统一税率，单一税) of €100,000 ($111,000) on rich immigrants’ income from abroad. Introduced in 2017, it has been credited with making Italy attractive to foreign professionals. A populist(民粹主义的；民粹主义者) measure, he says, will waste a decade of work.
意大利总理焦尔吉娅·梅洛尼表示明年预算草案将包含对富裕移民资本利得征收的“退出税”，但仅过几天她就打起了退堂鼓。11月5日，副经济部长毛里齐奥·莱奥称政府“愿意做出改变”。从税务律师到政界人士，批评者纷纷发声。其中就包括马泰奥·伦齐，他担任总理时曾提议对富裕移民的海外收入征收10万欧元（11.1万美元）的统一税。该税于2017年推出，被认为使意大利对海外专业人士颇具吸引力。他表示，一项民粹主义措施将浪费十年的努力。
In principle an exit tax has something to be said for it(有其可取之处). It removes the incentive(激励，动机) to move abroad to dodge(逃避，躲避) capital-gains tax on, say, shares or bonds that have risen in value. Several countries have adopted such taxes (see map). Under Italy’s draft law, which is subject to a vote next month, residents with more than €800,000 of financial holdings worldwide who leave the country will pay a 26% capital-gains tax, regardless of whether they sell their stash.(根据意大利的法律草案（将于下月进行表决），在全球拥有超过80万欧元金融资产的居民若离开该国，将缴纳26%的资本利得税，无论他们是否出售这些资产。) It covers gross(总的，毛的（未扣除）) financial assets (ie, before liabilities or debts), including derivatives(衍生品，金融衍生工具) and crypto assets as well as equities and bonds—a broader base than in other countries. Anyone resident for six out of the ten tax years before leaving Italy will be liable(负有法律责任的，应缴税的).
原则上，退出税有其可取之处。它消除了人们移居国外以逃避股票或债券等增值资产资本利得税的动机。一些国家已经采用了此类税收（见图）。根据意大利的法律草案（将于下月进行表决），在全球拥有超过80万欧元金融资产的居民若离开该国，将缴纳26%的资本利得税，无论他们是否出售这些资产。该税覆盖金融资产总额（即扣除负债或债务之前），包括衍生品和加密资产以及股票和债券——税基比其他国家更广。在离开意大利之前的十个纳税年度中居住满六年的人均需纳税。
But the tax has its flaws(缺陷，瑕疵). Gains are to be calculated from the purchase price of assets, even if they were bought before someone arrived in Italy. Emigrants might also grumble about getting a bill for unrealised gains, although if they move to another European Union country and hold on to their nest-eggs they will be reimbursed after five years.(移民可能还会对要为未实现收益缴税而抱怨，不过如果他们移居另一个欧盟国家并保留自己的积蓄，五年后将获得退税。) Tracking those liable and calculating what is due may also be fiddly(繁琐的，棘手的). And the Italian government will reap(获得，收获) little: it expects merely €3.4m next year, €6.7m in each of the following four and €3.4m a year from then on.
但该税也有缺陷。收益将从资产的购买价格起算，即使这些资产是在某人抵达意大利之前购买的。移民可能还会对要为未实现收益缴税而抱怨，不过如果他们移居另一个欧盟国家并保留自己的积蓄，五年后将获得退税。追踪纳税义务人并计算应缴税额也可能很麻烦。而且意大利政府所得甚微：预计明年仅340万欧元，此后四年每年670万欧元，再往后每年340万欧元。