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Intended to bring in 10 million euros a year when it was first introduced, the specific tax on large yachts has never exceeded a few hundred thousand euros in revenue. In 2025, the tax was renewed by the French deputies after a close vote. However, its impact on the French flag and France's role in the maintenance and operation of large yachts is of direct concern to yachting professionals.
A highly symbolic, low-productivity tax
Introduced in autumn 2018 in the wake of the abolition of the ISF, this tax targets pleasure boats over 30 mètres, registered in France. Its amount varies from 30âeuros¯000 to 200âeuros¯000 euros depending on the size of the vessel.
Yet the figures are stark: 288âeuros¯000 euros in 2019, 60âeuros¯000 euros in 2022, 135âeuros¯000 euros in 2023, and 60âeuros¯000 euros again in 2024. The 2024 return represents less than 0.7% of the initial forecast.
Exodus of large units and indirect consequences
According to official data, only 5 large yachts remain registered in France. Most shipowners have opted for domiciliation in other European countries, or even outside the EU, in order to avoid the levy.
The consequence for shipyards, dockside service providers, maintenance and security companies: a drop in indirect business in France. For professionals, the tax has not only missed its budgetary target, it has also weakened the attractiveness of the national flag.
A political debate between tax yield and social message
Defenders of the tax, such as MP Emmanuel Maurel, see its retention as a signal to wealthy taxpayers. In his view, abolishing the tax "amounts to telling the rich that if they don't want a tax, they can just leave".
On the other side of the argument, Charles Sitzenstuhl, Member of Parliament, considers the measure counter-productive: "This tax serves no purpose, is expensive to collect, and drives yachts away.
Despite industry warnings of its industrial consequences, the tax has been renewed. For companies in the sector, the continuation of this ill-calibrated measure reinforces the impression of a symbolic treatment of the superyacht sector, without any consideration of the concrete economic spin-offs.
