President of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS): remuneration, social security contributions, and the rationale behind the system

According to service-public.fr, the president of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) has the status of an employee for social security purposes and falls under the general social security system. Their contributions are those of a managerial employee, with one exception: unemployment insurance. The same website specifies that a shareholder remunerated exclusively by dividends does not contribute and therefore does not benefit from any social protection. This is the key point to remember before deciding how to pay oneself.

This page explains the logic of the tax regime: status, forms of remuneration, reporting, and deductibility. It does not provide any contribution rates: the official pages consulted do not contain any for the president of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS). It does not compare, with supporting figures, a salary and dividends. It does not address the manager of a limited liability company (SARL) or contribution exemptions.

Status: Assimilated employee

According to service-public.fr (page verified on 21/02/2026), the president of a SAS (simplified joint-stock company) is considered an employee for social security purposes. They are affiliated with the general social security system. They are entitled to health and maternity insurance, family allowances, workers' compensation insurance, a basic pension, a supplementary pension, and personal risk insurance.

This list indicates which branches are covered. It does not provide information on the level of services, which this page does not address.

Contributions: those of an executive, excluding unemployment benefits

According to the same page on service-public.fr, under the heading about company directors, the president of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) pays the same social security contributions as a salaried executive, except for unemployment insurance. They are not entitled to unemployment insurance and do not pay the corresponding contribution. Supplementary unemployment insurance can be purchased in addition.

Under the heading dedicated to employees, the page lists general employee contributions (old-age insurance, CSG, CRDS, supplementary pension, unemployment). This list applies to employees. For the president, the page makes an exception for unemployment insurance.

What salaries, what treatment

According to the page "Company Director's Income" (verified on 26/04/2024), the director of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) has four possible sources of income. Their tax treatment differs.

A non-shareholder director can waive remuneration for their position. They do not receive dividends, as they do not hold shares.

Remuneration for the mandate

It is taxed as salary and wages and subject to social security contributions. For the company, it is a deductible expense "provided it corresponds to actual work performed and is not excessive." The French tax authority's official bulletin (BOI-IS-BASE-30-20, version in force since 20/12/2019) sets the same two conditions for the deduction of directors' remuneration: actual work performed, and remuneration that is not excessive in relation to the service rendered. This text does not specifically target simplified joint-stock companies (SAS).

The employment contract

Holding both an employment contract and a mandate requires technical and actual work, distinct from the mandate, and a subordinate relationship. According to service-public.fr, the remuneration from the employment contract is taxable as wages and salaries and subject to social security contributions. It is deductible from the company's profits, provided the same conditions of actual work and reasonable remuneration apply.

Dividends

Dividends are not subject to social security contributions: this is indicated on the service-public.fr page dedicated to directors' income. According to the service-public.fr page dedicated to the SASU (verified on 06/02/2026), they are taxed at a flat rate of 31.4%, comprising 12.8% income tax and 18.6% social security contributions. An option to use the progressive tax scale is available. The applicable rate depends on the year of payment: verify this with the source before any calculations. Further details are available on a dedicated page.

The warning from service-public.fr about dividends alone

The page dedicated to the SASU indicates that a partner remunerated exclusively by dividends does not contribute and therefore does not benefit from any social protection.

How contributions are collected and declared

This section reproduces the passage from service-public.fr concerning employees of a SAS (simplified joint-stock company). The page does not explicitly apply this to the president's contributions: for your specific case, please check with the Urssaf (French social security agency).

For employees, the employer deducts social security contributions from their pay each month. The company then declares and pays these contributions via the nominative social declaration (DSN). Payment deadlines depend on the number of employees.

The page specifies that contributions are calculated on salaries, allowances, supplementary social benefits, replacement income, extra-legal family benefits, works council benefits, and benefits in kind. This is the list from service-public.fr for employees of the SAS.

Numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Mathilde is the president of a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) of which she is the sole shareholder (SASU). Her profit before corporate income tax is €60,000. We assume that the conditions for the reduced tax rate are met: turnover excluding VAT of no more than €10,000,000, fully paid-up share capital, and at least 75% of the share capital held by individuals. We also assume that all of the profit after tax is distributable. She does not pay herself any remuneration for her position. For simplicity, she distributes all of the profit after tax as dividends, subject to the flat-rate withholding tax of 31.4% (rate indicated on the SASU page of service-public.fr, verified on 06/02/2026).

Issue. What remains for him, and what does this path cover?

Strategy. Apply corporate tax (15% of % up to €42,500, 25% of % above that), then the flat tax of 31.4% of % on the dividend. Compare the result with the warning from service-public.fr regarding dividends alone.

Result.

The levies (corporate income tax and flat-rate withholding tax) amount to €26,214.50, or 43.69% of the pre-tax profit. No social security contributions are paid: according to service-public.fr, a partner remunerated exclusively in dividends, like Mathilde, does not contribute and therefore does not benefit from any social protection.

This calculation is not a comparison with executive compensation: the contributions of an executive are not shown on the pages read, so the page cannot calculate them. The profile is fictitious. The assumptions (profit, distributable amounts, total distribution, conditions for the reduced rate, flat tax rate) are those of the profile. The figures illustrate the calculation. They do not predict your situation.

What changes depending on your situation

• Your position as a partner majority, minority, equal, or non-partner status. It determines access to dividends and the employment contract.
• The reality of your work : the deduction of remuneration assumes actual work and non-excessive remuneration.
• Conditions for the reduced corporate tax rate : turnover, release of capital, ownership by natural persons.
• The company's workforce : it sets, for employees, the date for declaring and paying contributions.
• Your need for coverage : unemployment (not covered by the scheme, supplementary insurance possible), assurance-vie, retirement.

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