France’s draft 2027 budget includes a proposed one-off 17% levy on forgotten savings held by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), including dormant bank accounts, Livret A savings and unclaimed life insurance policies. Presented to the cabinet on October 1, 2026, the measure is expected to bring in around €1.4 billion, according to reports citing BFM Business. The sum would come from assets already transferred to the CDC because their owners could not be located—not from every French saver’s active account.
The proposal lands amid pressure on French public finances and wider debate over the government budget plan. Under rules established by the 2014 Eckert law, financial institutions identify inactive accounts and unclaimed insurance contracts, then transfer eligible funds to the CDC after a set period. The state ordinarily receives assets remaining unclaimed after 30 years in total; the proposed levy would bring part of that future recovery forward. Officials say owners and heirs would still be entitled to the full amount, including interest, if they make a valid claim. For anyone who may have lost track of an account, the practical first step is simple: search the free public Ciclade service.
In brief: France’s 2027 budget proposal would claim 17% of certain unclaimed assets held by the CDC, aiming to raise €1.4 billion. The government says rightful owners and heirs could still recover the full balance. People can check for forgotten funds through Ciclade, while the plan also raises fresh questions about France’s savings policy and the state of public finances.
France 2027 budget: why the government wants 17% of forgotten savings
The proposed charge would apply to a pool of unclaimed assets estimated at roughly €8.2 billion, based on the government’s projected €1.4 billion revenue and the 17% rate. That pool includes dormant accounts and certain matured insurance contracts whose owners or beneficiaries have not come forward.
These are not ordinary, active Livret A savings accounts. The proposal concerns money already transferred to the CDC after a prolonged period without contact, so it would not automatically deduct 17% from deposits people currently manage through their bank or insurer.
How dormant accounts reach the Caisse des Dépôts
The Eckert law requires banks and insurers to identify inactive accounts and unclaimed contracts and to make efforts to check whether their customers are alive. For bank accounts, inactivity is generally linked to a year without transactions or contact from the holder, but the transfer to the CDC comes only after a longer statutory period—typically 10 years.
Once funds reach the CDC, owners and heirs can still search for them. If no claim is made within the full 30-year period, the money is ultimately transferred to the state. The proposed levy would therefore accelerate part of the public recovery rather than create a new deduction on everyday savings.
Can savers and heirs still recover the full amount?
The government says the measure would not remove the rights of account holders or their beneficiaries. If a person or heir makes a successful claim, the state would return the amount taken to the CDC so it could repay the rightful claimant, including applicable interest.
In practical terms, this makes the levy resemble an advance to the state while the legal claim period remains open. The guarantee matters, but it also means claimants should keep documentation and follow the official process rather than assume that an old account has disappeared.
How to search for forgotten savings on Ciclade
The public Ciclade website lets individuals search for money transferred to the CDC at no cost. A search can be made using your own name, the name of a deceased relative or, where relevant, a company name.
For example, someone settling a parent’s estate might find an old savings account or insurance contract by searching the deceased person’s details. A result does not guarantee immediate payment: the claimant may need to provide identity and inheritance documents, but the search is a useful first step in asset recovery.
What the levy says about French public finances and savings policy
The plan comes as France seeks additional revenue and works to contain its deficit. Figures cited in the source material put public debt at around 119% of GDP, while government borrowing costs rose during 2026. The levy is one of several budget ideas under discussion, and its political impact may extend beyond the amount it raises.
For some households, the announcement could reinforce concerns about the security and purchasing power of traditional savings. The Livret A rate was raised to 1.7% on August 1, 2026, while annual inflation was estimated at 3% in September by INSEE. Those figures suggest that, over that period, cash held at the stated rate could lose purchasing power in real terms; they do not mean that every saver’s balance is being taxed under this proposal.
Why the Livret A debate is drawing attention to Bitcoin
Net withdrawals from Livret A exceeded deposits in 2025, with reported net outflows of €2.12 billion, although the total held in the popular savings product remained close to €450 billion. Separately, a proposal by the Cour des comptes to tax some interest earned above the Livret A ceiling has added to discussion about how France should treat household savings.
Against that backdrop, some people are exploring Bitcoin and other digital assets as a different way to diversify. Crypto is not a guaranteed substitute for a regulated savings account: prices can swing sharply, and investors can lose some or all of their capital. For beginners, understanding custody, volatility and personal risk tolerance is essential before making any decision; the budget debate is a reason to learn, not a reason to rush.
