Tax season is open. The online declaration of 2025 income began on April 9, 2026, but before clicking on “ to validate “, have you really reviewed all the tax advantages to which you are entitled?
Between professional life, family organization and future plans, working women often accumulate numerous deductible expenses… which they forget to declare. Overview of what not to miss.
Professional expenses: the 10% reduction or the actual expenses, which should you choose?
This is the first question to ask yourself. By default, the tax authorities automatically apply a flat rate deduction of 10% on your salaries to cover your professional expenses. In 2026, this reduction is capped at 13,522 euros and has a minimum of 495 euros per taxpayer. No action is necessary and no proof is required.
But if your actual business expenses are higher than this package, it is in your best interest to opt for the actual expenses. The simplest thing is to calculate your real costs by taking into account expenses for working from home: if the amount obtained exceeds 10% of your income, you absolutely must declare them.
What you can deduct in actual costs: Home-work travel, meals taken away from home, training costs, job-specific clothing… And since the generalization of teleworking, the list has grown considerably.
Teleworking: deductions still under-exploited
Do you regularly work from home? Good news: these costs are deductible. Deductible expenses linked to teleworking include communication costs (internet subscription, telephone), supplies (cartridges, paper), computer equipment and furniture, as well as costs linked to the use of private premises (electricity, water, heating, home insurance, local taxes).
Two options are available to you if you declare actual costs:
- The daily package: the tax administration authorizes a flat-rate deduction of 2.70 euros per day of teleworking, or 59.40 euros per month, within the limit of 580 euros per year in 2026, without detailed proof.
- Actual costs to the nearest cent: if your expenses are higher, you can deduct the exact amount, provided you keep the supporting documents.
⚠️ Attention : if your employer pays you teleworking compensation within the legal limits, it is exempt from tax but you cannot deduct these same costs as actual costs. If the amount received is less than the costs incurred, you can however deduct the difference.
Childcare: up to €1,750 tax credit per child
For all mothers of young children, this is one of the most valuable tax advantages. You are eligible if you have your child under 6 looked after outside your home – crèche, approved childminder, daycare – whether you are taxable or not. No conditions linked to your professional activity are required.
The rate remains set at 50% of actual expenses incurred. The ceiling was even raised slightly, going from 2,540 to 2,591 euros per child in 2026, i.e. a maximum tax benefit of 1,295.50 euros per child.
Remember to deduct from your calculation basis all the aid received (CAF, free choice of childcare supplement, employer aid). This is the amount you have actually supported which comes into account.
Good news for non-taxable households: this is a tax credit, not a simple reduction. If the amount exceeds your tax due – or if you are not taxable – the excess is refunded to you by the tax authorities.
Home employment: what changes in 2026
This is the big tax novelty of this year, and it concerns millions of households. The tax credit for employing an employee at home (cleaning, gardening, home care for adults, etc.) was eliminated from January 1, 2026. Until the end of 2025, this system made it possible to recover 50% of expenses incurred up to a limit of 12,000 euros per year.
What to remember:
- If you employed an employee at home or used CESU checks in 2025, report this on your declaration this year – you will still benefit from the credit for these past expenses.
- On the other hand, for all expenses incurred from January 2026, this advantage no longer exists.
💡 New for 2026: for taxpayers using personal services, new information must be indicated in the 2025 income declaration: the nature of the organization and the method of intervention. Fill in these new boxes carefully.
The PER: the secret weapon for preparing for retirement while reducing your taxes
The Retirement Savings Plan is one of the few tools still fully available to reduce your tax bill, and it is often underused by working women. Its principle: each voluntary payment directly reduces your taxable income.
For the year 2026, the deduction ceiling rises to 37,680 euros for employees depending on their income, and up to 88,911 euros for self-employed workers.
The interest is all the greater the higher your tax bracket: a payment of €5,000 to your PER can represent a tax saving of €1,500 if you are taxed at 30%, and of €2,000 at the 41% bracket.
Since January 1, 2026, unused ceilings can be carried over to the following 5 years (compared to 3 years previously), offering increased flexibility for years with variable income. An excellent option for entrepreneurs or women retraining whose income fluctuates from one year to the next.
Bonus tip: use the official simulator
Before validating your declaration, take the time to run simulations. The new version of the 2026 tax calculation simulator on 2025 income is online on impots.gouv.fr and allows you to now have an indication of the amount of your tax. It’s free, with no commitment, and can save you from leaving hundreds – or even thousands – of euros on the table.
The tax declaration is not just an administrative constraint. It’s also an annual opportunity to optimize your finances. And that is priceless.
