LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC <HSBA.L> <0005.HK> said it does not expect Britain to change its bank levy policy before the next general election due in 2015 and said it is likely to pay about $800 million on the tax this year.
HSBC has said the levy unfairly hits banks with big overseas operations. Half its payment last year was on non-UK banking activity.
"We have had all the conversations we could possibly have with all the people we could have them with, and I believe there will be no change at all this side of a general election," Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver told investors on Wednesday.
HSBC paid $571 million for the levy in 2012, but Finance Director Iain Mackay told investors that was likely to rise to near $800 million this year due to a higher tax rate.
(Reporting by Steve Slater; Editing by Matt Scuffham)