When the French assess the level of taxes...

According to the survey on tax and social security contributions conducted for the Council on Compulsory Levies, an overwhelming majority—75%—of French people believe that tax levels are excessive. However, this dissatisfaction does not necessarily translate into a desire to reduce public spending.

A large majority of French people surveyed as part of the Tax and Social Contributions Barometer clearly expressed a desire to pay less in taxes without reducing public spending. This survey, conducted by Harris Interactive for the Council on Compulsory Levies (CPO), was presented on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

The results show that 75% of French people believe tax rates are too high, a view shared by 76% of them regarding social security contributions. However, most respondents are not willing to accept cuts in public spending in order to lower taxes. According to the survey, only 29% would be willing to accept such a reduction in public spending on pensions, 30% on healthcare, 32% on justice and public safety, 35% on education, 42% on the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and 44% on defense.

The French, on the other hand, advocate for better use of public funds. According to the CPO’s analysis, most respondents believe it is possible to improve the distribution and quality of public services while maintaining—or even reducing—the level of taxation.

In addition, 79% of respondents view paying taxes as a civic duty, while 55% of them would like to see increased resources allocated to the fight against tax fraud, as detailed in the survey. The survey highlights that the main factors influencing acceptance of taxes are, in ascending order, knowledge of the social and tax system, trust in institutions, a sense of tax fairness, and satisfaction with how public funds are used.