On the occasion of the study of the finance bill, the Senate adopted, this Wednesday, a series of tax increases aimed at making savings for the budget for the year 2025.
Rejected in the National Assembly, the finance bill continues its examination in the Senate. This Wednesday, several taxes were also voted on.
Plane tickets
Indeed, the senators approved in particular almost unanimously on Wednesday the increase in the “solidarity tax” on plane tickets, from which the government expected an additional billion euros next year.
This tax would thus increase from 2.63 to 5.30 euros for an economy class ticket to France or Europe, instead of the 9.50 euros envisaged by the government.
The Senate also voted for exemptions for flights from and to overseas departments or Corsica, as well as for so-called “land planning” lines which serve, among other places, Limoges, Castres or Brive-la – Gaillardia.
Bottled water
An increase in VAT on bottled water was also voted on. A measure intended to encourage consumers to favor tap water against a backdrop of scandal over the practices of mineral water manufacturers.
The upper house voted by a show of hands for this measure in the draft budget for 2025, against the advice of the government.
The amendment voted by the Senate, carried by Macronist senator Nadège Havet, proposes to eliminate the reduced VAT rate on water in plastic bottles, currently set at 5.5% and which would therefore increase to 20%. While preserving bottled water sold overseas from this measure.
Senators estimated that the measure could bring in between 150 and 300 million euros per year.
Soda and tobacco
Taxes on soda and tobacco were adopted this Wednesday. The first aims to limit the quantity of sugar in sodas and bring in 200 million euros. The second aims to increase the average price of a packet of cigarettes to 13 euros from 2025 to raise an additional 150 million euros in revenue.
Lotteries and sports betting
The amendment, rejected in the National Assembly, aimed at raising taxes on lotteries, casinos and other sports betting was adopted in the Senate.
Taxation should therefore be increased, with a rate increasing from 11.2% to 11.9% for 68% of the gross product of automatic games in casinos and from 0.2% to 10% on the gross product of circle games. online.
