Tax champions: How much do the French really pay? | French Connections Plus • FRANCE 24 English

When it comes to #taxation, #France has a bad reputation. Perhaps that’s because the stereotype is true: French people pay a lot of taxes. In fact, France frequently tops the podium when it comes to the amount of tax taken in compared to the size of the economy. So what are the main taxes that individuals pay? And how do the French feel about this heavy tax burden? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula dive into the complex and opaque world of taxation in France.
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[@shawnodonahue1680]

Wonderful edition! Please keep it coming!

[@skontheroad]

Nice piece! EXCEPT, translate things properly! The older lady did NOT say "the rich should pay more than the poor"!! She said that the rich should pay "a little bit more" than the poor. And that "little bit" makes a HUGE difference. On both sides! With that attitude, it is more likely to happen when everyone is on the same side and does it willingly.

[@zachb1706]

"little"

[@olafvonbraun7300]

Bravo. Nice piece)) keep’’em coming please.

[@eckowezen]

Great video! Very concise, clear, exhaustive and focused on the key points of the French tax system. Fun to watch, too. I think the damage of the succession tax are not enough known to the audience (including the French)

[@iFreeThink]

Politicians need to work harder to raise money for "bailouts" or whatever war.

[@iFreeThink]

Companies have too much "dodging." Because of losses always carrying.

[@SkinnyEMedia]

00:31, where can I get the French Connections Plus song?

[@jerryware1970]

We need metrics for government performance…efficiency, quality, value, etc…are we getting our money’s worth is taxes or is it being wasted.

[@zachb1706]

It's being wasted

[@actionanimatics3485]

According to the world bank France is ranked 18th for rates of crime compared to other countries, 11 positions lower than the US which is way up at number 7 (five times the rate of France). All countries with high taxes that fund comprehensive social services all ranked very low, France is in good company while still being an economic powerhouse. Tighten up the loop holes so the wealthy pay their fair share, let your accountant do the work, and be grateful - life is harder still out there.

[@guardianoffire8814]

Its not just taxes from the French that pay for France's social net. Several former African countries accuse France of using them to pay for it. Look up French Colonial Tax...

[@touchofgrey5372]

@@guardianoffire8814 They don't talk about that!

[@EarlHayward]

The US taxes all people who earn wages in the jurisdiction, regardless of citizenship. Furthermore, the US taxes worldwide income for permanent residents and citizens; but, there is an exemption for the first $120k (approximate as I forget the exact amount), and a deduction for foreign taxes paid.

[@maxuser1221]

1000 times better than BBC news

[@MW-vg9dn]

Such a great deal, can't understand why London is full of French immigrants and the unemployment rate is consistently so high ...

[@iFreeThink]

$32k/yr

[@iFreeThink]

Product Subordinates.

[@abdullahhakan1]

If you buy an apartment or village house in England below 125.000 sterlings, then you are entitled by British government very poor and you will never pay tax on that asset. Norwich, Blackpool, Yorkshire, Newcastle upon Thyne have those kinds of cheap, in good quality 2+1 houses. Some houses are sold only to pensioners aged above 55 years old ones and prices are around 80.000 sterlings to 110.000 sterlings with tax breaks for 3+1 apartments.

[@Briochepepites]

I run a small business in France, I don't have any employees and I pay 46% social charges on every single euro of profit I make from 0. I then pay income tax on top of this. I charge twice as much as I did when I lived in the UK and profit half as much. It's tough sometimes when people pay late But I would still rather live in France just for the healthcare alone.

[@agarrikr2996]

Hey man the UK isn’t exactly a model to live by, but it seems to me like you’re paying too much in taxes in France. Hopefully if your business gives you some extra money, come tour in the United States!

[@SashaPogba]

@@agarrikr2996the US is not that tax friendly… ~25% corporate tax, SS security tax, personal income tax…

[@GT-ne3zh]

The French have handed over so much of their freedom of choice to an entity, while generous, which is renowned for its complexity, inefficiency, red tape and general lack of accountability. A social contract I personally do not understand, there are more efficient models out there, but the ideas of free market competition for public services even with tight regulation is a political death trap in the public debate. Better the devil you know I guess - but it’s a drain to the French economy and the Frenchman’s pockets!

[@newmanchester8504]

Hoping to move to France one day, I am going to watch more videos about this country. Sounds like France is better than the USA. It has its problems, but it's a better country.

[@EliasBac]

France has a generous universal healthcare, as a French I can tell - But most Western Europe and other developed nations in the world are very similar - Nobody goes bankrupt because of health expenses and nobody thinks twice before seeing a doctor because of the price.

