In summary…
For a family holding company, choose the firm that starts from your goals and your figures, Not the structure. He needs to tell you what the holding company is for in your case (centralizing, reinvesting, transferring), what it costs to create and maintain, how to exit it, and who writes what Legal acts fall under the purview of a lawyer or notary, accounting under that of a chartered accountant. A consulting firm frames the project and coordinates it; it does not replace these professionals.
Balmont Conseil is a firm not independent In regulatory terms: he receives commissions on contracts signed, and can also bill for a customized service by the hour. We do not draft the articles of incorporation for a holding company.
A Lyon-based executive's company is paying dividends and he's wondering whether to keep them personally or hold them in a holding company. The answer boils down to one question: how much of these dividends do you need to live on? Anything left in the holding company can be reinvested without immediate tax liability. Anything withdrawn from the holding company is taxed in your personal account.
1. What is the purpose of a family holding company?
A holding company is a company that owns shares in other companies. It serves three purposes.
| Use | How it works | What the administration says |
|---|---|---|
| Centralize | The operating company pays its dividends to the holding company, which then combines them with its other investments. | Parent-subsidiary regime: a company can be exempt from 95% of dividends received (only 5% are taxed) if it has held at least 5% of the capital for at least 2 years. |
| Reinvest without immediate tax | The holding company reinvests the dividends received without including them in your tax return. | An individual receiving the same dividend is taxed at 31.4 % (12.8 % income tax and 18.6 % social security contributions) or can opt for the standard tax scale. |
| Pass on | You are giving away shares of the holding company rather than those of each individual company. | Dutreil Pact: since the 2026 Finance Law, the individual commitment to retain assets has been increased from 4 to 6 years, and non-professional assets are no longer exempt from the 75% tax base. |
The calculation is simple. For every €100 of dividends received by the holding company, €5 are taxable. At the standard corporate tax rate of 25%, this represents €1.25 in tax. For an individual, €100 of dividends would cost €31.40 in flat-rate tax. The difference is real, but it only applies as long as the money remains within the holding company: when it pays you a dividend, it is taxed in your own country.
Specifically. A holding company is useless if you spend everything it pays you. In that case, it doesn't generate any tax savings and adds to your expenses. It becomes useful when a portion of the dividends has no immediate use: investments, buying back shares in another company, or acquiring a business.
The same logic applies in the event of a sale. Since February 21, 2026, the deferral of taxation on the contribution-sale (Article 150-0 B ter of the French General Tax Code) requires reinvestment. 70% of the sale price (previously 60 %), within a period of three years (two previously), and to retain five years Assets acquired through direct reinvestment (one year prior). The scope of eligible activities has been narrowed. Details are in contribution-transfer and article 150-0 B ter and in holding company: parent-subsidiary regime and tax consolidation.
What the holding company does not eliminate
- The IFI. Shares in companies that own real estate are taxed based on the value of that real estate. The threshold for taxation is €1.3 million of net taxable real estate assets.
- A new tax on certain goods. The 2026 finance law created a tax on 20% on certain so-called luxury goods held by holdings controlled by natural persons (yachts, collector cars, racehorses, jewelry), for financial years ending on or after December 31, 2026. Cash, financial securities, active holdings and works of art are excluded from the tax base.
- Accounting obligations. A commercial company keeps accounts and prepares a balance sheet, an income statement, and notes to the financial statements each year. These documents must be kept for at least 10 years.
For the technician. Parent company regime: conditions set by Article 145 of the French General Tax Code (CGI), share of expenses and charges of 5 % set by Article 216 of the CGI (BOFiP, BOI-IS-BASE-10-10-20, §90). Deferral of taxation on contributions of securities: Article 150-0 B ter of the CGI, amended by Article 11 of Law No. 2026-103 of 19 February 2026 on Finance for 2026, for transfers from 21 February 2026 (BOFiP, ACTU-2026-00099).
2. Questions to ask before creating it
| Question | Why she matters | Expected response |
|---|---|---|
| What portion of my dividends can I leave in the holding company, and for how many years? | That's the only real gain: the tax isn't abolished, it's postponed. | A figure in euros per year, not a percentage range |
| Will I hold at least 5 % of the capital of each company, for at least 2 years? | This is the condition for the tax-exempt dividend regime at 95 % | Yes or no, company by company |
| How much does it cost each year? | Accounting, annual accounts, legal fees: a fixed cost that exists even without dividends. | A written quote from the accountant, in euros per year |
| What happens if I want to close it down or sell it? | The release is part of the project | A written estimate from the lawyer or accountant before the creation |
| What items will I put there? | Real estate: the IFI (French wealth tax) continues. Luxury goods: the 20% tax. | The list, with the tax implications for each. |
Specifically. Regarding the accounts: annual accounts are approved within six months of the end of the financial year for a limited liability company (SARL) or a public limited company (SA); for a simplified joint-stock company (SAS), the articles of association stipulate the deadline, with six months being the most common. They are filed with the commercial court registry one month after approval (two months for electronic filing). Ask who is responsible for this task and what the cost is.
