Tool
French Forex Tax Calculator 2026
Compare the PFU flat tax (30%) against the barème progressif to find which option costs you less. Includes quotient familial, CSG deductibility, and 10-year loss carryforward.
Loss offset applied: EUR 5 000,00 in losses deducted from gross gains (no annual cap in France).
The PFU (flat 30%) saves you EUR 3 790,00 compared to the barème progressif. Your marginal rate (30,00 %) exceeds the PFU’s 12.8% flat rate.
The barème option applies to all investment income for the tax year — you cannot apply it selectively to forex gains.
PFU Tax
EUR 7 500,00
25,00 % effective
Barème Tax
EUR 11 290,00
37,63 % effective
You Save
EUR 3 790,00
by choosing PFU
Loss Carry-Forward
EUR 0,00
up to 10 years
| Component | PFU (Flat Tax) | Barème Progressif |
|---|---|---|
| Gross trading gains | EUR 25 000,00 | EUR 25 000,00 |
| Losses offset | −EUR 5 000,00 | −EUR 5 000,00 |
| Taxable gains | EUR 25 000,00 | EUR 25 000,00 |
| Income tax (IR) | EUR 3 200,00@ 12.8% | EUR 6 990,00@ 30,00 % marginal |
| Prélèvements sociaux (PS) | EUR 4 300,00@ 17.2% | EUR 4 300,00@ 17.2% |
| CSG deductibility benefit (6.8%) | N/A | −EUR 510,00 |
| Total tax | EUR 7 500,00 | EUR 11 290,00 |
| Effective rate on gross gains | 25,00 % | 37,63 % |
| Net profit | EUR 22 500,00 | EUR 18 710,00 |
2025 Income Tax Brackets (barème progressif)
Applied per fiscal part (quotient familial). The loi de finances indexes these brackets annually — rates shown are from the 2025 barème (revenus 2024).
| Tranche | Rate | Your position |
|---|---|---|
| EUR 0,00 – 11 294,00 | 0 % | filled |
| EUR 11 294,00 – 28 797,00 | 11 % | filled |
| EUR 28 797,00 – 82 341,00 | 30 % | ← your marginal tranche |
| EUR 82 341,00 – 177 106,00 | 41 % | |
| Above EUR 177 106,00 | 45 % |
How French Forex Tax Works
Forex CFD trading profits in France are classified as plus-values de cession de valeurs mobilières and taxed under the PFU(prélèvement forfaitaire unique) by default. The PFU applies a flat 30% rate: 12.8% income tax (impôt sur le revenu) plus 17.2% social contributions (CSG 9.2%, CRDS 0.5%, prélèvement de solidarité 7.5%).
Taxpayers may opt out of the PFU in favour of the barème progressif (progressive income tax scale). When this option is chosen, the 17.2% social contributions remain non-negotiable, but 6.8% of the gains (the CSG déductibleportion) becomes deductible from overall taxable income. The barème election applies to allinvestment income for the tax year — it cannot be applied selectively.
PFU vs Barème: When to Opt Out
The barème progressif is advantageous when your marginal income tax rate is below 12.8%. This typically occurs when your total taxable income per fiscal part falls within the 0% or 11% bracket — roughly below EUR 28,797 per part. For most full-time employees with median or above-median salaries, the PFU is more efficient.
The quotient familial amplifies the benefit: a married couple with two children (3 parts) can have a household income of EUR 86,391 before any part enters the 30% bracket. Use the calculator above to model your exact situation.
Loss Carryforward: France’s Structural Advantage
France allows full deduction of trading losses against gains in the same category, with no annual cap. Unused losses carry forward for 10 years. This is a significant advantage over Germany, where derivative losses are capped at EUR 20,000 per year and large drawdowns can take decades to exhaust.
A trader who loses EUR 100,000 in year one and gains EUR 120,000 in year two pays tax only on the EUR 20,000 net difference. In Germany, the same trader would pay tax on EUR 100,000 in year two (with only EUR 20,000 of the prior loss deductible) and carry EUR 80,000 forward for at least four more years.
