2026 Changes: Smic, Retirement, PEL & More | France Updates

Revaluation of the minimum wage, increase in basic retirement pensions, increase in the CSG on financial investments, new method of calculating the DPE, new birth leave, integration of Bulgaria into the euro zone… There are numerous announcements, more or less favorable to the family budget, at the start of 2026.

Smic: increase of 1.18%, or 1,823 euros gross per month

Au 1^is January 2026, the minimum wage is increased by 1.18%. The amount of Gross hourly minimum wage is increased to 12.02 euroscompared to 11.88 euros previously. The monthly minimum wage is 1,823.03 euros grossbased on the legal working hours of 35 hours per week. Or approximately 1,443 euros net per monthafter deduction of employee contributions.

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Retirement pensions: revaluation of 0.90%

THE basic retirement pensions are revalued au 1^is January 2026, by 0.90%, corresponding to the average increase in consumer prices (excluding tobacco) for the year 2025, calculated by INSEE.

The government’s plan for a “white year” in 2026 to save 2.7 billion euros on pensions was rejected during the vote on the Social Security financing bill for 2026.

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Investment: 1.4% increase in CSG

Au 1^is January 2026, the generalized social contribution (CSG) increases by 1.4%, from 9.2% to 10.6% on financial savings products. This concerns stock dividends and capital gains, bond income (including tax-advantaged bank books, term accounts, etc.). With this increase, the Single Flat-rate Levy (PFU) increases to 31.4% (18.6% social security contributions and 12.8% tax) instead of 30%.

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Housing savings: increase in the PEL rate to 2%

For new PELs opened from 1^is January 2026, the rate of pay would be 2%compared to 1.75% for PELs opened in 2025.

This is a gross rate, subject to the single flat-rate levy (PFU) of 30%. The net rate drops to 1.40%. For non-taxable persons who opt for taxation according to the tax scale, the net rate is 1.65%. And the rate of the loan granted after the savings phase increases from 2.95 to 3.20%.

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Family: new 2-month birth leave

Parents of children born on or after 1^is January 2026 will benefit fromadditional birth leavewhich is added to maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.

Each parent can take this additional birth leave, 2 months maximumsimultaneously or separately. He is paid on a decreasing basis (70% of the previous net salary on 1^is month, 60% the second month), subject to the publication of the implementing decree.

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Real estate rental: revaluation of the amount of agency fees payable by the tenant

When renting a property, agency fees (for the following four services: tenant file, visit to the accommodation, drafting of the lease and inspection of the premises) are shared between the owner and the tenant. And the amount paid by the tenant is capped. The maximum amount depends on the area where the rented property is located. These ceilings are revised for the first time since 2014, based on the IRL (rent reference index) for the third quarter of 2025. As of 1^is January 2026, they increase by 0.87%, settling at €15.13/m2, €13.11/m2 and €11.10/m2 in very tense, tense or non-tense areas. These new ceilings apply to rental contracts signed from 1^is January 2026.

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DPE: new calculation method more favorable to electric heating

The energy performance diagnosis is mandatory for the sale or rental of accommodation. This DPE provides information on the energy performance of the property, expressed in the form of a classification by letter, from “A” for the best to “G” for the worst.

As of 1^is January 2026, a new coefficient will be taken into account for evaluate the electrical energy consumption of the home. This modification should improve the DPE of certain homes heated with electricity, penalized compared to those heated with oil or gas. Valid DPEs, established before 1^is January 2026, can be updated free of charge on the Ademe DPE-Audit Observatory website.

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Health: increase in the cost of certain medical consultations

Au 1^is January 2026, consultations with certain doctors and specialists are increasing.

For example: the consultation with a pediatrician for a child under 2 years old increases by one euro (to €40). For the elderly, the geriatric consultation increases from €37 to €42. The coordinated consultation with the gynecologist increases to €40 (instead of €37). The coordinated reference consultation in psychiatry increases to €57 compared to €55 previously.

These price increases, which were to come into force on 1^is July 2025, have been postponed to 1^is January 2026.

Revaluation of 2% of the annual Social Security ceiling

The annual social security ceiling (PASS) increases by 2% on 1^is January 2026. It stands at €48,060 (compared to €47,100 in 2025). The PASS is a reference value used as a basis for calculating the maximum amount of certain benefits and social contributions. Will therefore be increased in particular daily allowances for illness, work accidents, maternity, the compulsory allowance paid to students on internships of 2 months or more in a company.

The PASS also serves as a reference for the amount of the tax deduction for retirement savings products and the calculation of the contribution that can be offered by companies in employee savings schemes (PEE, PER Collective).

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Donations of money and donations: mandatory online tax declaration

As of 1^is January 2026, declarations of manual donations and donations of sums of money exempt must be carried out online, from your personal space, on the impots.gouv.fr website.

This obligation applies from 1^is January 2026, regardless of the date of the donation. Certain donations are not subject to this new obligation: family donations in cash for the acquisition or energy renovation of the main residence in particular. And households that do not have access to the internet are exempt from this obligation.

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Budget: increase in stamps and public transport in Ile-de-France

Au 1^is January 2026, the prices of stamps and postal packages increase. The average increase is 7.4%, depending on the products and services:

• the green letter (up to 20 grams) goes from €1.39 to €1.52
• the registered letter (up to 20 g) goes from €5.74 to €6.11
• Colissimo shipments increased by 3.4% for all destinations (France and international).

In Ile-de-France, transport tickets increase by 2.3% au 1^is January 2026. The subscription to the Navigo package (all zones) increases from €88.80 to €90.80/month (or from €976.80 to €998.80/year). A Metro-Train-RER ticket goes from €2.50 to €2.55 per unit, and the Bus-Tram ticket goes from €2.00 to €2.05 per unit (full price).

Auto: reinforced technical inspection for Takata airbags

From 1^is January 2026, the automobile technical inspection will focus on the risks linked to Takata airbags. The technician will systematically inform the motorist whether or not the vehicle presents a “serious risk”. If the vehicle is classified as “stop drive”, it will be subject to a second inspection and will only be able to circulate again after repair.

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Bulgaria joins the Eurozone

Au 1^is January 2026, Bulgaria is 21^th Member State to accede to the single currency, after Croatia in 2023. The Euro zone now brings together 21 of the 27 Member States of the European Union.

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Energy renovation: suspension of the allocation of MaPrimeRénov’ aid

The system for awarding aid for energy renovation MaPrimeRénov’ is suspended again, as of 1^is January 2026. In the absence of a vote on the finance law for 2026, before December 31, 2025, no new expenditure can be incurred by the State.

MaPrimeRénov’ had already been suspended during the summer of 2025, in particular due to the high number of suspected fraud.

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