Before 31 December 2026: gifts, art, wine and family office, the year-end wealth checklist for wealthy clients

1. Gifts: what current French law says

According to the French tax authorities, each parent can give each child up to €100,000 free of gift tax, an allowance renewable every fifteen years. On top of this, family cash gifts are exempt up to €31,865 when the donor is under 80 and the recipient is an adult.

A temporary exemption applies until 31 December 2026: cash gifts used to buy a new home or fund energy renovation work may be exempt up to €100,000 per donor, capped at €300,000 per recipient, subject to conditions. Since 1 January 2026, manual gifts must be declared online on impots.gouv.fr.

A gift is irrevocable. Its amount, form and timing are decided with your notary, taking the whole family situation into account. Our role is to gather documents, schedule appointments and make sure nothing is missed before year-end.

2. The 2027 budget bill: caution

The French 2027 budget is under review in Parliament. Several ideas are being discussed, including the family cash gift ceiling and the cash held by holding companies, but none is final: the text may still change in the chamber, in joint committee or through other procedures. Acting on a measure before the law is promulgated would be unwise. We recommend discussing it with your tax adviser and deciding on the basis of the published text.

3. Art acquisitions: the quality of the file

A year-end purchase, at auction or from a gallery, is prepared like any major acquisition: documented provenance, condition report, export or import certificates checked, insurance from the transfer of ownership, transport and installation by specialists. Our art concierge and art advisory service coordinate independent experts, shippers and insurers. The tax treatment of an artwork is checked with your advisers.

4. Fine wine: provenance and storage

For a cellar, traceability is everything: origin of the bottles, invoices, previous storage conditions, state of labels and fill levels. Then come proper cellar or bonded storage, insurance and inventory. Our wine and gastronomy team supports these steps. We never present wine as an investment.

5. The family office: review the organisation

Year-end is the right moment to review governance: who decides, who signs, who holds access, which providers are involved, how documents are stored and protected. The Knight Frank Wealth Report 2026 refers to around 10,000 family offices professionalising. Our family office support covers day-to-day organisation, adviser coordination and confidentiality.

The checklist before 31 December

1. Notary appointment for any planned gift, with the required documents.
2. Check with your tax adviser whether the temporary exemption ending on 31 December 2026 applies.
3. Online declaration of manual gifts on impots.gouv.fr.
4. Complete file for any art or wine acquisition: provenance, insurance, transport.
5. Inventory and updated insurance for collections.
6. Review of family office governance and access rights.
7. Review of the 2027 budget once the text is promulgated, with your advisers.

Further reading

• The luxury slowdown: what LVMH’s Q3 2026 results change
• 2026 through the eyes of AC PRIVATE - A List concierge
• Corporate year-end gifts 2026

Frequently asked questions

How much can a parent give a child free of French gift tax?

According to the tax authorities, €100,000 per parent and per child, renewable every fifteen years, plus the family cash gift exemption up to €31,865, subject to age conditions. Check your situation with your notary.

Which exemption ends on 31 December 2026?

The temporary exemption on cash gifts used to buy a new home or fund energy renovation, up to €100,000 per donor and €300,000 per recipient, subject to conditions.

Should I anticipate the 2027 budget measures?

Not without professional advice. The text is still being debated and may change until promulgation. Your tax adviser can tell you what to do once the law is published.

How do I secure an art purchase in December?

Insist on documented provenance and a condition report, insure the work from the transfer of ownership and use specialist shippers.

Does AC PRIVATE - A List concierge give tax advice?

No. We coordinate your notaries, lawyers and advisers and take care of the organisation. Write to us via the contact page or at [email protected], reply within 24 hours.