Zucman tax, ultra-rich and businesses… Gabriel Zucman’s “8h30 franceinfo”

Gabriel Zucman, economist and director of the European Tax Observatory, was the guest of “8h30 franceinfo”, Friday October 31, 2025.

Gabriel Zucman, economist and director of the European Tax Observatory was the guest of “8h30 franceinfo”, Friday October 31, 2025. Taxes debated in the National Assembly, Zucman “light” tax… he answered questions from Camille Vigogne Le Coat and Benjamin Fontaine.

Zucman tax: “We need the ultra-rich to make an effort”

A rejection of a “floor tax” for the ultra-rich by the National Assembly “would be incomprehensible” And “irresponsible”believes Gabriel Zucman while the government’s text aimed at creating a 2% tax on the assets of holding companies is examined by deputies on Friday. The economist proposes, through the tax that bears his name, to create “a “floor tax of 2% on the assets of individuals, who have more than 100 million euros of wealth and no possible escape”.
This proposal, intended to fill France’s budget deficit, has already been rejected by the RN, part of the central bloc and the right. But for Gabriel Zucman, “it would be incomprehensible if MPs rejected this floor tax because that would amount to accepting that billionaires have the right to pay zero”evoking a “democratic anomaly” : “We need the ultra-rich to make an effort, because they are the least taxed.”

A rejection by the Assembly of a “floor tax” for the ultra-rich “would be incomprehensible”

“It would be irresponsible because in the current very degraded situation of public finances, we need the ultra-rich to make an effort. Especially since today they are the ones who are taxed the least,” he adds. The economist claims to be “persuaded” that this idea will eventually prevail, “in a few hours, a few days, a few weeks or a few years”.
However, critical voices are being heard on the management side. Friday on franceinfo, the president of the industrial group Redex, Bruno Grandjean, criticizes Gabriel Zucman for “tax the production tool” and being disconnected from the field. The economist refutes this interpretation: according to him, it is not a question of taxing businesses, but of establishing a minimum of personal taxation for holders of very large fortunes. “It has nothing to do with taxing businesses” he said, specifying that he wanted “tax the wealthiest people” “who pay half as much tax” than the rest of the French, he recalls. Gabriel Zucman is not frightened by the risk of tax exile, overestimated by his detractors, according to him, and which “may” be limited by the legislator.