Italy’s government is weighing a new levy of about €1.5 billion on the nation’s banks and may postpone scheduled tax payments, including those linked to deferred tax assets, according to people familiar with the discussions. The proposal would mark the second time in recent years that Rome has targeted lenders’ profits to shore up the public accounts. The finance ministry is exploring the measure as it prepares the 2026 budget against a backdrop of sluggish growth and one of the euro area’s heaviest debt burdens. Delaying certain payments would improve near-term cash flow for banks while allowing the state to record revenue later in the budget cycle, helping it meet deficit-reduction targets. Details of the plan, which has not yet been formally presented, are still under negotiation and could change before the budget is finalized. Government officials did not comment on the reported discussions.