Taxes are so many in France that the French often pay taxes without realizing it. Who knows the local tax on electricity (TLE), which is yet on the electricity bill under the term "local taxes"? Levied by counties and municipalities, it is now optional. But most local officials do not hesitate to apply it, and very often at the maximum rate allowed, or 8% for municipalities and 4% for the departments. This tax applies to 80% of pre-tax amount of electricity bill. Clearly, if you pay 150 euros per year, excluding tax, subscription and consumption of electricity, the TLE can climb up to 14.40 euros. The total cost TLE still one billion per year to households. The note is for the companies is anywhere from 500 million (the largest consumers of electricity are exempt from TLE).
This system will certainly evolve in the coming months.Because France does not respect EU rules: since 1 January 2009, the FTA should become mandatory. The 2003 directive on the taxation of energy products and electricity provided that each State should, at that time, have a low tax (the minima are lower than current French) but paid for by all and based on the volumes consumed and not the amount of the invoice.
Losers in the rural
The European Commission said in Paris about the end of March, threatening to bring the case before the Court of Justice if the reform was not implemented within two months. For now, the government has not made a decision. But Bercy board on the subject. Indeed, a first draft was submitted to the consultation in late 2008 which set the fee to 8.50 euros per megawatt hour for households. A level calculated for the levy does not change.For Bercy is that the changeover from one system to another is painless for the French. But there will inevitably be losers: the inhabitants of the few municipalities, often rural, not applying EFT. Additional cost for a typical household of two children: about 25 euros per year. At a Senate hearing, Philippe Marini, the UMP rapporteur of the Budget, has proposed that, in this case, the application of the new tax should be spread over five years.
But there will also be winners, as second home owners, who will pay more than their consumption, whereas before the subscription was also submitted to the FTA and the Parisians, whose rate of TLE (13.2 %) was higher. Ultimately, all French people will be interested because the volumes consumed – using the new system – progress less rapidly than the bill that reflected higher prices. This does not relish the local politicians.Another uncertainty, Brussels does allow communities to adjust the tax? Apparently so. Finally, manufacturers will be exempt from TLE, themselves, pay the new tax. The final draft is not yet completed. And it is unlikely to be ready before the review in May and June, the bill on the organization of the electricity market. Especially if the government wants to resume consultations. The deadline is rather that the next draft budget law for 2011.