Urbanism taxation: the tax basis of the Local Equipment Tax (Taxe locale d’équipement) and net increase in floor area

In a decision dated 10 May 2017, the French Supreme Court ruled that in case of construction operations, reconstruction or building expansion, the Local Equipment Tax (TLE now replaced with the “taxe d’aménagement”) should only be based on the increase of the net floor area.

This decision marks a reversal compared to a previous decision of the Supreme Court in which it has been ruled that every creation of surface was subjected to the TLE without any compensation between created surfaces and surfaces removed (CE 10 February 2006, n°277754, Equipment Minister vs. Mr. Claude X).

This decision, which is in line with the rules applicable to the office premises development tax (“taxe pour création de bureaux”) leads to harmonizing the rules applicable in urbanism taxation. To this extent, the transposition of this decision to the new “taxe d’aménagement” shouldn’t be contested by the tax authorities although an explicit confirmation is necessary to fully secure the regime applicable as for now.

Photo de Sarvi Keyhani
Sarvi Keyhani

Sarvi Keyhani, Partner, is specialized in real estate tax. She assists international investors into complex real estate transactions. She particularly advises many international real estate funds about the structuring of […]

Soufiane Jemmar

Soufiane Jemmar, International Tax Director at Deloitte Société d’Avocats specializes in real estate tax. He advises French and international private equity funds within the framework of their inbound and outbound […]