12. Gifts Tax in France

1. 12.1. Gifts Tax in France
2. 12.2. Gifts Tax Allowances
3. 12.3. Rates of French Gifts Tax
4. 12.4. Gifts of Real Estate in France
5. 12.5. Gifts & French Inheritance Laws
6. 12.6. Procedures for Making Gifts

12.1. Gifts Tax in France

A 'gift' in France is called a donation, and French 'gift tax' the droits de donation.

The definition of a ‘gift’ for the purposes of the tax excludes those gifts which may ordinarily be made in the course of daily life.

So, for instance, wedding and birthday gifts do not come within the gaze of the French tax authorities, provided the gift is reasonable by the living standards of the donor.

Such a gift may be in the form of cash, but it may equally take the form of the transfer of real estate, e.g. transfer of all or part of the family home to your children.

As there is no inheritance tax between married couples or those in a civil partnership, and with reasonable inheritance tax allowances for children, the use of gifts as a tax planning strategy is probably only of importance to those with substantial wealth or who do not benefit from the above concessions.

That said, the reasonably generous allowances under French inheritance tax contrasts with the entrenched rights of children under French inheritance laws, so the use of gifts remains important for those who wish to obtain greater freedom in the disposal of their estate.