France considers tax increase for big companies, Le Monde reports
Adds response in paragraph 9
PARIS, Sept 29 (Reuters) -France's new Prime Minister Michel Barnier is considering a temporary increase in corporate tax on the country's biggest companies .FCHI as well as a tax on share buybacks as part of efforts to plug a gaping hole in public finances, Le Monde newspaper reported on Sunday.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Barnier, who took office earlier this month, already finds himself facing a growing budget crisis as tax income is weaker than expected and spending higher than planned.
France's credibility with financial markets, where its borrowing costs have surged, and its European Union partners is on the line.
BY THE NUMBERS
Le Monde says the 2025 budget could include an 8.5 percentage point increase in corporate tax for companies whose annual turnover is at least 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion). The tax would be temporary and could yield 8 billion euros in 2025.
Other possible measures include a tax on share buybacks.
THE RESPONSE
A source close to the matter said that the government was yet to decide on the layout of the budget. Barnier's office declined to comment ahead of the policy speech the prime minister will make in parliament on Tuesday.
CONTEXT
The new government lacks a parliamentary majority, and getting the budget adopted will be tough. Even parties that are in government don't agree on whether tax increases are an option.
The previous government had planned to cut the fiscal shortfall to 3% of GDP by 2027, but weak tax revenues and budget overruns have put that target all but out of reach.
WHAT'S NEXT
Barnier needs to finalise the 2025 draft budget in days and hand it over to lawmakers by mid-October at the very latest.
($1 = 0.8958 euros)
Writing by Ingrid Melander; additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
