Livret A 2026: 1.7% Rate, EUR 22,950 Limit, Expat Guide

1. What is the Livret A?

The Livret A is a state-regulated savings account in France.

The mechanics are simple: you deposit money, you earn 1.7% interest per year, and you pay no income tax or social contributions on the interest (Service-Public F2365).

Deposit guarantee: the FGDR guarantee covers up to EUR 100,000 per client and per institution
Free operations: Service-Public F2365 states that operations are free of charge
Tax exempt: no income tax, no social contributions
Regulated rate: set by ministerial order for fixed periods

2. Current Rate

Current rate: 1.7% since August 1, 2026

The Livret A rate is set at 1.7% net since August 1, 2026, under the ministerial order of July 28, 2026 (Service-Public.gouv.fr fiche F2365). This rate applies from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027.

How the rate is set

The rate is set by ministerial order for fixed periods. The current order covers August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (Service-Public F2365).

Source: Service-Public F2365 (arrêté du 28 juillet 2026), accessed October 7, 2026. Earlier rates are not listed here because we did not confirm them on an official page.

3. How Interest Is Calculated

According to Service-Public F2365, interest is calculated on the 1st and the 16th of each month, and a deposit earns interest only for complete fortnights (quinzaines).

Practical rule for timing deposits

Depositing money? Deposit before the 1st or the 16th. A deposit on January 30 earns interest from February 1; a deposit on February 2 has to wait until February 16.

Worked example at 1.7% (computed, not an offer)

Deposit EUR 10,000 on the 31st of a month: it earns interest from the 1st of the next month. At 1.7%, a full year brings EUR 170 of interest (10,000 x 1.7%). If you had waited until the 2nd, you would lose the 1st-15th quinzaine, about EUR 7.08 (170 divided by 24).

On December 31 of each year, the interest accumulated over the year is added to the capital, and that interest earns interest the following year (Service-Public F2365).

4. Deposit Limits and Rules

EUR 22,950

Individuals

EUR 76,500

Associations

Source: Service-Public F2365.

Key rules

Operations on the account are free of charge (Service-Public F2365).
Holding several Livret A is forbidden (Service-Public F2365).

The balance can exceed the ceiling through capitalized interest: Service-Public F2365 states that interest added to the capital at the end of the year earns interest the following year. If a Livret A at EUR 22,950 earns EUR 390.15 at 1.7% (22,950 x 1.7%, computed), the balance becomes EUR 23,340.15 on December 31.

5. Tax Treatment and State Guarantee

Complete tax exemption

Service-Public F2365 states that Livret A interest is exempt from income tax and social contributions (prélèvements sociaux). The 1.7% rate is therefore not reduced by those levies.

Deposit guarantee

The Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution (FGDR) states that its guarantee covers up to EUR 100,000 per client and per banking institution (garantiedesdepots.fr, accessed October 7, 2026). Check the FGDR site for how it applies to your accounts.

6. Livret A for Expats and Non-Residents

Service-Public F2365 states that anyone can hold a Livret A, with no condition of age, nationality or tax residence in France.

What this page could not confirm

Which documents a bank asks for, whether it accepts a foreign passport or a non-resident, and whether it serves customers in English are set by each bank. We did not verify them, so this page does not list them. Ask your bank before you apply. Non-residents should also ask a tax adviser how their country of residence treats the interest.

Expat tip: if you are new to France, start by reading our guide on opening a bank account in France. The guide explains how to open a French bank account.

7. How to Open in 5 Steps

Check eligibility

Confirm you do not already hold a Livret A elsewhere. Holding several is forbidden (Service-Public F2365).

Pick a bank

Choose based on service quality, ease of transfers, and whether you need a physical branch. See our guide to opening a bank account in France.

Gather documents

Ask the bank which documents it requires. We did not verify them.

Make initial deposit

Ask the bank how it accepts the first deposit.

Time your future deposits

Deposit before the 1st or 16th of the month, withdraw after these dates, to maximize quinzaine interest.

8. Livret A vs LDDS, LEP, Life Insurance

The Livret A rarely makes sense as your only savings vehicle. Here is how the main regulated savings products compare, according to Service-Public.

