Final answer:
Bank holding companies and financial holding companies generally do not pay income tax because most of their income is tax-exempt dividends and their subsidiaries usually operate at a net loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bank holding companies and financial holding companies generally do not pay income tax because most of their income is subsidiary paid dividends, of which 80% is tax-exempt. The subsidiaries of these holding companies often operate at a net loss, which reduces their taxable income. It is important to note that these companies are not chartered as non-profit corporations, but their tax-exempt dividends and net operating losses contribute to their tax savings.