The discussions around the more than 1,700 amendments tabled in the Finance Committee of the National Assembly promised to be lively. The first days of debate resulted in a revised version of the measures taken by the government.
Align life insurance taxation with inheritance law
Firstly, in savings, an amendment aimed at modifying the tax regime for life insurance in the event of transfer. Jean-Paul Mattei (deputy from the Les Démocrates group) at the origin of this text regrets that the “ scale after reduction from which life insurance products benefit is even more advantageous than that applied to direct line inheritances “. Indeed, in the event of inheritance, payments made on a life insurance contract before the age of 70 are exempt from inheritance tax if they do not exceed 152,500 euros. Above this limit, a levy of 20% applies for the fraction of each beneficiary’s taxable share less than or equal to €700,000, and 31.25% beyond that. Noting that this difference in treatment “ does not seem to find any justification at present » et « with a view to restoring our public finances “, the adopted amendment provides foralign the taxation of the transfer of life insurance after reduction on inheritance law in direct line.
A flat tax at 33%
Still on the subject of individual taxation, those who started voted for another proposal from Jean-Paul Mattei concerning flat tax. The principle: increase the rate of the single flat-rate levy (PFU), currently set at 30%, at 33%. This measure should yield €800 million per yearaccording to the deputy. “ The restoration of public accounts and the sustainability of our social system must also be accompanied by a fair distribution of everyone’s contributions – particularly between work and capital. », justifies the elected official who also considers that the idea of an exceptional over-taxation of groups whose turnover exceeds €1 billion could “ harm economic activity while having a limited return given its temporary nature and the avoidance strategies that this could give rise to ».
A minimum IR rate perpetuated for the wealthiest
The ccontribution of the wealthiest individuals desired by the government has also been amended. While the executive intended to establish a minimum income tax rate of 20% for single people whose annual income exceeds 250,000 (or 500,000 euros for couples) for a period of three years, the deputies of the Finance Committee voted to perpetuate the measure in removing any time limit. This amendment, tabled by Charles de Courson (elected LIOT) is accompanied by several measures aimed at limiting the ability of taxpayers to use tax advantages or tax credits to reduce their tax.
The tax regime of the saved PER
Finally, the retirement savings plan (PER)which was the subject of several amendments aimed at removing the preferential tax regime attached to this contract in an inheritance context, was ultimately spared. THE amendments tabled in this sense have all been rejected in the Finance Committee.
The exceptional increase in IS maintained for large groups
Tax measures concerning businesses were also arranged in committee. On the subject of increase in corporate tax (IS) for groups including turnover exceeds €1 billionmany amendments were tabled. However, none were ultimately adopted. Whether they provide for an outright elimination of this surtax or propose a lower tax amount than that planned by the government, none obtained the majority of votes. Including the amendments tabled by Ensemble pour la République.
Return of taxation on « great dividends »
Examination begins in public session
It remains to be seen whether all these amendments will be taken up in public session at the Assembly. Indeed, the deputies will begin on Monday in the hemicycle the examination at first reading of the PLF for 2025. The discussions will be based on the initial version of the text, as drafted by the government. The amendments voted on in committee will therefore have to be re-submitted to be adopted at the Palais Bourbon.