Product	Net rate	Limit	Tax	Access
Livret A	1.7%	EUR 22,950	Exempt	No condition of age, nationality or residence
LDDS	1.7%	EUR 12,000	Exempt	French tax domicile
LEP	2.50%	EUR 10,000	Exempt	Income conditions

Sources: Service-Public F2365, F2367, F2368 (accessed October 7, 2026). Rates for August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027: arrêtés of July 28, 2026 (Livret A, LDDS) and July 29, 2026 (LEP), published on Légifrance.

LEP: a complement if you meet the income conditions

The LEP (Livret d'Epargne Populaire) has a EUR 10,000 ceiling and is reserved for households whose reference tax income stays below thresholds published on Service-Public F2367, which also cites the arrêté of July 29, 2026 on LEP interest rates. That arrêté sets the LEP rate at 2.50% from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. If you are eligible, it is worth comparing with the Livret A.

LDDS: the natural Livret A complement

The LDDS (Livret de Développement Durable et Solidaire) pays the same 1.7% as the Livret A, with a EUR 12,000 ceiling (Service-Public F2368, verified August 1, 2026). Together with the Livret A, the two ceilings add up to EUR 34,950 (22,950 + 12,000). The LDDS requires a tax domicile in France.

Beyond the regulated savings: life insurance

Once your regulated ceilings are reached, other savings products exist. This page does not compare them because we did not confirm current figures. Ask your bank or a qualified adviser.

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Depositing on the 2nd instead of the 30th of the previous month.
You lose one quinzaine of interest, about EUR 7 on EUR 10,000 at the current 1.7% rate (computed).
Opening a second Livret A without closing the first.
Holding several Livret A is forbidden (Service-Public F2365).
Confusing the limit with the balance.
The EUR 22,950 ceiling applies to deposits. Interest added to the capital at year end can take the balance above it (Service-Public F2365).

10. When the Rate Changes

The current 1.7% rate applies from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (Service-Public F2365). The rate for the following period is set by ministerial order, so check Service-Public F2365 for the current figure.

11. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Livret A interest rate in 2026?▼

The Livret A pays 1.7% net since August 1, 2026, under the arrêté of July 28, 2026, for the period August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (source: Service-Public F2365, page marked verified on August 1, 2026). A new order replaces the previous one, so check F2365 for the figure in force.

What is the Livret A deposit limit in 2026?▼

The limit is EUR 22,950 for individuals and EUR 76,500 for associations, per Service-Public F2365. Interest added to the capital at the end of the year earns interest the following year, even where it takes the balance above the ceiling.

Is the Livret A really tax-free in France?▼

Yes. Service-Public F2365 states that the interest is exempt from income tax and social contributions (prélèvements sociaux).

Can foreigners or expats open a Livret A?▼

Service-Public F2365 states that anyone can hold a Livret A, with no condition of age, nationality or tax residence in France. Which documents a bank asks for, and whether a given bank opens one for a non-resident, is set by each bank and was not verified here, so ask your bank before you apply.

Can I hold multiple Livret A accounts?▼

No. Service-Public F2365 states that it is forbidden to hold several Livret A.

What is the difference between Livret A, LDDS, and LEP?▼

The three products are exempt from income tax and social contributions. The Livret A has a EUR 22,950 ceiling at 1.7% and no condition of nationality or tax residence. The LDDS pays 1.7% with a EUR 12,000 ceiling and requires a tax domicile in France (Service-Public F2368, verified August 1, 2026). The LEP has a EUR 10,000 ceiling and income conditions, and pays 2.50% from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 (arrêté of July 29, 2026).

What happens when the Livret A limit is reached?▼

The ceiling applies to deposits. Interest added to the capital on December 31 earns interest the following year even where it takes the balance above the ceiling (Service-Public F2365). To save more, you can also use an LDDS, which has its own EUR 12,000 ceiling.

How does the quinzaine interest calculation work?▼

According to Service-Public F2365, interest is calculated on the 1st and the 16th of each month, and a deposit earns interest only for complete fortnights. On December 31 of each year, the interest accumulated over the year is added to the capital.

Is my Livret A deposit protected if my bank fails?▼

The Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution (FGDR) states that its guarantee covers up to EUR 100,000 per client and per banking institution (garantiedesdepots.fr). Check the FGDR site for how it applies to your accounts.

Livret A 2026: 1.7% Rate and EUR 22,950 Limit

Key Takeaways

Key Figures for Livret A in 2026