PRIME MACRON 2022. Emmanuel Macron should quickly announce the tripling of the exceptional purchasing power bonus. What amount? For who ? Which companies? We take stock.
[Mis à jour le 16 mai 2022 à 08h03] It should be part of the first measures of Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term. The Head of State could announce in the coming weeks the tripling of the exceptional purchasing power bonus. An XXL boost in 2022 for some employees. In reality, this bonus is paid voluntarily by employers, up to a limit of 1,000 euros. With this potential reform, it could reach 3,000 euros, or even €6,000 for companies with less than 50 employees and those that have signed aprofit-sharing. Enough to reward the efforts made by employees over the two years of crisis, and above all, in the face of galloping inflation in recent months (+4.8% in May 2022 over one year).
But then, which employees are affected by the Macron bonus? All employees whose salary is less than 3x the amount of the minimum wage. Last year, 4 million of French people took advantage of it, for an average amount of 506 euros. For the time being, the precise payment dates are not known, the government did not wish to say more. These new amounts could, however, come into force by the summer. Advantageous for the employer because it is exempt from employer contributions, this “PEPA” bonus is also advantageous for the employee. Indeed, it is not subject to social security contributions. Know that Emmanuel Macron has never ruled out the idea of making it compulsory from next year, in 2023. Under what conditions? At what amount? For which companies? Answer in a few weeks.
Since 2019, employees have been able to receive an exceptional bonus, exempt from taxes and social security contributions called the “Macron bonus”. This exceptional purchasing power bonus (is paid by any employer who wishes it to employees, under certain conditions. In particular if the employee in question does not exceed a certain income limit. This tax and social security exemption scheme aims to encourage employers to pay bonuses to their employees in order to enhance their purchasing power. It is not a state bonus, but a company bonus which remains optional and voluntary.
To be exempt from employee contributions, the Macron bonus cannot exceed the amount of €1,000. Companies that have a profit-sharing agreement can pay the Macron bonus up to €2,000. This amount, doubled, is also valid for companies with fewer than 50 employees, and second-line workers (if revaluation measures are taken). This bonus could now triple in the event of re-election of the LREM candidate on April 24, going from 1,000 euros to 3,000 euros. And up to 6,000 euros without charges or taxes for companies benefiting from a profit-sharing agreement.
The amount of the Macron bonus exempt from contributions is capped at €1,000. However, this amount may double and reach €2,000 in the following cases:
- The company has signed a profit-sharing agreement
- The company has less than 50 employees
- Second-line workers (if upgrading measures are taken)
The exceptional purchasing power bonus is exempt from income tax and from any social security contributions or contributions. But then, who is eligible for the Macron bonus? Employees earning less than 3 times the Smic (over the 12 months preceding the payment). This Macron bonus does not replace any element of remuneration.
The Macron bonus is paid within a period provided for by law. In this case, between the June 1, 2021 and the March 31, 2022. Whether you are a civil servant, an employee, or an industrialist, you have the possibility of benefiting from it.
Already extended in 2021, the premium PEPA is renewed for the year 2022. Note that the employer is not obliged to pay the Macron bonus. If he wishes to pay it, he has the option of doing so atall of its employeesor only to employees whose remuneration is less than 3 times the Smic.
In 2022, the Macron bonus benefits both employees and apprentices, as well as temporary workers and public officials. The employer can completely modulate the amount of the payment of the PEPA bonus according to the beneficiary according to certain criteria such as the employee’s remuneration, the employee’s classification level, his working conditions during the Covid crisis, or still his working time over a year.