A tax levied on an unforeseen or unexpectedly large profit, especially one regarded to be excessive or unfairly obtained.
Example sentencesExamples
It is unlikely that the application of a sophisticated, and therefore costly, competition law can be more effective in this area than the imposition of, say, a windfall tax on monopoly profits.
Among other things, Almunia wants to impose a one-time windfall tax on former state-owned companies and earmark the money for raising pensions.
The Petrol Retailers' Association and the RAC are among those who have been calling for a windfall tax on the extra profits which have been earned as a result of last year's jump in oil prices.
While Brown is unlikely to cut fuel tax, there is every chance he will go for a windfall tax on the profits of the big oil companies.
At a time when world oil prices have soared to over US $60 a barrel, the Government is proposing a revision of the windfall profits tax which Finance Minister Conrad Enill insists will lead to higher oil revenues.
Shell, as we predicted last week, came in only second to Exxon Mobil as the industry's biggest money-maker, and just as predictably there were renewed calls for a windfall tax on oil companies.
After his windfall tax and pensions raid, he cut the married couples' allowance and increased fuel duties.
A windfall tax on the profits accruing from the sale of landbanks and other development sites would be the thin end of the wedge.
The Green Party wants to levy a windfall tax on land when it is zoned for development.
I have seen the company I work for hit by windfall tax and stealth taxes.
Lawmakers may impose a windfall profits tax on them to help lower-income consumers pay their heating bills.
Banks will this week engage in last minute negotiations to stave off a windfall tax by reaching agreement with the government over their contribution to the Post Office-based universal bank.
Opposition to unearned wealth was the rationale behind one of New Labour's best and most popular policies: the windfall tax on the privatised utilities.
To fund improvements to such societal problems ICTU is looking for a windfall tax on profits from land rezoning as well as a review of business taxes and levies reviewed with a view to seeking higher taxes from the financial sector.
Some backbenchers started pressing for a windfall tax on soaring oil company profits.
The most positive action the government could take to lower the price of fuel is to introduce a windfall tax on oil companies and also reduce the tax rate on fuel.
Nevertheless, a windfall tax remains politically risky, and tax cuts on fuel could well mean increases in other areas.
Martin O'Neill, chair of the Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee, indicated a windfall tax on profits made in Britain should be considered.
The impact would be similar to the windfall tax Labour levied on the big privatised utilities in 1997.
He listed a series of measures including the windfall tax on utilities and the climate change levy which had cost industry billions of pounds.