In summary…
Choose a wealth management advisor who provides figures before offering advice, and who works with your notary: it's the notary who drafts the deeds of gift, not the advisor. The advisor calculates what each child can receive tax-free (in 2026, €100,000 per parent per child, renewable every 15 years, plus €31,865 in family cash gifts), chooses the tool best suited to your assets, and maintains a 15-year schedule.
Balmont Conseil, a Lyon-based firm, is not independent In regulatory terms: he receives commissions on the contracts signed. We work with your notary, either in Lyon or via videoconference.
A couple from Lyon, aged 62 and 64, want to help their two children buy things without depriving themselves. The first question isn't "which product?", but "how much can we give without paying a single euro in taxes, and by what date?"«
1. Key figures for 2026
| Tool | Amount in 2026 | Key condition | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent-child gift tax allowance | €100,000 per child and per donor | Same donor, same beneficiary | Over a period of 15 years |
| Family donation of money | €31,865 | Donor under 80 years of age; beneficiary of legal age or emancipated | Every 15 years |
| Life insurance, premiums paid before age 70 | €152,500 allowance per beneficiary; on the remaining taxable portion: 20% of the % allowance up to €700,000, 31.25% of the % allowance above that amount. | Upon the death of the insured | — |
| Life insurance, premiums paid after age 70 | €30,500 overall tax allowance for all beneficiaries | Inheritance tax beyond this amount; untaxed proceeds | — |
These amounts come from Service-Public.fr (information verified on May 13, 2026 and January 1, 2026), impots.gouv.fr and economie.gouv.fr (page dated September 17, 2026). The first two are cumulative: family gifts of money are added to personal allowances. They must be declared online within one month of the gift, and this deadline is strictly enforced (conditions and declaration). Upon death, donations made more than 15 years ago are not taken into account for the calculation of taxes (Service-Public.fr, fact sheet verified on February 9, 2026).
The scale of gift tax in direct line
For the portion exceeding the allowance, the tax scale for direct descendants is as follows in 2026:
| Taxable portion after allowance | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to €8,072 | 5% |
| From €8,073 to €12,109 | 10% |
| From €12,110 to €15,932 | 15% |
| From €15,933 to €552,324 | 20% |
| From €552,325 to €902,838 | 30% |
| From €902,839 to €1,805,677 | 40% |
| Above €1,805,677 | 45% |
Specifically. Two parents each giving €100,000 to a child pay no inheritance tax. With a family gift of €31,865 from each parent, a child can receive a total of €263,730 tax-free, provided both parents are under 80 years old and the child is an adult. A single parent giving €200,000 to a child pays approximately €18,194 in inheritance tax after the €100,000 allowance, according to the tax brackets (calculated excluding notary fees). See tax allowances, 15-year retroactive payments and tax scale.
2. The division of ownership: giving the bare ownership, retaining the usufruct
The division of ownership separates full ownership of a property into two rights: bare ownership (the right to own the property without using it) and usufruct (the right to use it and receive its income). Gift tax is calculated on the taxable value of the bare ownership alone. This value depends on the age of the usufructuary (economie.gouv.fr, page dated October 14, 2026).
| Age of the usufructuary | Usufruct | Bare ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Under 51 years old | 60% | 40% |
| Under 61 years old | 50% | 50% |
| Under 71 years old | 40% | 60% |
| Under 81 years old | 30% | 70% |
The usufruct ends upon the death of the usufructuary: the bare owner then becomes the sole owner. Example calculation, with a property worth €500,000 and a 65-year-old parent: the bare ownership is worth 60 %, or €300,000. After the €100,000 allowance, the transfer tax is approximately €38,194 instead of approximately €78,194 for full ownership, a difference of €40,000 (calculation excluding notary fees). See the division of ownership.
3. Life insurance, gift-sharing, business
Life insurance: a separate inheritance tool
Capital transferred through life insurance is not subject to the gift tax scale. For premiums paid before age 70, each beneficiary benefits from a tax-free allowance of €152,500, then the taxable portion is levied at 20% up to €700,000 and at 31.25% above that; for premiums paid after age 70, the allowance is €30,500 for all beneficiaries combined, and the proceeds are not taxed. See life insurance after age 70.
The gift-partition: fixing the distribution between children
A gift-partition allows you to plan your inheritance by distributing your assets among your children during your lifetime. It requires a notary (economie.gouv.fr, page dated April 1, 2026). See principles and effects.
