who should not forget to tick the “2OP” box on the tax return?

Like your earned income, income from your financial investments is pre-filled on your return. But, unlike the latter, they are not taxable on the progressive scale of income tax: they are subject to a flat tax of 12.8%, to which are added 17.2% of social security contributions. . This “flat tax” of 30%, also called “single flat tax” (PFU), has already been deducted from your interest and dividends when they are collected.

On the other hand, if you have sold shares or shares and/or shares in mutual funds and investment funds (FCP), any capital gains realized do not appear on your tax return and the flat tax does not apply. has not been applied.

It is up to you to calculate your taxable capital gain yourself, by offsetting the gains for the year with the losses for the year and, where applicable, with the losses carried forward from the last ten years. As with investment income, the capital gain will automatically be subject to the flat tax, to be paid in September at the same time as the tax balance.

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However, it is possible to waive this method of taxation and opt for taxation at the progressive scale. How ? By ticking the “2 OP” box of the declaration. If you had already exercised this option last year, it is pre-checked.

“Warning, this option is global. It will apply to all income and capital gains likely to be subject to flat tax,” warns Marion Capèle, director of the wealth solutions division at Natixis Wealth Management. Households that are not taxable or in the 11% bracket have an interest in opting for the scale. For those who are in the upper brackets (from 30%), the flat tax is a priori preferable.

Custody fees and CSG deductible

However, in the event of an option for the income tax scale, dividends benefit from a 40% allowance, while capital gains from the sale of shares and shares acquired before 2018 may benefit from a tax deduction. a reduction of 50% for securities held for less than eight years, and 65% for those held for longer. The option for the scale also makes it possible to deduct custody rights and part of the general social contribution (CSG).

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Result: scale taxation can be advantageous even in the high brackets, especially for those who have made capital gains and are likely to benefit from the 65% allowance.

And, even in the absence of capital gains, this choice can be judicious if you have significant tax reductions or a deficit to charge against your overall income. Because it is not possible to impute deficits on income subject to the flat tax, nor to impute tax reductions on the flat tax itself. Do not panic: if you do not opt ​​for the progressive scale when it is in your interest, a message displayed on the screen of your online declaration will invite you to do so.

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