Inheritance taxes: widespread rejection by the French
As estate taxes resurface in the 2026 budget debate, a Meilleurtaux/YouGov study reveals a typically French paradox: nearly all citizens wish to reduce a tax that the vast majority would never actually pay. Beyond these skewed perceptions, the survey highlights a deep-rooted attachment to family inheritance and a persistent lack of understanding of the rules. For higher net worth estates, however, planning ahead during one's lifetime is more crucial than ever.
A Hated Tax, Even by Those Unaffected
The issue of inheritance taxes frequently resurfaces in public debate, oscillating between the temptation to raise them to finance the budget and the promises of reductions aimed at appealing to a public highly sensitive to asset-related issues. A study conducted by YouGov France for Meilleurtaux reveals how much these taxes spark tension: 74% of French people favor lower taxes, including those who will never actually be taxed. Among the younger demographic of 18 to 24-year-olds, 60% support this idea, with the figure jumping to 79% among those over 55, who are closer to wealth transfers. However, the most unexpected result concerns the lower socioeconomic groups, who are more likely than their wealthier counterparts to demand tax reductions (79% versus 67%), even though they are rarely affected by significant inheritances.
This widespread support is explained by a strong cultural attachment to family inheritance. As Thomas Vandeville, president of Meilleurtaux, points out, even modest households consider inheritance to be “the fruit of a lifetime’s work,” even when the assets involved are limited. The study also highlights how far perceptions of this tax are from reality: 87% of inheritances are valued at less than 100,000 euros, meaning they are entirely exempt in direct lines. In other words, an overwhelming majority of French people are advocating for reductions in a tax that they will never be required to pay.
The lack of awareness is significant: one in two French people greatly overestimate the amounts actually due. Even after the tax brackets are explained, opposition remains strong: 44% still want to lower the taxes, while only 9% advocate for an increase. This rejection is based as much on principle—“taxing assets already taxed during their creation”—as on the fiscal mechanism itself.
Beyond 100,000 euros: Heavy Costs and Essential Preparation
While most inheritances escape taxation, 13% of estates exceeding 100,000 euros are subject to taxes that increase automatically with real estate valuation. Between 2011 and 2023, revenues from inheritance taxes more than doubled, rising from 7 billion to 16.6 billion euros. France is even the OECD country where this tax weighs most heavily on GDP (0.74%), indicative of a particularly burdensome system at the higher tax brackets.
The most problematic situations involve indirect inheritance lines, a common scenario in blended families: taxes can range from 45% to 60% depending on the familial relationships and the amounts transferred. In these configurations, careful planning is crucial. Thomas Vandeville emphasizes that it is « very easy to avoid such rates » if one plans ahead. Some of the most effective strategies include life insurance, which continues to offer favorable conditions for tax-free transfers, as well as property dismemberment—particularly for primary residences—and living gifts, with exemptions that renew every fifteen years.
Beyond the figures, the study highlights an essential point: the French perception of inheritance is more symbolic than economic. Inheritance remains an identity pillar, an intergenerational bond that extends far beyond purely fiscal issues. It is this cultural aspect, as much as the lack of understanding of the tax brackets, that explains why a tax paid by a minority garners nearly unanimous rejection.
This content has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may differ from the original French version.
