How much tax could you pay when selling shares, cryptocurrency or property in France?
The Finorum France Capital Gains Tax Calculator estimates the tax on private capital gains realised by a French tax resident. Select the asset type and enter the purchase price, sale price, eligible costs and any compatible losses. The calculator then shows the estimated taxable gain, potential tax and profit remaining after tax.
France does not apply the same rules to every asset. Securities and private crypto gains are generally subject to the prélèvement forfaitaire unique, while real-estate gains follow a separate system with holding-period allowances and important exemptions.
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Capital gains tax in France
The tax treatment depends primarily on what was sold:
- shares and other securities;
- cryptocurrency and other digital assets;
- real estate;
- business or professional assets;
- certain valuable movable property.
For 2026 investment gains, France’s standard flat tax generally combines:
- 12.8% income tax;
- 18.6% social contributions;
- total standard charge: 31.4%.
The social-contribution component increased from 17.2% to 18.6% from 1 January 2026 for the investment gains covered by the new rate. Some older official calculators relating to income received in 2025 may therefore still display the previous total rate of 30%.
The official 2026 treatment of securities gains is explained by the French tax administration.
Tax on shares and securities
A gain realised by a French resident from selling shares or other securities held as part of their private portfolio is generally subject to the flat tax, known as the PFU or flat tax.
For transactions falling under the 2026 rate, the standard total is 31.4%:
- 12.8% income tax;
- 18.6% social contributions.
The taxable gain is normally calculated as:
Taxable gain = Sale proceeds − Acquisition cost − Eligible transaction expenses
Eligible costs may include brokerage fees and other documented expenses directly connected with the purchase or sale.
Progressive income-tax option
Instead of applying the standard PFU, a taxpayer may elect to have eligible securities gains taxed under the progressive income-tax scale, with social contributions added separately.
This election is global. It normally applies to all qualifying investment income and securities gains received by the household during the year, rather than to one selected transaction.
The progressive option may be beneficial for a taxpayer in a low income-tax bracket, but it can be less favourable for someone whose gains fall into a higher bracket. The effect of deductible CSG, older holding-period allowances and other investment income must also be considered.
For certain shares acquired before 1 January 2018, holding-period allowances may remain available when the progressive scale is chosen and the statutory conditions are met. They generally do not reduce the social-contribution base.
The calculator’s standard route uses the PFU. A progressive-scale calculation should be treated as a separate scenario based on the taxpayer’s total household income.
Losses from securities
Capital losses from securities can normally be offset against gains of the same nature realised during the same year.
If the losses exceed the available gains, the unused amount may generally be carried forward for up to ten years and used against future qualifying securities gains.
These losses cannot normally be deducted from salary, rental income or an unrelated property gain. Accurate records of acquisition prices, fees and previous declared losses should therefore be retained.
Special rules may apply to employee shares, business owners, substantial shareholdings, company reorganisations, tax deferrals and securities held through tax-advantaged accounts.
PEA and other tax-advantaged wrappers
Shares held through a qualifying French Plan d’épargne en actions may benefit from a different tax treatment.
Subject to the PEA rules, gains can be sheltered from immediate income tax while funds remain inside the plan. After the required holding period, withdrawals may qualify for income-tax exemption, although social contributions can remain payable.
The standard calculator does not automatically reproduce every PEA rule. If the securities were held through a PEA, life-insurance contract or another tax-advantaged wrapper, the ordinary securities-disposal result may overstate the tax due.
Cryptocurrency taxation in France
Private gains from digital assets are generally subject to the PFU when the activity forms part of the normal management of private wealth.
For relevant gains realised in 2026, the standard rate is generally 31.4%, consisting of 12.8% income tax and 18.6% social contributions. A taxpayer may instead opt for the progressive income-tax scale where the relevant conditions are satisfied.
A taxable disposal generally occurs when cryptoassets are:
- sold for euros or another official currency;
- used to purchase goods or services;
- exchanged for another asset that is not a qualifying digital asset;
- transferred in return for cash or another taxable form of consideration.
A crypto-to-crypto exchange without a cash adjustment generally benefits from a tax deferral and does not trigger immediate taxation. Moving cryptocurrency between wallets belonging to the same person is also not a disposal, provided ownership does not change.
France’s crypto portfolio formula
France does not simply calculate every private crypto gain using the purchase price of the exact units sold. The statutory method considers the value and total acquisition cost of the taxpayer’s entire digital-asset portfolio.
The general formula is:
Taxable gain = Disposal price − [Total portfolio acquisition cost × Disposal price ÷ Total portfolio value]
The portfolio is valued immediately before the taxable disposal. Previous taxable disposals and the remaining acquisition cost must also be tracked correctly.
This method differs from a straightforward FIFO calculation. A simplified calculator can provide an estimate, but users with multiple purchases, exchanges and wallets should use complete portfolio records when preparing the official declaration.
The French tax administration explains the formula and reporting process in its guidance on digital-asset disposals.
€305 annual crypto threshold
Private crypto disposals are exempt when the total gross disposal prices during the tax year do not exceed €305.
The threshold is based on disposal proceeds, not the amount of the gain. If the annual total exceeds €305, the gains are not exempt merely because each individual transaction was below that amount.
Crypto-to-crypto exchanges benefiting from tax deferral are generally excluded from this threshold.
Private digital-asset losses can be offset only against digital-asset gains of the same year. Under the ordinary private crypto regime, a net annual loss cannot generally be carried forward to later years or deducted from securities and property gains.
