TOITURE 37

At last!

We have a budget! After several months of political shenanigans, the country finally has a finance bill for 2025. While the manner of its adoption remains highly debatable—the Prime Minister invoked Article 49.3 twice to secure passage without a vote—the texts do contain several positives for the construction sector, particularly in favor of energy renovation, which shows a certain awareness among policymakers of this sector’s strategic importance.

Among the measures, note for example the exemption from inheritance/gift taxes within the family framework for energy-renovation works. Until the end of December 2026, intra-family gifts will be exempt from duties if they are used for the purchase, construction, or thermal renovation of a primary residence, up to €100,000 per donor (and €300,000 per donee).

We can also welcome the scrapping of the Cerfa form previously required to benefit from reduced VAT rates for energy-renovation works. Formerly mandatory, this certificate enabling application of the reduced 5.5% rate will now be replaced by a simple note on the invoice or signed estimate.

Last but not least: a reduced VAT rate of 5.5% will also apply to the supply and installation of photovoltaic equipment. Scheduled for October, these provisions will only apply to residential projects for systems with a capacity less than or equal to 9 kWp (kilowatt-peak).

Simplification, exemptions… while not miraculous, these measures send clear signals to the profession—and they are positive indicators both for the future and in light of the current housing crisis.

Brice Alexandre Roboam