At today's punitive rates, it cost $153.25, service included.

Not just punitive rates of income tax, we've got road tax, council tax, stamp duty, inheritance tax.

For the very richest tax is pretty much voluntary which is why very punitive rates reduce the tax take.

"They were talking about punitive rates," Fehr said.

We can and should tax the rich at punitive rates in the interests of greater equality.

In Chile, for example, foreigners are permitted to hold easily redeemable bank deposits, but the interest they earn is taxed at a punitive rate.

They charge a flat rate for a tiny sliver of bandwidth, and then punitive rates if you go above that.

In effect, this means all bank bonuses above about forty thousand dollars would be taxed at a punitive rate of seventy-five per cent.

It is the highest rate the central bank charges on loans - a punitive rate - and puts a ceiling on short-term rates.

But with credit card lenders having to write off only 1 percent of the money owed them, Mr. Klein said, punitive rates are not justified.