It could come into force on January 1, 2025.
It is an imponderable of the transition to the new year: the 1er January generally marks the increase in several prices and taxes. 2025 should be no exception to the rule, with several increases already on the program. But it’s not over. Ideas emerge almost daily and some French people, even from the middle class, could put their hands in their pockets a little more than expected.
An additional tax could see the light of day and come into force in a little over two months. If it was not initially planned by Michel Barnier, it could be added to the increases already planned and hit the wallets of 3.5 million French people.
For around thirty years, the fight against tobacco has been one of the priority issues. Over time, the law was tightened and taxes were sharply increased in order to drive up prices. Objective: reduce the number of smokers in France. If the policy implemented has made it possible to reduce the number of smokers, many have turned away from the traditional cigarette to switch to its little sister, the electronic cigarette.
Less expensive and allowing you to better manage the dose of nicotine you want, vaping quickly became successful and popular. Enough to interest the State, which now sees in these measures a financial windfall to bring a little more money into its coffers. Quite surprisingly, vaping liquids, even when they contain nicotine, are not subject to the special tax on tobacco, as is the case for cigarettes and cigars. A bias that should end.
The creation of a specific tax on these products will be submitted to a vote by deputies and senators. The idea is to apply a tax of 15 cents per milliliter of liquid, or €1.50 per product, the quantity generally being 10ml. This supplement would be automatically reflected in the purchase price.
According to data from professionals in the sector, you need 5 to 10 bottles per month. For the 3.5 million consumers, this would result in an annual increase in the bill of 90 to 180 euros. If liquids exist without nicotine, all of them, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not, would be subject to this new imposition.
The proposal comes from centrist MP Charles de Courson and received initial approval from the finance committee. Deputies, senators and the government must still approve this measure for it to become effective from 1er January 2025. But with an expected revenue of between 150 and 200 million euros per year, there is no doubt that Michel Barnier and parliamentarians should study this option closely.