3. What a consulting firm does and does not do
| Who | What he does |
|---|---|
| Wealth management consulting firm | Define your objectives, calculate the profit in euros, advise on cash investment, coordinate with other professionals, and ensure annual follow-up |
| Lawyer or notary | Drafts legal documents: articles of association, contributions of securities, donations, agreements |
| Chartered Accountant | Maintains the company's accounting records, prepares the annual accounts and tax returns |
We do not draft these documents. We work with a network of international notaries, lawyers, and accountants, and our role is to specify what is expected of each party and in what order. See also Notary, lawyer, accountant, and consultant: who does what?.
4. How to choose your firm
- He first checks the’objective and said no if the holding company is useless in your case.
- He gives you his number ORIAS, The advisor's status (independent or non-independent) and remuneration must be provided in writing before any advice is given. According to the AMF, the engagement letter sets out the terms of the advice and how the advisor is paid.
- He gives the annual cost of the holding company in euros, with the share that goes to the other professionals.
- He knows what he doesn't do: he doesn't draft legal documents.
- He proposes a annual monitoring : a holding company is managed annually.
For a list of required documents, see What to ask a wealth manager in Lyon. For a family whose assets justify a larger organization, see Family office in Lyon: what is the minimum asset threshold?. The page asset holding company details the subject.
At Balmont Conseil: what you pay
Balmont Conseil is a simplified joint-stock company (SASU) established in January 2013. We have been supporting business leaders, professionals, and families for nearly 14 years. We are financial investment advisors, members of ANACOFI-CIF, and insurance brokers, registered with ORIAS under number 13003497. We work with 23 partner companies and asset management firms and have no financial ties to any bank or insurer.
| Step | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Initial meeting, in Lyon or via videoconference | Free |
| Contract X-ray : your statements, their charges calculated in euros | Free |
| Balance sheet | Fixed price announced |
| Customized mission | €500 including VAT per hour |
| Contracts signed through us | Commissions paid by the supplier |
| Annual follow-up, possible remotely | Free |
Our position
A holding company isn't a tax break; it's a deferral tool that generates income when the money stays within it. A firm that sells you one before knowing how many dividends you'll leave in the company is selling you a structure, not advice. Choose the one that asks for your figures first, calculates the annual fees, and knows when to say no. Ask everyone, including us.
Frequently asked questions
At what amount does a holding company make sense?
It is not the amount of your assets that decides, but the portion of dividends that you do not need each year to live on.
Does a holding company eliminate dividend tax?
No. Upon receipt, 5 % of dividends are taxable in the holding company if the holding conditions are met. When the holding company pays you a dividend, you are taxed as with any other dividend.
Does your firm create the holding company?
No. We frame the project and coordinate with your lawyer, notary, and accountant, who draft and file the documents.
Are you considering a holding company?
The first exchange is free, in Lyon or via videoconference: bring your latest dividends and the list of your investments, and we will tell you if the holding company makes sense for you.
Book an appointment
The initial consultation is to establish your exact situation and determine if there is anything that can be done—sometimes there is nothing, and we will say so as well. Thirty minutes, with no obligation.
Book an exchange with Balmont Conseil
Alexis Sagnier, financial and real estate investment advisor, insurance broker, AMF certified. ORIAS 13003497. Updated on 24/10/2026.
Official sources consulted
- Service-Public.fr — Taxation of dividends received by partners (fact sheet F32963, verified on February 21, 2026)
- BOFiP — BOI-IS-BASE-10-10-20, Participation income and share of expenses and charges of 5 % (version of March 11, 2021)
- BOFiP — Amendments to the tax deferral 150-0 B ter (law no. 2026-103 of 19 February 2026, art. 11)
- economie.gouv.fr — 2026 Finance Law: what changes for individuals (February 20, 2026)
- economie.gouv.fr — 2026 Finance Law: what changes for businesses (February 20, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — IFI: persons and assets concerned (fact sheet F563, verified on March 6, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — Accounting obligations of a commercial company (fact sheet F37169, verified on September 7, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — Filing of annual accounts (form F31214, verified on June 11, 2025)
- AMF — «What you need to know about financial investment advisors?» (October 19, 2018)
