For the French, plane tickets and bottled water could cost more from next year. As part of the 2025 Budget debates, elected representatives of the upper house have in fact adopted the principle of an increase in the “solidarity tax” on plane tickets. We tell you everything!
Of new changes in view, apart from the revaluation of pensions planned for January 2025. On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 November 2024, senators voted on several amendments as part of the numerous debates on the budget for the year 2025. After opposing Tuesday evening a provision authorizing the falls under electricity taxation by the executive to impose it on a upper level in the period before the energy crisis, i.e. for a profit estimated at 1.2 million euros, the senators finally validated a augmentation des taxes regarding plane tickets, gas boilers, bottled water and many others. Decryption!
These increases voted by senators in the 2025 budget
Plane ticket
By 310 votes out of 348, the elected representatives of the upper house approved the increase in the solidarity tax on plane tickets. However, this amendment does not suit the government, because the tax revenue should be less. In fact, the government expected to generate one billion euros for the year 2025. The tax scale has seen a reduction. In fact, the senators lowered the minimum amount for an economy class plane ticket to Europe or France, from 9.50 euros to 5.30 euros. Premium and Business classes have also been reduced. Exemptions were also voted for, according to the newspaper Les Echos.
Bottled water
In order to motivate the French to favor tap water, the elected officials of the upper room voted to increase VAT from 5.5% to 20% on bottled water, with an exemption for bottled water sold overseas. Contested by the governmentthe gain from this measure is estimated between 150 and 300 million euros. Part of the profit would be intended for the renovation of educational establishments via the Green Fund. Apart from encouraging the French to turn to tap water, the measure also aims to strengthen state finances. According to Senator Hervé Gillé, a tax revaluation is necessary in the face of health and ecological concerns raised by the Nestlé scandal.
Tax on gas and electricity
Concerning gas and electricity, the budget of the year 2025 initially provided for an increase in VAT from 5.5% to 20%, according to a European directive. An increase which was to apply only to the subscription part, and not to the entire bill. As a reminder, the invoices gas and electricity are made up of a variable part which is the consumption and a fixed part which is the subscription. As for the QST rate on consumption, the budget did not provide for any modification. In terms ofimpact financierthis is equivalent to an increase of around 14 euros per year for the gas subscription and 22 euros for the electricity subscription.
Other changes planned in the 2025 budget
Medications less reimbursed
The Minister of Health Geneviève Darrieussecq announced a reduction of 5% of the rate of refund medicines fromnext year. The announcement was made on November 18, the opening date of debates. A reduction which implies a increase 5% of the co-payment on medications. In other words, this is an increase which concerns the remainder payable by patients after reimbursement from Health Insurance. Geneviève Darrieussecq also spoke of a 5% increase in the remainder payable for medical consultations, according to RTL. With regard to medicines, current reimbursement rates will experience an increase. adjustment in a similar way. Let us remember that changes concerning consultations were announced for December 2024.
The taxe soda
The budget also provides for the return of an old tax, but also the increase in the soda tax. This tax was introduced in 2012, revised in 2018 and is once again at the heart of debates. Indeed, on November 21, the Senate voted for this tax to increase, the goal being to strengthen the scale compared to that of theNational Assembly. The goal of the elected representatives of the upper house is to encourage the different types of these drinks to reduce the quantity of sugar used in order to fight diabetes and obesity. However, the Senate did not support the idea of implementing a tax on sugar found in processed foods. From now on, the soda tax proposes the establishment of three levels of taxation added sugars: 3.5 cents per liter for sodas with a sugar level of less than 5 mg per 100 ml and 28 cents per liter for drinks with a sugar level greater than 8 mg of sugar per 100 ml.
The ecological bonus planed
From next year, the amount of ecological bonus will experience a decline. It is even possible that it will be divided by two depending on the income. For example, the most modest households with a tax income below or equal to 15,400 euros could receive up to 7,000 euros, from next year this ceiling will be reduced to 4,000 euros. As for wealthy households, the ceilings will vary between 2,000 and 3,000 euros. The Senate for its part adopted a amendment which allows the introduction of a penalty for electric cars weighing more than 2.3 tonnes. The State plans to reduce the envelope intended for the ecological bonus, given the budgetary context.
