The SEC-fee is a small charge (one cent per several hundred dollars) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission to sellers of equity securities that are exchange traded. It was created in 1934 through the Securities and Exchange Act as an additional transaction cost to exchange-traded equity securities. |
Such fees are collected to compensate the government for cost associated with regulating the US equities market.
As of now until 2007, the fee has been listed at 1% of one three-hundredth of the dollar value of the equities sold. After 2007, the fee will be 1% of one eight-hundredth of the dollar value of the equities sold.