French homeowners should prepare for higher property tax bills in 2026, as a data update by the Ministry of the Economy will impact roughly 7.4 million properties. the adjustments, detailed in a report by Le Parisien, aim to more accurately assess property values by factoring in basic amenities like running water and indoor plumbing – features currently inflating assessed square footage for tax purposes. While the changes are intended to create a fairer system,the average homeowner could see an increase of approximately €63 ($68 USD).
An update to housing data by the French Ministry of the Economy will lead to an increase in property taxes for 7.4 million homes in 2026, according to a report by Bercy. The change aims to more accurately reflect amenities such as running water, electricity, toilets, and sinks within a property.
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Approximately 7.4 million homeowners in France will see an increase in their property tax bills in 2026, following an update to housing data by the Ministry of the Economy. The change, first reported by Le Parisien, is intended to improve the accuracy and fairness of the tax system.
The property tax, paid by roughly 32 million property owners, is calculated based on the property’s square footage and certain “comfort criteria,” such as the presence of running water, electricity, a toilet, and a sink. Currently, the inclusion of these amenities artificially inflates the assessed square footage, and consequently, the tax amount.
According to the Ministry, the data update, scheduled for 2026, will incorporate these comfort features into the property tax calculation where they are not already reflected. Le Parisien reports that the average property tax increase is expected to be €63 (approximately $68 USD) per affected household, generating an additional €466 million (approximately $505 million USD) in revenue for local governments.
Homeowners who lack these amenities will have the opportunity to contest the assessment, according to the Ministry of the Economy.
