Soon a heavier taxation on your investments? It is in any case a track which resurfaces with the approach of the debates around the 2026 budget. Last week, it is a recovery of the single lump sum (PFU, or flat tax) of 30% to 36% which was mentioned on the side of the Ministry of the Economy. Already, a year ago, during the discussions on the finance bill for 2025, the senators had adopted the increase in this same PFU of 30% to 33%. But the measure had not finally been retained in the final version of the budget.
As a reminder, since 2018, capital income has been subject to a single taxation, regardless of your tax bracket or your level of income. Hence the name “flat tax”, meaning “lump sum (flat)”. This “package” common to all investors is 30%, made up of 12.8% income tax and 17.2% of social security contributions. If you fear an upcoming increase in this taxation, several investments escape it, and can be used to repatriate your savings.
The interests of regulated booklets are completely tax -term
First, remember that the regulated booklets – that is to say available in all banks under the same conditions – are not subject to flat tax, because the interests they generate are completely tax exempt. In this category, we find of course the booklet A, but also the popular savings book (LEP), the sustainable and united development booklet (LDDS), and finally the young booklet. The interests affected on these booklets, which are paid to you each year during the night of December 31 to January 1, can be left there, or fired towards your current account, without having any declaration to make to the taxman.
However, these secure booklets, on which your savings are 100%guaranteed, are used above all to welcome your precautionary savings, because they are capped (22,950 euros, for example for booklet A). Also, to finance substantial projects, it is necessary to turn to longer -term savings products, such as life insurance. Alas, “This savings product, owned by almost half of households, would also be concerned by a raising of the single lump sum”notes the director of the circle of savings, Philippe Crevel, in his last note.
Life insurance and per, to bypass the pfu
Indeed, if you open life insurance today, it is the PFU which applies to your earnings, if you make a withdrawal (or “buyout”) before the eighth anniversary of your contract. On the other hand, according to the rules currently in force, you benefit from a tax advantage passed this eighth anniversary: each year, you can withdraw up to 4,600 euros in earnings for a single person (9,200 euros for a couple imposed in common) with a tax franchise. Beyond this amount, you benefit from a “lightened” flat tax, 24.5% on the earnings generated by the first 150,000 euros taxable euros.
Another long -term savings product, the retirement savings plan (PER) “Can also offer you advantageous taxation out, provided you have not benefited from the tax advantage at the entrance”, Recalls Thomas Perret, founder of my little placement. As a reminder, this investment allows you to deduct the amount of payments made from your taxable income each year. If you decide not to use this advantage -for example if you are weakly imposed -, all of your payments may escape the taxation on “the exit”, that is to say the day of your retirement, if you opt for a capital withdrawal, in the form of a single or fractional payment, not in the form of annuities.
Investing on the stock market worldwide and without flat tax is possible!
Finally, let us recall that the flat tax applies in particular to the income of stock market investments (stocks, bonds, ETF, etc.), if you buy them and sell them through a securities account, for example. However, this type of risky placement – and potentially more remunerative – can also escape the flat -rate tax, provided that you use a particular envelope, the equity savings plan (PEA). After five years of detention, this savings product allows you to be exempt from taxation on your earnings. Originally, the PEA was reserved for investment in only French and European actions, but recently, “trackers” are also eligible for investing beyond the borders of the old continent. To consider, therefore, to invest in the stock market without going through the flat tax box.
