Popular savings passbook (LEP)
Verified 01 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
You have modest incomes and you want to open a savings book ? The popular savings account (LEP) is for you. It is an investment whose attractive interest rate is set by the state. Your savings are safe. You do not have to pay tax on interest but you must meet income requirements to open and hold an LEP. We present you the information to know.
The Popular Savings Account (LEP) is reserved for persons with tax domicile in France and on condition of income.
Tax domicile condition
To open and hold an LEP, you have to be tax domiciled in France.
There is no nationality requirement.
Conditions relating to the tax home
In the same tax home, each Civil partnership or partner may hold an LEP.
The others connected persons to this tax household can not hold an LEP until they have a separate taxation.
An adult (or minor) cannot hold an LEP as long as he is fiscally dependent on his parents. This is the case, for example, of an apprentice or student attached to the tax home of his parents, an adult with a disability if he does not have his own tax return.
Income conditions
To be able to open and hold an LEP, your reference tax income (RFR) shall not exceed certain ceilings.
These ceilings are reviewed annually. They take into account the composition of the family (number of shares) and are different depending on the place of residence.
In metropolitan France
To open an LEP, the bank examines the reference tax income (RFR) for the year N-2 or N-1.
For example, to open an LEP in 2026, depending on the date of the opening request, the bank will check the reference tax income for 2024 (on the 2025 tax return) or the reference tax income for 2025 (on the 2026 tax return). This tax income must not exceed the following limits:
Number of shares of family quotient | RFR ceiling |
|---|---|
1 | €23,028 |
1.25 | €26,103 |
1.5 | €29,177 |
1.75 | €32,252 |
2 | €35,326 |
2.25 | €38,401 |
2.5 | €41,475 |
2.75 | €44,550 |
3 | €47,624 |
3.25 | €50,699 |
3.5 | €53,773 |
3.75 | €56,848 |
4 | €59,922 |
4.25 | €62,997 |
4.5 | €66,071 |
4.75 | €69,146 |
5 | €72,220 |
5.25 | €75,295 |
5.5 | €78,369 |
5.75 | €81,444 |
6 | €84,518 |
For each additional half-share | €6,149 |
For quarter share | €3,075 |
Where the reference tax income of the tax household exceeds these ceilings in a year, the LEP may be retained if the reference tax income of the subsequent year falls below the ceilings.
Overseas
To open an LEP, the bank examines the reference tax income (RFR) for the year N-2 or N-1.
For example, to open an LEP in 2026, depending on the date of the opening request, the bank will check the reference tax income for 2024 (on the 2025 tax return) or the reference tax income for 2025 (on the 2026 tax return). This tax income must not exceed the following limits:
Number of shares of family quotient | Guadeloupe, Martinique, or Réunion | Guyana or Mayotte |
|---|---|---|
1 | €27,251 | €28,489 |
1.25 | €30,505 | €32,410 |
1.5 | €33,758 | €36,330 |
1.75 | €37,012 | €40,251 |
2 | €39,907 | €42,479 |
2.25 | €43,161 | €46,400 |
2.5 | €46,056 | €48,628 |
2.75 | €49,310 | €52,549 |
3 | €52,205 | €54,777 |
3.25 | €55,459 | €58,698 |
3.5 | €58,354 | €60,926 |
3.75 | €61,608 | €64,847 |
4 | €64,503 | €67,075 |
4.25 | €67,757 | €70,996 |
4.5 | €70,652 | €73,224 |
4.75 | €73,906 | €77,145 |
5 | €76,801 | €79,373 |
5.25 | €80,055 | €83,294 |
5.5 | €82,950 | €85,522 |
5.75 | €86,204 | €89,443 |
6 | €89,099 | €91,671 |
+ For each additional half-part | €6,149 | €6,149 |
+ For quarter share | €3,254 | €3,921 |
Where the reference tax income of the tax household exceeds these ceilings in a year, the LEP may be retained if the reference tax income of the subsequent year falls below the ceilings.
No, a person cannot open or hold multiple LEPs, because each taxpayer is entitled to only 1 LEP.
Before opening an LEP, the bank must check whether the person already owns the product and whether they meet the conditions.
Reminder
There may be 2 LEP in the same tax household if the spouses or partners of Civil partnerships, subject to common taxation, hold 1 each.
Yes, it is possible to combine an LEP with other accounts on account (for example, the sustainable development booklet or the booklet A).
An LEP may be set up in the banks authorized to market this savings product.
There are no bank charges for opening, managing and closing the LEP.
It is forbidden for the bank to open or maintain an LEP if the conditions are not met.
To check the income conditions, the bank has the choice between 2 possibilities: either to question the tax administration, or to directly question the customer (or future customer) who must justify his tax reference income.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The bank questions the tax authorities
The bank's request relates to whether or not its client is in compliance with the revenue cap. The bank cannot request further information about the personal tax situation of its client.
The request of the bank shall be made by a specially authorized person. It is transmitted to the tax authorities electronically. The application shall include the identification of the customer (surname, forenames, sex, date and place of birth, address).
If the 1re The search is not successful, the bank can make a new request to the tax administration by sending it the tax identification number that its client has communicated to it.
The bank asks the customer to justify his reference tax income
To prove that the client meets the income requirements, the client must present the bank with his income tax notice (or no-tax notice).
If the person has not yet completed his 1re tax return personal (after a death, divorce or if she leaves her parents' tax residence), the bank may ask her to provide a declaration of honor to certify that the amount of its income will be less than or equal to the LEP ceiling. It will then have to provide the bank with the tax (or non-tax) notice as soon as it receives it.
If the person cannot justify his reference tax income or in case of false declarations, the bank will close the LEP. The money that is on the LEP will be transferred to another account in the same institution in his name or to a suspense account.
