Why do the French feel that taxes are going up?

The perception that the tax burden has increased since Emmanuel Macron’s election in 2017 has been rising sharply since May and is now held by a majority.

As property tax payments are due and income tax back payments are being made, an Elabe poll shows that 58% (+16 points since May 3, 2023) of French people feel that taxes have increased since Emmanuel Macron’s election in 2017, including 34% (+12) who feel they have increased significantly and 24% (+4) who feel they have increased slightly, 21% (-8) believe they have remained stable, and 20% (-8) feel they have decreased, including 18% (-6) who say they have decreased slightly and 2% (-2) who say they have decreased significantly.
 

Since May, the perception that taxes have increased since 2017 has been growing across all socio-professional categories: employees/workers (63%, +18), intermediate professions (60%, +17), managers (57%, +13), and retirees (49%, +18), as well as across all age groups: 18–34-year-olds (64%, +12), 35–64-year-olds (62%, +18), and those 65 and older (47%, +17). And among all voter groups: those who did not vote (70%, +24), voters for Marine Le Pen (65%, +15), for Jean-Luc Mélenchon (61%, +9), and for Emmanuel Macron (29%, +16)
 

Public acceptance of taxation is waning, and criticism of how public funds are used is on the rise
 

When asked about our tax system, 51% of French people now believe that paying taxes is justified because it funds public services—a figure that has fallen by 7 percentage points since May 3, 2023. 

Support for taxation has fallen sharply among employees and blue-collar workers (36%, down 12), intermediate-level professionals (54%, down 10), and those under 35 (35%, down 24). Despite these declines, a majority of Emmanuel Macron’s voters (73%, down 11) and, to a lesser extent, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s voters (57%, down 7) remain convinced that paying taxes is justified. In contrast, Marine Le Pen’s voters are increasingly skeptical (63% disagree, up 10).
 

82% (+4) of French people believe that the government is not doing enough to combat tax fraud, 78% (+2) believe the same regarding social security fraud, and 81% (+3) believe that the government is not putting tax revenues to good use.

76% of French people believe that the current tax system does not allow for the redistribution of wealth among different segments of the population. This criticism is held by a large majority and is growing across all segments of the population and voter groups.
While the figures have remained stable since May, the extension of income tax to all households is still rejected by a majority (54% disagree, 45% agree).

To reduce the debt, the French are counting primarily on contributions from the wealthiest, a reduction in public spending, and the effects of future economic growth.