IR-ESUS is a French government scheme that helps companies with a social purpose raise finance by offering income tax relief to investors who buy new shares in companies holding ESUS approval (“Entreprise Solidaire d’Utilité Sociale”).
Eligible investors who invest in an eligible company may receive income tax relief of 25% on funds invested from 22 October 2026 to 31 December 2027. Funds invested between 1 and 21 October 2026 qualify for 18%. The 25% rate also applies to qualifying payments made between 1 January and 30 September 2026. Under current law, the rate returns to 18% from 1 January 2028 unless it is extended. We will update this article once the rules for 2028 are confirmed.
The maximum investment eligible for tax relief is:
- €50,000 per year for a single, widowed or divorced person.
- €100,000 per year for a married or civil union couple subject to joint taxation.
These limits are shared with IR-PME. If you invest more than these limits, you can claim relief on the excess over the next four years, within the same yearly limits. The overall cap on income tax benefits is €10,000 per year. The portion of the IR-PME/IR-ESUS tax reduction exceeding this overall limit may be carried forward for up to five years, subject to the applicable conditions.
French tax law changes from time to time, so all of this may change.