«Alexis, I have property in Beirut and family in France. Since the crisis, no one has given me a clear answer. I would at least like to know what the law says.»
Lebanon has 19,682 French citizens registered with the consular register as of December 31, 2025, a decrease of -3.29 % over one year. It is one of only two destinations in our panel whose numbers are decreasing significantly, along with Monaco — but for diametrically opposed reasons.
The Lebanese financial context has been a major constraint since 2019: access to locally deposited assets remains limited, and this reality overrides any considerations of optimization. We state this upfront because it is what shapes the cases we are reviewing.
That said, the Franco-Lebanese legal framework exists and is more protective than one might think: the convention of July 24, 1962 covers both income tax and inheritance tax. At the house of Balmont Conseil, We start from this text, and for the rest we reason outside the local banking system.
1. Why seek expertise in wealth management In Lebanon?
Three realities, in the order in which they impose themselves.
- The liquidity constraint. Assets held in Lebanon cannot be considered as readily available in a wealth management strategy. Any serious planning treats them as a debt with an uncertain outcome and is based on the assets actually available.
- The 1962 inheritance agreement. It exists, it is in force, and it contains a clear connecting factor for intangible assets. This is a rare point of reference for a destination outside Europe.
- Lebanese real estate. It often represents the core of local heritage, and the only asset whose value does not depend on the banking system. Its transfer is governed by local law and agreement.
- French heritage preserved. For many of our Franco-Lebanese clients, this has become the foundation of the case. It is managed and transferred according to French rules, which must be thoroughly understood.
2. The France ↔ Lebanon framework in five verified points
Here is the applicable framework, verified in the text of the convention itself and in official sources as of September 15, 2026.
| French registered in the register | 19,682 as of December 31, 2025 (−3.29 % over one year). |
| Income Convention | Yes — convention of July 24, 1962 (Official Journal of January 8, 1964), which, according to its very title, concerns income taxes And inheritance taxes. |
| Convention on Successions | Yes — The same convention of July 24, 1962, includes a chapter devoted to inheritance taxes. The connecting factor is that intangible assets to which the special articles do not apply are subject to inheritance tax only in the State of which the deceased was resident. |
| Exit tax — deferral of payment | Automatic payment deferral. Lebanon has an information exchange clause and an assistance clause for the recovery of income tax with France. |
| CSG and CRDS on capital income | 17.2 %. The exemption from CSG and CRDS applies to those affiliated with a social security scheme in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Furthermore, there is no bilateral social security agreement between France and Lebanon. |
The rule for the allocation of intangible assets is the strong point of this convention. It assigns taxation to the deceased's state of residence, thus avoiding fragmentation and double taxation on debts, securities, and equity interests. For an estate consisting primarily of financial assets, this rule is crucial.
It does not exempt you from looking at article 750 ter of the general tax code. Its third provision makes all assets received by an heir domiciled in France for at least six of the last ten years taxable in France. The convention then allocates and corrects this tax burden; it does not override domestic law.
What we don't display. The exact state of Lebanese tax and banking law, as well as the actual procedures for accessing locally deposited assets, are not included in this table: we have not verified them in a current primary source, and the subject is constantly evolving. These matters should be addressed with qualified legal counsel in Lebanon.
3. Our services: 360° support for expatriates and investors
Three projects, adapted to the real context.
Separation of marketable assets and blocked assets
The first thing we do is divide your assets in two: what is actually available, and what is not. This distinction governs everything else—the ability to finance, to give, to reorganize.
We do not depreciate blocked assets, nor do we consider them acquired. They are recorded for what they are: a receivable with an unknown outcome and timeline. This is the only honest way to present them.
- Separate inventory of available assets and blocked receivables.
- Strategy built solely on available assets.
- Documented tracking of receivables, for the day when they are settled.
Transmission under the 1962 Convention
We apply the convention article by article: buildings, business assets, tangible personal property, then the rule of attaching intangible assets to the State of residence of the deceased.
