Tax Deep Dive · 2026
Forex Trading Tax in France 2026 — Complete Guide
How France taxes forex and CFD profits, the rates and brackets, what counts as taxable, loss-offset rules, and how to declare your trading income to Direction generale des Finances publiques (DGFiP).
Quick Answer
In France, forex and CFD profits are taxed under Prelevement Forfaitaire Unique (PFU / 'flat tax') at a headline rate of 30% (PFU flat tax). The tax is administered by Direction generale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) and declared each year on the Declaration de revenus 2042 + form 2074 / 2042-C for capital gains. No. There is no tax-free wrapper for leveraged FX/CFD trading; the PAS savings accounts (PEA, livret A) do not cover CFDs.
Forex Tax Treatment in France
Forex profits are subject to the Prelevement Forfaitaire Unique (PFU/flat tax) of 30% (12.8% income tax + 17.2% social contributions). Alternatively, taxpayers can opt for progressive income tax rates if more favorable. Losses can be carried forward for 10 years.
Forex and CFD profits are 'plus-values sur valeurs mobilieres et titres' and are normally taxed under the PFU at a flat 30%.
Tax Rates Table — France EUR
Applicable rates as of April 2026.
| Bracket / Rule | Rate |
|---|---|
| All capital gains and investment income | 12.8% income tax |
| Plus social contributions (CSG/CRDS) | +17.2% — total 30% PFU |
| Optional barème progressif | Progressive scale 0%-45% + 17.2% social if more favourable |
What Counts as Taxable?
Most France residents need to declare the following types of trading income:
- Realised forex/CFD capital gains. Profits from closing positions during the tax year.
- Dividend-equivalent payments. Cash adjustments paid by your broker on long share-CFD positions when the underlying issues a dividend.
- Carry / swap interest received. Positive overnight financing credited to long carry-trade positions is normally taxable as financial income.
- Cashback, rebates and bonuses. Cash incentives paid by the broker may be reportable as miscellaneous or financial income.
- Crypto CFD profits. Profits from cryptocurrency CFDs are taxed under the same rules as other CFDs (this is different from spot crypto, which usually has its own treatment).
- Foreign exchange differences. Gains or losses from holding foreign-currency balances may need to be reported separately when converted back to your home currency.
Professional vs Retail Trader — Tax Implications
If the DGFiP classifies you as a 'professionnel', profits become BIC (industrial and commercial profits) at progressive income tax rates plus social charges, and you may need to register as a micro-entrepreneur or societe.
Retail / private investor
Default treatment for almost all individuals. Profits taxed at the headline 30% (PFU flat tax) rate under Prelevement Forfaitaire Unique (PFU / 'flat tax'). Losses are restricted to the same category.
Professional / business trader
Triggered by frequency, volume, leverage, or income share. Profits are reclassified as ordinary business income at progressive rates plus social/contributions.
How to Declare Forex Income in France
- 1
Download your annual statement from each broker (and convert all amounts to EUR using year-end FX rates if your account is in another currency).
- 2
Calculate net realised profit or loss for the tax year — buy/sell pairs only (unrealised positions are usually excluded, except for mark-to-market regimes).
- 3
Add carry/swap interest, dividend-equivalent payments, and any cashback or rebates.
- 4
Open Declaration de revenus 2042 + form 2074 / 2042-C for capital gains on the Direction generale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) portal.
- 5
Enter the totals in the capital-gains / investment-income section and indicate the source country of each broker.
- 6
Pay any balance owed by the deadline (Late May to early June (the exact date depends on your departement and online vs paper filing)) and keep the receipt and broker statements with your records.
Loss Offset Rules
Capital losses from speculative instruments can be offset against gains from the same category in the year. Unused losses can be carried forward for up to 10 years.
Record Keeping Requirements
Keep annual IFU statements (Imprime Fiscal Unique) where the broker issues one, plus all monthly statements and a record of every trade for at least 6 years.
- Annual broker statements (PDF and machine-readable formats)
- Trade-by-trade ledger with timestamps, instrument, and P&L
- Year-end account valuation (mandatory for wealth-tax regimes)
- Proof of any foreign tax already paid, to claim against home liability under double-tax treaties
- FX-conversion rates used to translate amounts into EUR
Tax Reporting Deadlines
Annual Filing Deadline
Late May to early June (the exact date depends on your departement and online vs paper filing)
Withholding by brokers
French-domiciled brokers operate the PFU at source for residents. Most CySEC-passported brokers do not — the trader must declare manually on form 2074 and 2042-C.
Recommended Accountants & Software
Use the impots.gouv.fr online declaration. Specialist accountants (expert-comptable) familiar with PFU and capital markets are advisable for traders with multi-broker portfolios.
We do not endorse any single product. For active traders we generally recommend a local advisor who has direct experience with CFD/derivative reporting and any cross-border passporting that applies to your broker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are forex profits taxed in France?
Do I have to declare forex losses in France?
Does my broker withhold tax automatically in France?
Is forex trading tax-free anywhere in France?
What is the filing deadline for forex tax in France?
What records do I need to keep in France?
Am I a professional trader for tax purposes in France?
Do EU passporting brokers (CySEC, BaFin) report to my France tax authority?
Best Brokers for France
All EU-regulated, with negative balance protection and segregated client funds.
Popular brokers used by France traders
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eToro is the world's leading social trading platform, letting EU traders copy successful investors while also offering commission-free stock trading alongside forex.
Disclaimer: This is general information, not professional tax advice. Tax law changes regularly and individual circumstances vary. Always confirm your obligations with a licensed France tax advisor or directly with Direction generale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) before filing.
CFD Risk Warning
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
This website is for informational purposes only. The content does not constitute investment advice. Trading leveraged products carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. EU retail leverage limits apply (ESMA): up to 30:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on minor FX, 20:1 on major indices, 10:1 on commodities, 5:1 on equities, 2:1 on crypto.