FYI
Any violation by the LEP holder of detention conditions may result in the loss of vested interests.
When opening the LEP, the initial payment is a minimum of €30.
Thereafter, payments are free with a minimum of €10.
The LEP can be powered by:
- Cash payment only at the counter where the account was opened
- Transfer from an account in the name of the same holder as the LEP
- Or check.
Since 1er in july 2023, it is possible to make a transfer to your LEP from an account at a bank other than the one where the LEP is located.
The ceiling for payments to the LEP shall be €10,000.
Accounting for interest paid by the bank may result in exceeding the ceiling.
When the amount entered on the booklet reaches €10,000, it is no longer possible to make a new payment.
Example :
The total payments are €9,850.
The bank recognizes interest for €180.
The balance of the LEP amounts to €10,030 (€9,850+ €180).
It is no longer possible to make new payments.
If the bank had not recorded the interest, it would be possible to make further payments for €150.
No, there is no obligation to make periodic payments. Money deposits are possible at any time within the limit of the ceiling.
Yes, withdrawals are possible free of charge at any time.
They can cover the entire account without causing the LEP to close. But the balance of the booklet can never be debited.
Cash withdrawals must be made at the bank counter where the LEP was set up.
They can also be made to a distributor in the bank's network if a withdrawal card is associated with the LEP.
Interest rates
Current Rate
The LEP interest rate is 2.50%.
Old rates
Period | Rate |
|---|---|
From 1er February 2026 to July 31, 2026 | 2.5% |
From 1er August 2025 to January 31, 2026 | 2.7% |
From 1er February 2025 to July 31, 2025 | 3.5% |
From 1er August 2024 to January 31, 2025 | 4% |
From 1er February 2024 to July 31, 2024 | 5% |
From 1er August 2023 to January 31, 2024 | 6% |
From 1er February 2023 to July 31, 2023 | 6.1% |
From 1er August 2022 to January 31, 2023 | 4.6% |
From 1er February 2022 to July 31, 2022 | 2.2% |
From 1er February 2020 to January 31, 2022 | 1% |
From 1er August 2014 to January 31, 2020 | 1.25% |
From 1er August 2013 to July 31, 2014 | 1.50% |
From 1er February 2013 to July 31, 2013 | 2.25% |
From 1er August 2011 to January 31, 2013 | 2.75% |
From 1er February 2011 to July 31, 2011 | 2.50% |
From 1er August 2010 to January 31, 2011 | 2.25% |
How are interest calculated?
LEP interest is calculated on 1er and the 16th of each month.
Interest for the first half of the month is calculated on the 16th of the month, and interest for the second half is calculated on the 1ster of the following month.
The date of the value taken into account for the calculation of interest varies according to the date of the transaction (deposit or withdrawal):
Operation | Until 15 of the current month | From the 16th of the current month |
|---|---|---|
Filing | 16 of the month | 1er day of next month |
Withdrawal | Last day of the previous month | 15 of the month |
The sums deposited generate interest if they are placed in full fifteen.
At December 31 of each year, the accumulated interest on the year is added to the principal.
The amount generated by these interests may be withdrawn from 1er January of the following year.
The interest paid by the bank is exempt from tax on income and social security contributions.
The LEP may be subject to a administrative seizure to third-party holder.
Yes, it is possible to transfer an LEP, without losing interest, to another bank that has the right to market LEP.
Following the transfer request, the bank will wait until the end of the current month to stop the calculation of interest. The transfer will therefore be effective the following month.
There is no time limit.
The booklet remains open as long as the required income conditions are met and the holder justifies them to the bank.
If the income of the penultimate year (N-2) exceeds the limits, the person does not automatically lose the right to hold an LEP.
It will be able to keep the LEP if its N-2 revenues fall below the ceilings the following year.
But if its N-2 revenues exceed the ceilings for 2 consecutive years, the LEP will obligatorily closed.
Closure of the LEP is possible at any time.
The LEP opening contract specifies the procedure to be followed by the bank (form to be filled in, etc.) to close the LEP.
If the LEP holder is a protected adult, the closure must be made by the legal representativeunder the conditions laid down by the applicable legal regime.
Please note
The LEP holder must apply for closure of the LEP himself if he ceases to meet the income requirements for 2 consecutive years.
The bank is obliged to automatically close an LEP in the following cases:
- The holder holds several LEP
- The holder no longer meets the conditions of income or tax domicile to benefit from the LEP
- The LEP is considered inactive
- The LEP holder died.
When the bank is informed of the death of the LEP holder, it must close the account.
Inheritance fees are now capped in all banks for deposit and booklet accounts.
The bank may charge you fees for the steps it takes in connection with the succession (inventory of funds, verification of the powers and identity of the heirs, transfer of money to the heirs...).)
The amount of the fee is capped at 1% the total balance of the accounts and savings products of the deceased. This amount cannot exceed €857.
If the LEP holder no longer contacts the bank holding the savings account, this savings account is considered as inactive. The bank has an obligation to hold the funds for a certain period of time. But after this period, she will have to close the account and transfer the funds to the Caisse des Dépôts.
It is possible to request to recover the funds using the online service Ciclade:
Ciclade (search for forgotten amounts from inactive accounts)
Definition and operation of the LEP
LEP beneficiaries (Article R221-33), documents to be provided (Articles R221-34 to R221-37), closure (Article R221-38)
How the LEP works
Supervision of bank charges in the event of succession
Supervision of bank charges in the event of succession - ceiling
Control of income conditions
Interest rates for the period from August 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027
Online service
FAQ
Service Public
Service Public
Service Public
Service Public
Insurance Bank Savings Info Service