PEA-Jeunes: the PEA of an adult child attached to the tax household, limit of €20,000

An adult child who is still a dependent on their parents' tax return can open a PEA (Equity Savings Plan), but their cash contributions are limited to €20,000 for as long as they remain a dependent. When the dependent status ends, the plan becomes a standard PEA and the contribution limit automatically increases to €150,000. The PEA-PME-ETI (Equity Savings Plan for SMEs and Mid-Sized Companies) remains unavailable to dependent adults.

Impots.gouv.fr uses the term "PEA-Jeunes" and economie.gouv.fr refers to PEA jeunes. Service-public.gouv.fr and the BOFiP refer to an adult attached to the tax household.

This page does not cover: the consequences of exceeding the €20,000 limit, the PEA insurance of a dependent adult, the registration of gains in the income tax return, a new attachment after the end of an attachment, nor the situation of a holder who leaves France.

Key figures

Sources: service-public.gouv.fr (F2385, verified on 22/05/2026), BOFiP BOI-RPPM-RCM-40-50-20-10 and -10 (versions of 30/07/2024).

A PEA is a share savings plan: the sums invested can decrease, with a risk of capital loss.

Who can open this PEA?

Three conditions are found in the texts.

1. To be of legal age. Service-public states: "You must be of legal age to open a PEA." None of the sources consulted provide for a PEA for a minor.
2. Having one's tax residence in France. The BOFiP indicates that "natural persons of legal age whose tax residence is located in France" can open a PEA.
3. To be included in the tax household of a taxpayer, in order to benefit from the €20,000 scheme. The BOFiP targets "any adult individual attached to the tax household of a taxpayer".

A young adult is only entitled to one PEA. Payments must be made in cash (BOFiP).

Attachment: what the texts say

The €20,000 PEA (equity savings plan) is dependent on who is attached to it. Therefore, you need to know who can be attached.

According to the BOFiP BOI-IR-LIQ-10-10-10-20 (version in effect since May 2, 2014), the option to be claimed as a dependent is reserved for children under 21 years of age, or under 25 if they can provide proof of continuing their studies. The Service-public website states that this system applies in particular to "young adults as long as they are continuing their studies (at the latest until age 25)" and to disabled adults, without any age limit. Regarding the age limit of 25, the two texts are not worded the same way: the BOFiP states "under 25 years of age," while the Service-public website states "at the latest until age 25." Paragraph 10 of the BOFiP does not specify the date on which age is assessed. Check your child's date of birth before making a decision.

Other points from the BOFiP:

• the child must request to be attached, and the parent must accept the request (§ 100); ;
• the option is annual, it must be renewed every year, and it is normally irrevocable (§ 140); ;
• Infirm children (§ 480: those who, due to their disability, are unable to provide for their own needs) have the status of dependent child, regardless of their age (§ 500, repeated in § 550).

For the conditions of attachment, also reread the fact sheets on service-public and impots.gouv.fr dedicated to the attachment of an adult child before deciding.

The €20,000 limit: how it works

The limit applies to cash contributions, not the plan's value. The BOFiP (Official Bulletin of Public Finances) sets the contribution limit at €150,000 from the plan's opening date, and at €20,000 for an adult dependent on a taxpayer's home tax return. Service-public.fr clarifies that cash contributions to this PEA (Equity Savings Plan) cannot exceed €20,000 for as long as the dependent remains on the taxpayer's home tax return.

At the end of the attachment. The plan is converted into a standard PEA (equity savings plan), and contributions can be made up to the €150,000 limit (service-public.fr). The BOFiP (French tax authority) states that the contribution limit is then "automatically increased to €150,000." To determine how much you can still contribute at that point, review these two texts along with the amount already paid in: the BOFiP sets the €150,000 limit "from the date the plan is opened" (§ 10).

Parents' ceilings. The BOFiP (§ 20) indicates that payments made by an adult to their own PEA are not taken into account for the limits of the taxpayer to whom they are attached.

Information from the establishment. The institution that manages the PEA must inform its holder, at the opening of the plan, of the risk of not respecting the payment ceiling of €20,000 (BOFiP, § 140).

The overtaking. This page does not explain what happens if you make a payment exceeding €20,000. The BOFiP (French Official Tax Bulletin) addresses this situation, with a condition related to payments made within the tax year in question, and a separate tax penalty also exists. Have your situation reviewed before making any payment that approaches the limit.

Taxation: the rules of the PEA

The pages consulted do not provide for a specific tax regime for the PEA (Equity Savings Plan) of the dependent adult. The rules of the PEA, as presented on the official pages, are as follows.

• After 5 years. The BOFiP (Official Bulletin of Public Finances) reminds taxpayers that income tax exemption requires no withdrawals for 5 years. Impots.gouv.fr (the French tax authority's website) indicates that the gains are no longer subject to income tax and states: "you remain liable for 18.6% of social security contributions.".
• Before age 5. A withdrawal generally results in the closure of the plan (BOFiP). Impots.gouv.fr indicates a 12.8% income tax liability on the gain, plus social security contributions at the rate in effect on the date of withdrawal. Exceptions exist, each subject to certain conditions: service-public.fr (fact sheet F2385) and the BOFiP (BOI-RPPM-RCM-40-50-40) cite, in particular, dismissal, disability, early retirement, and starting or taking over a business. The tax treatment of the gain depends on the specific circumstances: consult these two sources before making any withdrawal.

Regarding the 18.6% % rate: impots.gouv.fr (page updated on 08/04/2026) states that, as of January 1, 2026, the social security contribution rate will be 18.6% %, and that, for PEAs opened since January 1, 2018, the applicable rate is the one in effect on the date of withdrawal. For subsequent withdrawals, verify the rate with impots.gouv.fr at the time of withdrawal.

Not to be confused with the PEAC

The Climate Future Savings Plan (PEAC) is another plan, reserved for people under 21 years of age residing in France. It can be opened for a minor child by one of their parents. Its contribution limit is €22,950 (BOFiP BOI-RPPM-RCM-40-70, service-public F38201). It is described on a separate page.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Camille is 19 years old. She is a student and still claimed as a dependent on her parents' tax return. She opens a PEA (equity savings plan) in 2026 and deposits €20,000 in cash, the maximum allowed under the plan. Assuming that upon withdrawal, the plan's value is €26,000, representing a gain of €6,000, this assumption is not a prediction: the capital invested in stocks could also decrease, and a capital loss is possible.

Issue. How much does he have left upon exit, depending on the withdrawal date?

Strategy. The firm reviews with the family the duration of the affiliation, the amount paid and the planned date of withdrawals.

Assumptions of the calculation. A single payment of €20,000 and a single total withdrawal; PEA opened in 2026, therefore after 2018; no exception for early withdrawal; income tax at the rate of 12.8 % from the impots.gouv.fr table, without option for the scale; social security contributions at the rate of 18.6 %, assumed unchanged on the date of withdrawal (the applicable rate is that in force on that day); no fees.

Result. Gain of €6,000:

The €768 difference represents income tax alone (12.8 % × €6,000). These figures describe tax rules. They say nothing about the return. The profile is fictitious, the €6,000 gain is an assumption, and the calculation ignores establishment costs and the family's tax situation.

What changes depending on your situation

• Your child's age and situation: studies, disability.
• The annual renewal of the affiliation.
• The amount already paid into the plan, in view of the limit of €20,000.
• The date of opening of the plan and that of the planned withdrawals, with regard to the 5-year threshold.
• The moment when the attachment ends.
• Your own PEA and its limits, which remain separate from those of your child.

This page returned no results for your family. The rule depends on your situation.