In order to obtain new revenue, the idea of reintroducing an old tax is being studied.
At a time when the State is looking for new revenue, a sort of Lépine competition for tax proposals has emerged. Tax increases having now been officially formulated, some do not hesitate to go further and propose the creation of new drains on household wallets. An idea has even been submitted: reintroducing into law a tax that had disappeared.
If the official line of action is not to impose the increase in taxation on the majority of households – version contradicted with regard to the avenues envisaged -, this umpteenth proposal would target most taxpayers: 80% of French people would have to pay.
Several deputies, all attached to the environmental group, propose to reinstate the TV license, with some modifications compared to the tax removed in 2023 by Emmanuel Macron. First of all, the name: this would be the progressive contribution to the financing of public broadcasting.
A name which is not insignificant since, unlike the old version, the amount would vary depending on the household’s income. Left-wing elected officials plan for tax progressivity, according to an already established scale. Before, you had to pay 138 euros, regardless of your standard of living.
The new project provides for 11 tax brackets. A specific amount would be allocated to each of them. The latter would range from 0 to 220 euros. Only those with a reference tax income of less than 17,820 euros would be exempt. According to INSEE, 80% of households have income above this level and would therefore be required to pay this tax, approximately as much as during the previous system.
This proposal does not come out of nowhere. From 2025, the financing of France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5, Franceinfo, France 24, ARTE, France Inter, France Culture, France Bleu, RFI and even the INA will have to be reviewed. Currently established thanks to VAT, this cannot continue. A legislative adjustment requires the implementation of another resource lever. Will this inevitably involve the return of this tax? It will be up to Parliament to decide. But the option is definitely on the table.