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Cour des comptes proposes wealth tax and public sector cuts
The French Cour des comptes has proposed a series of fiscal reforms aimed at addressing the nation's significant public debt, which reached 3,536.1 billion euros in early 2026. Central to these proposals is a moderate but progressive tax on high personal wealth, excluding professional assets, which could generate approximately 1.4 billion euros. Additionally, the institution suggests expanding taxes on holdings to raise another 1 billion euros and reducing tax advantages for certain business transfers.
To further reduce the public deficit to a target of 3% of GDP by 2029, the Cour des comptes recommends a 20 billion euro reduction in the public sector wage bill over the next three years. This would involve measures such as freezing or under-indexing the index point and not replacing retiring staff.
The institution also addressed savings accounts, suggesting that interest from Livret A deposits exceeding the 22,950 euro ceiling should be taxed. This comes as the Livret A saw a net collection of 460 million euros in August 2026, following a rate increase to 1.7% designed to bolster savings after a period of significant outflows.
Entities
Amélie de Montchalin · Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations · Carine Camby · Cour des comptes · France · Livret A
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Livret A saw a net collection of 460 million euros in August 2026 following a rate increase to 1.7%. www.politiquematin.fr · www.economiematin.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Expanding taxes on holdings could provide an additional 1 billion euros in revenue. www.nlto.fr · www.notretemps.com · www.journaldunet.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] French public debt reached 3,536.1 billion euros in the first quarter of 2026. www.nlto.fr
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Cour des comptes suggests taxing Livret A interest that exceeds the 22,950 euro deposit ceiling. www.1001web.fr · www.notretemps.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The goal is to reduce the public deficit to 3% of GDP by 2029. www.journaldunet.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Cour des comptes recommends 20 billion euros in savings from the public sector wage bill within three years. www.nlto.fr · www.journaldunet.com · www.sudouest.fr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Taxing high personal wealth could generate approximately 1.4 billion euros in revenue. www.nlto.fr · www.notretemps.com · www.journaldunet.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Cour des comptes proposes a moderate but progressive tax on high personal wealth, excluding professional assets. www.nlto.fr · www.notretemps.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · www.journaldunet.com · www.sudouest.fr