We cross-reference this with Article 750 ter of the French General Tax Code, based on each heir's residence, and calculate the net tax liability. For a family split between Beirut and France, this calculation often reveals surprises in both directions.
Reconstruction of a heritage base outside the local system
For many of our Franco-Lebanese clients, the challenge is no longer to optimize but to rebuild a stable foundation, beyond the reach of local uncertainties. Luxembourg life insurance contract occupies a special place here: its prudential framework, based on asset segregation and subscriber privilege, was specifically designed for this type of concern.
We also monitor your French-source income and assets: minimum rate for non-residents under Article 197 A of the French General Tax Code, option for the average rate when it is more favorable, real estate wealth tax.
4. Methodology: our way of working
We work in four stages, and you know where you are at each stage.
- The initial assessment. We assess your actual situation: composition of assets, project timeline, situation of each member of the household, and tax domicile of your heirs — because it is theirs that dictates, not yours.
- The applicable reference framework. We establish, source by source and with its date, the framework that concerns you. What we do not know, we write "to be confirmed" — never anything else.
- The arbitrations. We present you with the numerical options, along with their respective consequences, and you decide. Heritage engineering comes after the decision, not before.
- The follow-up. An annual review, offered free of charge, which verifies that the framework has not changed — the conventions are modified, the attractiveness schemes are eliminated, the thresholds change.
5. What the firm offers you
This is what specifically distinguishes our intervention.
- Sources, not claims. Each item in your file has its reference number and date. You can check. This is the only way to work on a subject where most of the information available online is outdated.
- A single point of contact in France. We coordinate with your local advisors, we do not replace them: the internal tax regulations of the host country are handled by a qualified professional on site. Our role is to maintain overall consistency and to defend the French side of the case.
- Fees that are easy to understand. Firm fees: €500 including VAT per hour. Annual follow-up is included. No hidden kickbacks, no performance-based billing.
Frequently Asked Questions in Lebanon
Is there an inheritance treaty between France and Lebanon?
Yes. The convention of July 24, 1962, as its title indicates, concerns income taxes. And on inheritance taxes. It includes a chapter dedicated to these taxes.
This is a more favorable situation than that of the majority of our destinations outside Europe, where no convention governs transmissions.
How are my financial assets treated upon my death?
The convention stipulates that intangible assets to which its special articles do not apply are subject to inheritance tax only in the state where the deceased was resident. This rule prevents fragmentation and double taxation.
It does not prejudge the application of article 750 ter of the general tax code according to the domicile of your heirs: it is the combination of the two that must be calculated.
What to do with assets frozen in a Lebanese bank?
We treat them as a claim with an uncertain outcome: recorded in your assets, documented, monitored, but excluded from any strategy that would assume their availability.
We cannot promise you a recovery solution, and we urge you to exercise extreme caution with those who do. Our role is to build what can be built upon the assets that are actually available.
Can I hold a European life insurance policy from Lebanon?
The issue has a tax aspect and a regulatory aspect, both of which fall under Lebanese law and should be verified with an authorized advisor on site.
On the French and Luxembourg sides, a contract underwritten under the freedom to provide services falls within a European prudential framework independent of the Lebanese banking system. It is this independence that motivates the interest of our Franco-Lebanese clients in this type of product.
Will I pay CSG on my French income?
Yes, at the full rate of 17.2% (%) on your French-source property income and capital gains. The exemption applies to members of a scheme in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, there is no bilateral social security agreement between France and Lebanon, which also has consequences for the coordination of your pension rights.
In summary
Lebanon presents a unique configuration: an old but real conventional framework, covering income and inheritances, and a financial context that makes it impossible to reason as elsewhere.
Our belief is that the two must be treated separately — rigorously applying the law where it applies, and building the rest on assets whose availability is not in question.
Firm's fees: €500 including VAT per hour. Annual follow-up is offered.
Let's review your situation
A thirty-minute discussion is enough to separate what can be mobilized from what cannot, and to assess your estate planning strategy. You can also start with a Free X-ray of your contracts.
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