Americans are used to paying sales taxes on basic goods and services. But when a Wall Street trader buys millions of dollars’ worth of stocks or derivatives, there’s no tax.

Like a savvy bargainer on a used car lot, big multinational corporations have mastered the art of feigning indifference and walking away.

Purveyors of Ferraris and high-end Swiss watches keep their fingers crossed toward the end of each calendar year, hoping that the big Wall Street banks will be generous with their annual cash bonuses.