Declaring capital gains on securities: form 2074 and boxes 3VG, 3VH

If you have sold securities, you must complete supplementary form 2074, unless your bank or financial institution has fully calculated the capital gain or loss. The conditions for this exemption are detailed below. The totals are reported on income tax return form 2042 C, under the heading "Capital Gains and Miscellaneous Gains." The capital gain for the year is entered on line 3VG, the standard allowance for holding period on line 3SG, and the capital loss for the year on line 3VH.

This page follows the practical guide to income tax 2026 (income 2025). It deals with the sale of securities by an individual. It does not cover: the PEA (equity savings plan), the gift of securities, the deferral of taxation on a contribution, enhanced allowances and the retirement allowance, the situation of non-residents, penalties for late filing, or form numbers.

Do I need to fill out a 2074 form?

The BOFiP (Official Bulletin of Public Finances), in its 2016 version, adds conditions. The exemption requires that the authorized intermediary be able to provide a document indicating capital gains and losses. It applies in the same way if your securities are spread across several intermediaries, provided that all have performed the calculation. According to paragraph 45, it is only valid if the taxpayer has not carried out any specific transactions. The BOFiP cites the closure of a PEA (equity savings plan) less than five years old, a transaction allowing the capital gain to be deferred, a transaction affecting an existing capital gain subject to tax deferral, and disposals falling within the scope of the enhanced allowance. In these cases, the taxpayer must file form 2074. This list is not exhaustive.

The three texts are not worded identically and do not list the same scenarios. For closing a PEA (equity savings plan), the brochure includes it among the transactions for which direct reporting is possible, while the BOFiP (2016 version) lists it among the exceptions: the document does not definitively answer this question and refers to the source. Before deciding against filing form 2074, verify your specific situation in the source.

What the 2074 contains

The BOFiP (French Official Tax Bulletin) describes the information to be reported for a sale of securities: the number of securities sold, the unit sale price, the acquisition price or value (or the weighted average acquisition price), the sale costs, and the acquisition costs. Acquisition costs may be included in the acquisition price if the institution can justify their amount upon request.

Based on the page "Transfers of Securities":

• the sale price may be reduced by the costs incurred during the sale; ;
• The purchase price may be increased by the costs incurred during the purchase.

According to the BOFiP, form 2074 and its annexes are attached to the overall income declaration form no. 2042.

The two supplementary sheets

The boxes of 2042 C

The standard tax allowance applies only to securities acquired or subscribed to before January 1, 2018, with the option to use the tax scale. The brochure (p. 138) refers to shares, company units, or mutual fund units (or fractional ownership rights). It does not apply to the basis for social security contributions, which remain due on the total amount of the capital gain, nor to the calculation of reference taxable income. Details are provided on the page concerning the allowance for holding period.

Rates and options for the pricing schedule

Capital gains are automatically subject to income tax at a flat rate of 12.8% (see IR 2026 brochure and page "Transfers of Securities"). Social security contributions are also levied. Their rate depends on the year the income was received: it should be verified with the official source (service-public.gouv.fr, sheet F2329) before any calculation.

The option for the progressive tax scale is selected by checking box 2OP. It is pre-checked if you opted for it the previous year. The brochure states: "If you do not change anything, you confirm this option." To decline the option, you must uncheck the box online, or check the box located directly below it on the paper tax return.

Capital losses: allocation and carryforward

• A capital loss can be deducted from capital gains of the same nature taxable in the same year.
• First, capital losses for the year are allocated, then carry-forward capital losses, with the oldest ones first.
• An unused net capital loss can be deducted from capital gains realized during the following ten years.
• Capital losses are not deductible from total income.

For the 2025 income tax return, the brochure asks you to indicate the details of the capital losses incurred from 2015 to 2024 and their offset against capital gains, on form 2074 or on form 2074-CMV.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Nathalie, a French tax resident, sold securities in 2025 through two banks. At Bank A, she realized a capital gain of €18,000. At Bank B, she incurred a capital loss of €6,000. She also has a capital loss of €4,000 incurred in 2022, which she did not use. Her securities were acquired from January 1, 2018 onwards: no tax allowance is available. She remains subject to the flat tax rate (PFU), without opting for the progressive tax scale. These amounts are hypothetical scenarios.

Issue. Both banks have calculated their own transactions. Neither knows the other's calculations, nor the capital loss for 2022.

Strategy. She uses form 2074-CMV to subtract the capital loss for the year from the capital gain, then deducts the capital loss for 2022, which falls within the ten-year period. She transfers the totals to form 2042 C, under the heading "Capital gains and miscellaneous income".

Result.

Offsetting the capital loss from 2022 reduces income tax by €512 in this scenario. Social security contributions are added to income tax; they are not calculated here.

This profile is fictitious. The figures illustrate the calculation and do not reflect your individual situation. Investments in stocks and unit-linked funds carry a risk of capital loss: this page deals with declarations, not investment choices.

What changes depending on your situation

• Who calculated the profit? : your establishment, several establishments, or yourself.
• The date of acquisition of your securities : she decides on the abatement and therefore on box 3SG.
• Your previous capital losses : their details are declared, and every year of deferral counts.
• The type of operation : PEA, gift of securities, contribution with deferred taxation, exchange of securities and preferential regimes are subject to other rules, not dealt with here.
• Your residency situation Non-residents are not processed.

The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.