France votes €0.055/GB data tax; Germany clears two-tier sugar levy; Italy adds 26% exit tax on unrealised gains; UK raises savings interest taxes to 24/44/49%; Hungary drafts 1%/1.5% wealth tax — all in October

France assembly votes 11-10 for €0.055 per gigabyte tax on content providers. Happens in near-empty chamber. Government and rapporteur vote no. Targets big tech traffic. Authors say €10bn. Minister closer to €5bn. OVHcloud and VLC flag high costs. Not law. Senate still to come. Conservatives expected to block.

Germany cabinet clears two-tier sugar drink tax. 26 cents per litre at 5-8g/100ml. 32 cents above. Starts 1 July 2027. Small producers under 1 million litres exempt. More than 20 Union MPs say they will not vote for it. Nine state ministers write Merz against it. Coalition leader warns it could split the government. Still needs Bundestag. Projected €690m in 2027.

Italy puts 26% tax on unrealised gains in 2027 budget bill. Hits people leaving with €800k or more in financial assets. Must have been resident 6 of last 10 years. Starts 1 Jan 2027. Official yield estimate €3-7m a year. Extends company rules to individuals. Undercuts flat tax for new residents. Not law yet. Parliament can still drop it.

UK budget raises savings interest tax another 2 points. Rates go to 24/44/49% from 6 April 2027. This is on top of earlier 2-point rise already set. Cash ISA limit stays £20k. Earlier plan to cut it to £12k for under-65s is dropped. Same rise hits property income. Official HMRC paper confirms the rates.

Hungary announces 1% wealth tax above HUF 1bn. 1.5% above HUF 100bn. Draft covers worldwide assets for residents. Non-residents pay on Hungarian property and company stakes. Loans deductible. First bill based on 31 Dec 2026 wealth. Payment due 31 Aug 2027. Targets about 15,000 people. Consultation closed. Parliament majority expected to pass it. Not law yet.

None of the five is fully enacted.

https://www.capital.fr/economie-politique/netflix-youtube-tiktok-les-deputes-votent-une-taxe-sur-chaque-gigaoctet-envoye-aux-francais-1531441
https://nosparlementaires.fr/actualites/taxe-gigaoctet-budget-2027-assemblee-adopte-hemicycle-vide
https://thenextweb.com/news/france-gigabyte-tax-national-assembly-content-providers
https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/zuckersteuer-kabinett-einigt-sich-doch-in-der-union-waechst-der-widerstand/100262123.html
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/innenpolitik/zuckersteuer-bundesregierung-einigung-100.html
https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/the-budget-also-includes-a-tax-on-the-super-rich-who-leave-italia-heres-who-pays-and-how-much-AJAOrP0B
https://www.imidaily.com/europe/italy-budget-bill-proposes-26-exit-tax-on-residents-leaving-with-e800000-or-more/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-tax-changes-to-tax-rates-for-property-and-savings-income
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/chancellor-announces-cash-isa-u-turn-but-hikes-savings-tax-further-aFhLB8n24OfT
https://www.reuters.com/business/hungary-government-proposes-wealth-tax-ultra-rich-2026-10-06/
https://kormany.hu/hirek/igazsagosabb-kozteherviseles-jon-a-milliardosok-vagyonadoja

Update:

The Dutch cabinet wants to raise the tax on tap water (leidingwater) by €0.10 per 1,000 litres, from €0.437 to €0.537 per m³, from 1 January 2027. Part of the 2027 tax plan. Average household would pay roughly €9–11 more a year. Expected yield about €111 million. Still needs votes in both chambers of parliament (scheduled November–December). Industry groups are pushing back in late October.

A separate change already decided removes the previous cap for large users from 2027.

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/themas/belastingen-uitkeringen-en-toeslagen/belastingplan/plan-kabinet-voor-hogere-belasting-op-drinkwater

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