It could well be that the Public Treasury will come and drain your bank account this Monday, September 25. Like every year at this time, several billion are still missing from the state coffers. Nothing abnormal, this is a balance owed by individuals to the tax administration when the withholding tax was too low in 2023 compared to the amount which should have been lost.
According to figures from the General Directorate of Public Finances, the balance this year amounts to 21.7 billion euros, and concerns the income for the year 2022 declared last spring of some 9.6 million tax households. Figures almost identical to last year, where 10.7 million households owed out-of-pocket payments, for a total amount of 22.5 billion euros.
Not all households are in the same boat
But depending on the amount owed, not all households will be in the same boat. If the balance is less than or equal to 300 euros, the total amount will be taken “around the 25th of the month” specifies the site Impots.gouv.fr. In the event that it is higher, the payment of the remainder will be staggered in “four deductions of equal amount” from September to next December.
The good news is that there is no need to take any action. A good way to recognize it on your bank statement. Each deduction will be identified by its origin (“General Directorate of Public Finances”) and by its wording (“2022 income tax balance as well as the invoice number”). Please note that the deduction of the remainder does not cancel the deduction at source, which continues to accrue each month for income taxes for the year 2023.
On the other hand, the 15 million French people, who were entitled to a tax refund, were normally credited by the Public Treasury on July 24 or August 2.