Foreign digital-asset accounts may also need to be reported separately. Mining and staking income can fall within the non-commercial profits regime rather than the ordinary private capital-gains calculation.
The current rates, exemption and reporting rules are described in the official guide to declaring cryptocurrency gains and losses.
Property capital gains in France
A taxable gain from selling French real estate is subject to a separate regime.
For a disposal covered by the 2026 rates, the standard charges before allowances are generally:
- 19% income tax;
- 18.6% social contributions;
- combined headline charge: 37.6%.
Holding-period allowances are calculated separately for income tax and social contributions, so the effective rate usually declines as ownership continues.
A supplementary tax can also apply when the taxable real-estate gain exceeds €50,000. Depending on the amount, this surtax can range from 2% to 6%.
The taxable gain is broadly calculated from the sale price after deducting the adjusted acquisition cost and eligible expenses.
Eligible property costs
The acquisition price may be increased by qualifying amounts such as:
- documented acquisition expenses;
- notarial and registration costs;
- certain construction, reconstruction, extension and improvement expenditure;
- other amounts specifically permitted by French law.
In some circumstances, acquisition expenses may be claimed using a statutory percentage instead of their actual amount. Qualifying building expenditure may also be eligible for a prescribed lump-sum addition where the property has been held for the required period.
Ordinary maintenance and repair expenses do not necessarily qualify. Any expenditure already deducted from taxable rental income cannot normally be counted again when calculating the capital gain.
The notary generally calculates, declares and collects the tax when a French property is sold.
Main-residence exemption
The gain from selling a taxpayer’s genuine principal residence is generally fully exempt from capital gains tax.
The property must normally be the seller’s habitual and actual principal home at the time of sale. A property occupied only temporarily, used mainly as a holiday home or left vacant for an extended period may not qualify.
If the seller moves out before completion, the exemption may still be available when the property was the principal residence until it was offered for sale, the sale occurs within a normal period and the property is not rented or occupied by another person in the meantime.
Associated outbuildings can qualify when they are sold at the same time and satisfy the relevant conditions.
A second home or rental property does not receive the automatic principal-residence exemption. A separate exemption may nevertheless apply to the first sale of another dwelling when, among other requirements, the seller has not owned their principal residence during the previous four years and reinvests the proceeds in a principal home within two years.
Holding-period allowances for property
When a property gain is taxable, the income-tax base is reduced according to the following schedule:
- no allowance during the first five years;
- 6% for each year of ownership from the 6th through the 21st year;
- 4% for the completed 22nd year;
- full income-tax exemption after 22 years.
The social-contribution base follows a slower schedule:
- no allowance during the first five years;
- 1.65% for each year from the 6th through the 21st year;
- 1.60% for the completed 22nd year;
- 9% for each year from the 23rd through the 30th year;
- full social-contribution exemption after 30 years.
A property can therefore be exempt from the 19% income-tax component after 22 years while remaining partly subject to social contributions until 30 years have been completed.
Other exemptions may apply, including certain sales for no more than €15,000 and specific cases connected with social housing, compulsory purchase, retirement homes or non-resident sellers.
The holding-period rules and exemptions are summarised by Service-Public.fr.
Example securities calculation
Assume a French resident sells shares for €45,000. The shares originally cost €25,000, and eligible transaction costs total €1,000.
The estimated calculation is:
- sale proceeds: €45,000;
- acquisition cost: €25,000;
- eligible costs: €1,000;
- taxable gain: €19,000;
- income tax at 12.8%: €2,432;
- social contributions at 18.6%: €3,534;
- total estimated tax: €5,966;
- estimated gain after tax: €13,034.
A progressive-scale election, qualifying carried-forward losses or a tax-advantaged account may produce a different result.
What the calculator includes
The France calculator can consider:
- purchase price and sale proceeds;
- eligible acquisition and disposal costs;
- other gains realised during the year;
- compatible losses;
- asset category;
- holding period;
- PFU or another applicable tax route;
- the €305 crypto threshold;
- property holding-period allowances;
- the principal-residence exemption.
The result shows the estimated capital gain, taxable amount, potential tax, effective tax rate and remaining profit after tax.
Calculation assumptions
Unless stated otherwise, the calculator assumes that the user:
- is an individual tax resident of France;
- holds the asset as part of private wealth;
- is not conducting a professional trading or business activity;
- has entered valid acquisition costs and expenses;
- is not claiming an unentered exemption;
- uses the standard PFU route for securities and private crypto gains.
Business assets, professional crypto activity, PEA investments, employee shares, company reorganisations, non-resident taxation and cross-border tax credits can require a different calculation.
Important notice
The Finorum France Capital Gains Tax Calculator provides an informational estimate and does not constitute personalised tax advice or an official assessment.
France changed the social-contribution rate applying to relevant investment gains from 1 January 2026. Older sources and calculators may still show the previous 30% PFU and 17.2% social-contribution rate. The appropriate rate depends on the year and nature of the income.
For a significant or complex transaction, verify the result with the French tax administration, the notary handling the sale or a qualified French tax adviser.
France capital gains tax calculator
Matias Buće has a formal background in administrative law and more than ten years of experience studying global markets, forex trading, and personal finance. His legal training shapes his approach to investing — with a focus on regulation, structure, and risk management. At Finorum, he writes about a broad range of financial topics, from European ETFs to practical personal finance strategies for everyday investors.