France launches September wave of automatic tax withdrawals from millions of bank accounts
France's tax authority DGFIP will automatically debit outstanding income tax balances from millions of bank accounts starting September 25, while 12.6 million taxpayers have already received refunds.
End of the tax campaign
France's General Directorate of Public Finances (DGFIP) has finished reviewing 2026 income tax returns from 41.5 million French taxpayers and sent out tax notices. Some households are due a refund, while others must pay an additional amount.
Refunds already paid
12.6 million taxpayers had overpaid tax in 2025, mainly through the pay-as-you-earn withholding system. They received refunds in late July, averaging 1,057 euros, according to JDN.
Automatic bank withdrawals
For those who owe money, DGFIP will withdraw the amount directly from their bank account. If the balance owed is under 300 euros, the full amount will be taken in a single withdrawal on September 25, 2026. If it exceeds 300 euros, payment will be split into four equal installments on September 25, October 26, November 25 and December 28. The transaction will appear on bank statements as "DIRECTION GENERALE DES FINANCES PUBLIQUES – SOLDE IMPOT REVENUS 2025." Authorities urge taxpayers to check that the IBAN listed on their tax notice is correct and to update it via impots.gouv.fr if needed.
As an example, JDN notes that in 2025 DGFIP collected an average of 1,901 euros from 13.1 million households — illustrating the scale of balances owed by taxpayers whose withholding didn't fully cover their tax bill.
If the balance isn't debited automatically, taxpayers must pay by September 15 in person at a tax office, or by midnight on September 20 online via impots.gouv.fr. In both cases, the actual withdrawal takes place from September 25 onward.
New withholding rate and property tax
According to RTL, a new pay-as-you-earn withholding rate took effect on payslips from September 1, based on the declaration filed in April. Depending on income level, rates range from 0% (income up to 11,600 euros) to 45% (income above 181,917 euros).
Property owners also face notices for the property tax (taxe foncière), sent out over the summer; RTL reports the amount is expected to rise this year due to inflation. JDN states the property tax will be debited from bank accounts in mid-October, while RTL adds that electronic notices were already available August 27 for taxpayers not on monthly installment plans, with others receiving theirs on September 19, and paper notices being mailed between September 21 and October 9.
