France raises LEP income thresholds and highlights LDDS growth in 2026

The 2026 French finance law increased the income ceilings for the Livret d’épargne populaire (LEP), a savings account reserved for low‑income households. Eligibility now requires a fiscal reference income below €23,028 for a single‑person household, €35,326 for two parts and €47,624 for three parts. The LEP offers a net interest rate of 2.5 % and is held by about 12 million savers; authorities aim to expand ownership to the roughly 19 million eligible households.

In parallel, the Livret de développement durable et solidaire (LDDS) attracted 500 000 new accounts in 2025, bringing the total to 27 million. The LDDS pays the same 1.7 % net rate as the Livret A and has a €12 000 ceiling per holder. Its total assets reached €165 billion, a 3.2 % rise, and the product recorded a net collection of €1.4 billion in 2025, contrasting with a net outflow from the Livret A. The LDDS now covers about 48.5 % of French adults, reflecting its growing role as a flexible, tax‑exempt savings vehicle.