Tax policy directorate – Bureau a

IV – CAPPING OF WEALTH TAX
The wealth tax scale has a capping mechanism. 
Thus, the wealth tax for a taxpayer residing for tax purposes in France is reduced by the difference 
between: 
- 
On one hand, the total of this tax and taxes owed in France and abroad on income and 
products for the previous year, calculated prior to allocation of the tax credit thresholds for taxes 
paid outside France and non-discharging deductions; Article 7 of the 2017 Budget Act no. 2016-
1917 of 29 December 2016 provided that income distributed to a corporation liable to corporation 
tax that is controlled by the taxpayer shall be included for the purposes of calculating the cap.
- 
On the other hand, 75% of the total global income, net of professional expenses, for the 
previous year, after deduction of the category-specific thresholds authorised under Article 156 of 
the General Tax Code, together with income exempt from tax and the products subject to a 
withholding tax in discharge during the same year in France or abroad. 
This wealth tax cap limits the amount of this tax and taxes on income for the previous year to 75% of 
that income. If the percentage is exceeded, the surplus shall be deducted from the wealth tax. It may 
not be attributed to other taxes or refunded. 

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CHAPTER 4: 
TAX ON THE MARKET VALUE OF REAL PROPERTIES OWNED IN 
FRANCE BY LEGAL ENTITIES (3% TAX) 
French and foreign legal entities (corporate bodies, organisations, trusts and comparable institutions) 
which directly or indirectly own one or more real properties situated in France or hold real property 
rights relating to such properties are liable to a 3% annual tax on the market value of such properties or 
rights.
The tax is payable on real properties and real property rights owned on 1 January of the year of 
taxation.
However, the following legal entities may be exempted from the tax under certain conditions: 
• 
International organisations, sovereign States and their political and territorial subdivisions 
• 
Legal entities that are not deemed companies investing predominantly in real property 
• 
Listed legal entities 
• 
Legal entities established in the European Union or in a country or territory bound to France by 
an administrative assistance agreement with a view to combating tax fraud and evasion or in a 
country bound to France by a treaty under the terms of which they enjoy the same treatment as 
legal entities having their registered office in France. 
These provisions apply to legal entities that make small investments in French property, organisations 
or other institutions that manage pension schemes, public interest organisations and institutions or 
organisations and institutions managed without personal gain, legal entities that invest in real-estate 
(real-estate collective investment schemes, known as OPCI and foreign entities subject to equivalent 
regulations) and those that inform or undertake to inform the tax authorities of the situation, composition 
and value of real properties owned at 1 January of each year, the identity and address of each 
shareholder or member and the number of shares or other rights held by each one and those that 
annually declare the above-mentioned information. The latter exemption may be comprehensive or 
granted partially according to the shareholders or members of which the legal entities are aware. Legal 
entities are nevertheless not required to declare shareholders or members that own less than 1% of 
their capital. 
Legal entities liable to the 3% tax must file a return at the latest by 15 May of each year stating the 
place, composition and market value of taxable real properties and real property rights owned at 1 
January of the year of taxation. The return must be accompanied by payment of the tax. 

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