French MPs push exit tax on crypto above €800,000 and fines for undeclared wallets

The French National Assembly's finance committee has voted to extend France's exit tax to cryptocurrency assets as of January 1, 2027. The current levy is applied to unrealized gains when French residents with at least six years of residency move abroad with shares and securities worth over €800,000. This amendment extends the same threshold to a household's crypto assets, including tokens on foreign platforms or in self-custody wallets directly controlled by the owners.

Payment of the tax would be deferred for moves within the EU and to certain other countries, and if the assets are held for two to five years. However, the amendment lacks a specific rate or mention of social charges, leaving the exact amount crypto holders would pay unclear. Supporters of the amendment argue that crypto assets currently avoid a levy equivalent to that applied to securities, which could lead to tax avoidance.

Additionally, a centrist MP proposed that taxpayers declare self-custody wallets containing €100,000 or more annually, facing fines of up to €10,000 for non-compliance. The committee also supported making swapping crypto for stablecoins taxable from 2027 under the existing 31.4% flat tax on crypto gains. Furthermore, investors would be allowed to offset crypto losses against gains for ten years, and fines for ignoring tax authority requests for documents would be increased from €10,000 to €50,000 per request.

Despite these proposals, the government's budget bill, which covers taxes, was rejected by the full Assembly, and the crypto amendments will need to be re-submitted for consideration.