French inheritance and donation tax debates

Debates regarding inheritance and donation taxation in France have emerged from different political and professional perspectives.

Socialist deputy Jérôme Guedj has proposed increasing inheritance taxes on estates exceeding 2 million euros. This measure is intended to generate approximately 10 billion euros in annual revenue to fund the autonomy branch of the Social Security system. This proposal contrasts with other political stances, such as those from Édouard Philippe and Bruno Retailleau, which focus on donation allowances and business transmission.

In contrast, the Congress of French Notaries has proposed reducing donation taxes by half for taxpayers under the age of 75, with benefits capped at 500,000 euros. This initiative seeks to encourage early asset transfers to support younger generations and mitigate family disputes, which reportedly affect 75 percent of successions. The notary proposal suggests lowering the maximum tax rate for the 15,000 to 500,000 euro bracket from 20 percent to 10 percent.