89 last year but less than that of the income tax 2

Taxpayers have until tonight to file their tax return solidarity on wealth (ISF), accompanied by their cheque in the centre of the tax. Despite a soft growth, the ISF appears today as one of the most dynamic taxes: last year, 394.518 statements have been filed, or an increase of 17.6, a pace accelerated from last year. An increase that should feed once again the criticism of part of the ISF critics, who argue that it has become a "real estate tax."

While the subject to the ISF entering in the first instalment of the scale must pay a relatively low tax (275 euros for a heritage of 800,000 euros this year), the collection however followed the same trend last year, to 3,076 billion euros, i.e. an increase of 16.25, illustrating, according to Directorate-General of taxation (DGI), "a progression of all heritages.

"Rule of non-linearity".

This dynamism has allowed to pass the cost of management of the tax of 2.55 per cent in 2004 to 2.43 last year. It remains well above the cost of management of the corporation tax (0.89 last year) but less than that of the income tax (2.66 according to provisional figures).

Lai, who represents barely more than 1 of tax revenues, should again to register an increase this year. The real estate market continued year in advance 15 last year. "But the ISF obeys a rule of non-linearity, warns Bruno Rousselet, Deputy Director of the taxation of individuals in the Directorate General of taxes." This is not because real estate prices up to a certain rate the number of taxpayers subject or collection will increase even, it is much more complex.

Financial markets, on the other hand, strongly increased, with an increase of 23.4 of the CAC 40 in 2005, 7.4 in 2004. However, the partial exemptions for the securities of companies subject to a collective commitment of conservation (75 versus 50 previously) and for securities held by employees and corporate officers should lower the contribution of some large estates.

Refund of the paid too

Also put in place by the Finance Act, the tax shield, which now limit the 60 of the income tax, should also benefit 6,000 significant contributors, which will be reimbursed for too-paid in 2007. The measure, which will also concern homes to low income, must cost EUR 400 million, which mainly is due to the relief of EWB.

The affluent taxpayers have another reason to consolation: censured by the Constitutional Council for cause of excessive complexxité, tax niches limits should not see the day the next year. The vain of the Government, who had indicated having a year to imagine "a new device simple and legible limitation of the specific tax benefits", indeed seem to be largely dispelled since. Only the President of the National Assembly finance commission, Pierre Méhaignerie (UMP), seems to still attached to his project of alternative minimum tax, which would prevent the high income to completely escape the tax. But he had already had to bow the last year before the counter-proposals from the Government.