While the public debt crisis shakes the euro area, France announced a new set of austerity measures. Goal: save 1 billion euros in 2011 and 11 billion in 2012 and thus reduce the public deficit to 3% of GDP in 2013. The government has set itself the "new challenge" to reach a deficit of 4.5% of GDP instead of 4.6% initially referred to "secure our path against any additional hazard growth and take care not to break the engine of growth, "said Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
The government downgraded its growth forecasts: this year, French GDP to increase by 1.75% against 2% originally planned. The same progression, 1.75%, is expected in 2012 against 2.25% previously expected.
The new measures
To achieve these objectives, Prime Minister François Fillon unveiled on Wednesday a new set of austerity measures. Most were expected. But Fillon said part of some key measures announced and others that had not been discussed so far.
– A tax on high incomes: it will be 3% income tax reference (capital and labor) from 500,000 euros.
– Increase of 1.2% of payroll taxes on capital income. Until now, property income (interest, dividends, life insurance products) were subject to social security contributions up to an overall level of 12.3%. This rate will increase to 13.5% and will apply to income in 2011."These households are mainly those whose standard of living is higher," insists Matignon.
– Overtime: The government has decided to reinstate the overtime in the Schedule of nationwide reduction of "maintaining the specific tax and social benefits," said the Prime Minister. Specifically, this measure will not change for employees whose net pay is not reduced and that the tax will not be increased. For employers, they will continue to benefit from the exemptions from overtime under declared but will have their planed reduce charges on low wages.
"This is not in any way to challenge the law Tepa who works overtime an instrument for business flexibility and purchasing power of employees," said François Fillon.This provision will be included in the draft budget law for 2012 Social Security to be debated in Parliament in the fall. It shall come into force on 1 January next year and will generate 600 million euros in revenue from additional contributions.
– Changing the taxation of real estate capital gains: is the measure that will bring the most in 2012 with an estimated saving of 2.2 billion euros. It is a measure that will bring the most to the state. It affects the owners of second homes, rental properties, building land or vacant. Until now, capital gains realized on the sale of immovable property (excluding principal residence) are taxed at 19% (plus payroll taxes). But the gain was undergoing a reduction of 10% per annum from the fifth year of detention.In the end, beyond 15 years in prison capital gains realized on the sale of these goods were therefore exempt from taxes. The government decided to abolish this reduction of 10% and derogatory "to tax real estate gains actually realized, after controlling for inflation no teletrack payday loan." Specifically, a tax of 19% will therefore apply to the capital gain, derived from the inflation recorded since the date of acquisition. Small clarification: This measure takes effect from the sales made after August 24, that is to say … Today!
– A new "movement of the plane" 10% of the score of tax loopholes already reduced much of last year.Are concerned and niches favoring certain investments overseas, investment in rental housing (Scellier) or the tax credit on equipment green.
– The rising price of tobacco, alcohol and soft drinks: Tobacco prices will increase by 6% in October and again in 2012. Taxes on spirits will be increased by 90 cents per liter. Wines, rums and regional productions are not affected. With the same public health argument, a tax 'anti-obesity "on soft drinks will be introduced next year, the benefit of the social security. Mentioned several times over the past years, this project had so far been held in check by the food industry.
– The complementary health will be more severely taxed to report 1.1 billion euros in 2012.Even non-existent a year ago, the tax which perform mutual and private insurers on Contracts for additional "responsible" will double to 7%.
Contracts for Health "responsible" people do not pay deductibles (1 euro per visit, 50 cents per box of medicine …) or supplements for consultations with specialists outside managed care, and do not set their contributions according to the health of the insured. They represent over 90% market share. There is no doubt that further protest and say forced to raise their prices after this. To maintain a – small – incentive for this type of contract, the contract tax "not responsible" will she, range from 7% to 9%.
– The corporate tax will be amended to harmonize the rules with Germany.The government will propose the harmonization of the report deficits in terms of corporate taxes with the rules in force in Germany. Paris and Berlin had already announced their intention to create a "common corporation tax" in 2013.
– Increased social package of 6% to 8%. The social package is a levy paid by the employer on the amount it pays its employees under the employee savings plan (participation, sharing …). Currently 6%, this package will be raised by 2 points, rising to 8%. The social package was created in 2009 and raised by 2 points every year since. This should bring 400 million euros in savings.
These measures will be proposed to parliament next week for debate in early September and be implemented quickly.
The case of addiction, however, should suffer from this new austerity plan."Addressing this issue in the economic and financial climate is not responsible," said the Prime Minister.
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