法新政府增税 富人忙转移财产

新组建的法国社会党政府宣布对富人增税后，不少法国富豪开始争相将财产转移至英国和瑞士等“富人友好型”国家。在新的增税计划中，法国收入在100万欧元以上的人群将面临75%的税率，而之前执行的收入7.2万欧元以上41%的税率也将提高至45%。据当地某地产中介数据显示，今年4月到6月期间，他们经手售出的价值170万欧元以上的房产项目超过100个。富人将国内的房产出售后转而到英国、瑞士等国家购买地产或者搜寻投资机会，而他们的房产多被有意投资法国房地产的外国投资者购入。英国首相卡梅伦称，如果法国政府一味到执行高税率，英国会铺好红毯欢迎更多法国富人和企业到英国交税。

Looming tax hikes by France's new socialist government have triggered an exodus of the Gallic super-rich to 'wealth-friendly' nations like Britain and Switzerland.

The latest estate agency figures have shown large numbers of France's most well-heeled families selling up and moving to neighboring countries.

Many are fleeing a proposed new higher tax rate of 75 percent on all earnings over one million euros. (£780,000)

The previous top tax bracket of 41 percent on earnings over 72,000 euros is also set to increase to 45 percent.

Sotheby's Realty, the estate agent arm of the British auction house, said its French offices sold more than 100 properties over 1.7 million euros between April and June this year - a marked increase on the same period in 2011.

Alexander Kraft, head of Sotheby's Realty, France, said: "The result of the presidential election has had a real impact on our sales.

"Now a large number of wealthy French families are leaving the country as a direct result of the proposals of the new government.

"These properties are then bought up by foreign investors looking for a stable real estate market like France to invest in.

"It shows the high-end property market is holding up very well, even in these difficult times."

Gilles Martin, a Swiss tax consultant, reported the same trend. "Since the socialists came to power in France, I have been deluged with inquiries from rich French people who would rather pay their tax in Switzerland," he told Switzerland's 20 Minutes newspaper.

A report earlier this year by London estate agents also showed France's richest people were heading to Britain to escape new higher taxes.

Inquiries from wealthy French for London homes worth more than five million pounds soared by 30 percent in the first three months of this year, UK estate agency statistics showed.

And interest in homes worth between one and five million rose by 11 percent, it was found.

British estate agent Knight Frank said the tax plans had sent French interest in luxury London homes rocketing.

Liam Bailey, Knight Frank's global head of residential research, said: "It is too early to see the impact of the proposed wealth taxes in France in terms of actual purchases in London.

"But there is strong evidence from our web search statistics.

"This evidence from web search activity backs up a noticeable spike in anecdotal comments from our office network, where French applicants have become much more noticeable in recent months."

Prime minister David Cameron angered the French last month when he said he would "roll out the red carpet" to wealthy French citizens and firms who wanted move out and pay their taxes in Britain.

He told the B20 business summit in Mexico in June: "I think it's wrong to have a completely uncompetitive top rate of tax.

"If the French go ahead with a 75 percent top rate of tax we will roll out the red carpet and welcome more French businesses to Britain and they can pay tax in Britain and pay for our health service and schools and everything else."