The Dutreil pact: transferring a business
The Dutreil agreement exempts gift tax on up to 75% of the value of the transferred shares, subject to a collective holding commitment of at least two years and an individual holding commitment. Since the 2026 Finance Law (Law No. 2026-103 of February 19, 2026), this individual commitment has been extended from four to six years for transfers occurring on or after February 21, 2026, and certain so-called "luxury" assets that the company does not exclusively use for operational activities are no longer exempt. A source that still mentions four years for a recent transfer is outdated. The gift of company shares must be made by notarial deed; otherwise, it is void. See the exemption of 75 %.
For the technician. Family gift: Article 790 G of the General Tax Code. Dutreil Pact: Articles 787 B and 787 C of the CGI; BOFiP BOI-ENR-DMTG-10-20-40-20 (version of August 10, 2026), which indicates that the law "extends the duration of the individual commitment to retain assets from four to six years" for transfers from February 21, 2026.
4. Who does what: the advisor, the notary, the administration
| Who | What he does |
|---|---|
| The CGP | Inventory of assets, calculation of rights in euros, selection and order of tools, 15-year calendar, coordination |
| The notary | Drafts the documents that require it (donation of real estate, donation-partition, donation of company shares, donation between spouses); a cash donation, however, does not require a notarial deed. |
| The tax authorities | Receives the declaration of the cash donation online within one month |
The wealth management advisor (CGP) does not draft the deed and does not replace the notary: they provide the figures and the order of operations, while the notary formalizes them legally. An advisor who claims to draft your gift is exceeding their role.
5. How to choose a wealth management advisor in Lyon to transfer
- Ask for its ORIAS number and verify it on the official register.
- Ask about his status in the regulatory sense and where his remuneration comes from, in euros.
- Demand the engagement letter, which the financial investment advisor must provide before giving any advice.
- Request a detailed calculation of the amount each child can receive tax-free, along with the date of each donation.
- Ask how he works with your notary, and who the first point of contact is.
At Balmont Conseil: what we do
Balmont Conseil is a simplified joint-stock company (SASU) established in January 2013: we have been supporting families and business leaders for almost 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, with no capital ties to any bank or insurer, and with a network of international notaries, lawyers, and accountants. X-ray of your contracts The initial consultation is free; the assessment is at a fixed price; a customized assignment costs €500 including VAT per hour; annual follow-up, which can be done remotely, is free. We receive commissions on contracts signed.
Our position
Giving early allows you to use the tax allowances multiple times. The 15-year period is the real advantage: a couple aged 62 and 64 has time to use them twice. An advisor who doesn't tell you the date of the next possible donation hasn't done their job properly.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I give my child without paying taxes?
€100,000 per parent and per child, over a period of 15 years, plus €31,865 in family cash gifts every 15 years if you are under 80 years old and the child is an adult.
Do you need a notary to give money to your children?
Not for a cash gift, which is declared online within the following month. A notary is required for a donation of real estate, a donation between spouses, a shared donation, and a donation of company shares.
What does the 2026 finance law change for the Dutreil pact?
The individual commitment to preserve the assets increases from four to six years for transfers from February 21, 2026, and luxury goods are excluded from the 75 % exemption.
Do you want to know how much each of your children can receive? Send us the composition of your assets: the first exchange is free, in Lyon or via videoconference.
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 — Gift tax based on kinship (verified on May 13, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — Inheritance tax: reminder regarding gifts made less than 15 years ago (verified on February 9, 2026)
- Service-Public.fr — Donation of a sum of money (verified on January 1, 2026)
- impots.gouv.fr — Tax-exempt donations (article 790 G of the French General Tax Code)
- economie.gouv.fr — How to make a donation? (April 1, 2026)
- economie.gouv.fr — All you need to know about the division of property rights (October 14, 2026)
- economie.gouv.fr — What are the tax implications of life insurance? (September 17, 2026)
- impots.gouv.fr — I am the beneficiary of a life insurance policy (DGFiP, January 2021)
- Public Service for Entrepreneurship — Donation of shares in SARL or EURL companies (verified on September 9, 2026)
- BOFiP — Dutreil: luxury goods and individual commitment extended to six years (law no. 2026-103 of February 19, 2026, art. 8)
- BOFiP — BOI-ENR-DMTG-10-20-40-20 (version of August 10, 2026)
- ORIAS — Official register of intermediaries in insurance, banking and finance
- AMF — Guide «Financial Investment Advisors (FIAs)»