[@newmanchester8504]

That is the truth. In the United States, Americans, not all, told me healthcare in other developed nations are failing and Europeans and other people from other countries are coming by the thousands to have babies. That is a lie. Some of the Americans tell lies about universal healthcare and I don't agree with them. I agree with you on what you said about France's healthcare system. France has a generous universal healthcare system. When I experience this amazing powerful healthcare system, I will be saying this after a doctor visit, merci. Merci beaucoup. Vive le systeme de sante Francais VIVE LA FRANCE. VIVE LA FRANCE

[@Giorgio-T.S]

@@newmanchester8504 Hi ! Actually Americans saying that are not wrong in a way because as often they refer to economical efficiency to make that conclusion. Wich is maybe true from that perspective as we have to admit that expenses in healthcare (and welfare system in general) are greater than receipts of the state. But, it doesn't mean the system have to fail, because we can handle that deficit with dept (wich is today not so much of a propblem as European state often get depts with negative interests) or by taxing new products or the "richer" part of population. So at the end, It is a matter of democratic choice and political will. And as French are very attached to their social system, I Hope we will keep it for long time. Thank you for your comment, Hope you Can fullfill your dream of coming in France one day. We'll be glad to welcome you (well I Hope so). Cheers

[@Gnashercide]

@@newmanchester8504 France is terrible

[@Gnashercide]

@@EliasBac la France est terrible pour ceux qui bossent

[@user-ek7nx6xf7b]

Be prepared to pay between 40 and 60% of your income when you move here. You will be forced to pay very high social charges and you can pnly claim a part retirement after 10 years of contributions. I pay enormous taxes and do not use unemployment and am rarely at the doctors office. I will only recive 50% of the retirement after 22 years of contributions.

[@rhemy1]

Clearly they must love taxes.

[@jerryware1970]

Real estate taxes in Texas are closer to 2.5%

[@geoffoakland]

Yeah my friend moved out of California 7 years ago, to Texas. He was shocked when the property tax on his then $390,000 house near Austin was over 800 per month.

[@megetmorsomt]

Chase the rich out of the country and get competition back... you'll also get lower housing costs. Rich people are a burden!

[@matteogriseri6513]

Belgium tax heaven? I want to smoke what she's smoking

[@Andreas4696]

lol I was thinking the same thing. I don't think there's a country in the world with higher taxes than Belgium.

[@lavinder11]

she didn't say it was a tax haven but that french citizens set up residency there to avoid paying french taxes

[@menafturan5805]

Bonjour Salut, Merci, tres bien, 45% trance 5 it comes to the amount of tax , je´Taime FRANCE ,Au revoir

[@yannip2083]

Totally agreed re succession tax (more so than wealth tax) is driving wealthy people out of France.

[@EliasBac]

Actually, wealthy French usually move their tax residency abroad, but they continue to live in France.

[@yannip2083]

@@EliasBac Do you know how they do it?

[@EliasBac]

@@yannip2083 Nope. I wish I had this kind of "problems" lol I know they do, but won't be able to tell you the process step by step. I was 23 and a student when I moved to Montreal. Never really paid income tax in France myself. My middle class parents did for me ^^

[@AuChoco]

When you start a revolution because of high taxes, and still have high taxes

[@RayMarkusMv]

History will repeat itself, just wait.

[@bloodwargaming3662]

Tell me you don't know history without telling me you don't know history During monarchy the taxes were levied highest on the poorest to fund the livestyles of the top clergy and nobility Whereas now thanks to those taxes France has by far the best healthcare education and overall social standards in the world. French maybe be paying 45% in taxes but they don't need to worry about going bankcorupt while paying medical debt and being in student debt for 30 yrs to get an education like in America. Come out of your Neo liberal dream

[@johno1396]

Keep the succession tax to prevent the rise of inequality. Remember the last time the poor got pissed off, and M. Gillotine.

[@Carolinapetroska]

You are so selfish. People worked hard all their life to give something for their kids not the government or assisted people !

[@Gnashercide]

@@Carolinapetroska true

[@pedroghirotti]

​@@Carolinapetroskawho's the selfish person here?! The rich used the society to get rich.

[@GT-ne3zh]

The guillotine was rolled out in part because the “poor” French were being taxed to the bone to pay for the King’s debts and military adventure (not to mention lavish lifestyles)

[@Carolinapetroska]

Way too much and we don't get much in return for all those taxes.

[@BowWowVideo]

The interaction of the two nodding heads and the non verbal gestures is criminal. You are placing the viewers in the role of idiot and the head nods take semblance of credibility. This is on par with grade school drama, pure shit.

[@barryoregan6385]

I wish I had said all that!

[@nielzene9656]

And I wish they could have been more straight to the point!

[@michalziobro1984]

Tax must be high

[@alexm566]

why?

[@billtaylor4]

Terrible video in some ways. To whom is this video directed? If to Americans, and they didn't mention the tax treaty and how beneficial it is for Americans? Sheesh. MAJOR MISS.

[@SashaPogba]

In what way is it beneficial for Americans besides the capital gains tax being applied on a US basis ?