Filing Requirements
French tax residents must declare all capital gains on Form 2042-C(complémentaire) and, if opting for the barème, tick box 2OP. Foreign financial accounts must be declared on Form 3916(or 3916-bis for multiple accounts). Failure to declare a foreign trading account carries a penalty of EUR 1,500 per account per year — EUR 10,000 if the account is in a non-cooperative jurisdiction. Under CRS, EU brokers automatically report to the DGFiP, making undisclosed accounts readily detectable.
Important Limitations
This calculator applies to private retail traders whose gains are taxed as plus-valuesunder Article 150-0 A CGI. It does not apply to professional traders taxed under BNC or BIC, who face income tax at progressive rates plus URSSAF social contributions. It uses the 2025 barème brackets (revenus 2024); the loi de finances indexes these annually. Consult an expert-comptable for personalised advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PFU (prélèvement forfaitaire unique)?
The PFU is France’s flat tax on capital gains, introduced in 2018. It applies a fixed 30% rate: 12.8% income tax (impôt sur le revenu) plus 17.2% social contributions (prélèvements sociaux: CSG 9.2%, CRDS 0.5%, solidarity 7.5%). It applies by default to all capital gains including forex CFD profits. Taxpayers can opt out in favour of the barème progressif if their marginal rate is lower.
When is the barème progressif better than the PFU?
The barème is better when your marginal income tax rate is below 12.8%. This typically applies when your total taxable income (per fiscal part) falls within the 0% or 11% bracket — roughly below EUR 28,797 per part. Additionally, 6.8% of your gains become deductible from taxable income under the barème, which can produce a small extra saving. The 17.2% social contributions are identical under both options.
Can I apply the barème to forex gains and the PFU to dividends?
No. The barème option is all-or-nothing (Article 200 A CGI). If you opt for progressive taxation, it applies to all investment income for the entire tax year: forex gains, dividends, interest, and other capital income. You cannot cherry-pick which income uses which regime.
How do forex losses work in France?
France allows full deduction of forex CFD losses against gains in the same category, with no annual cap (unlike Germany’s EUR 20,000 derivative loss limit). Unused losses carry forward for 10 years. There is no restriction on the annual amount of carry-forward losses you can offset. This makes France one of the most favourable EU jurisdictions for traders who experience significant drawdowns.
What is the quotient familial?
The quotient familial divides your household’s taxable income by the number of fiscal parts before applying progressive tax brackets, then multiplies the resulting tax by the same number of parts. A single person has 1 part; a married or PACSed couple has 2 parts; the first two children each add 0.5 parts; the third and subsequent children each add 1 part. More parts effectively push income into lower brackets, reducing the tax bill.
Do foreign EU brokers report to French tax authorities?
Yes. Under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), all EU-regulated brokers report account balances and income to the DGFiP (Direction générale des Finances publiques) via the tax authority of the broker’s jurisdiction. French residents must also declare all foreign financial accounts on Form 3916. Failure to declare carries a penalty of EUR 1,500 per undeclared account per year (EUR 10,000 if the account is in a non-cooperative jurisdiction).
What about the CSG déductible when choosing the barème?
When you opt for the barème progressif, 6.8% of your capital gains (the CSG déductible portion) is deducted from your overall taxable income in the year the CSG is paid. This reduces the income tax component slightly, making the barème marginally more attractive than a simple comparison of marginal rates would suggest. The calculator accounts for this automatically.
Is this calculator accurate for professional traders (BNC)?
This calculator applies to private retail traders whose forex gains are taxed as plus-values de cession de valeurs mobilières (Article 150-0 A CGI). Professional traders classified under BNC (bénéfices non commerciaux) or BIC (bénéfices industriels et commerciaux) face different rules: income tax at progressive rates on net profits, social contributions via URSSAF, and no PFU option. If your trading is your primary activity or you trade on behalf of others, consult an expert-comptable.
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