Property taxes have increased by an average of 81,84% in five years in major French cities.

A tax shock accepted by local elected officials, but part of the bill remains questionable. And almost no one knows it.

In five years, property tax has become one of the heaviest and most misunderstood local taxes in the country. Local elected officials, facing increasing budgetary constraints, have massively raised their rates. The result is documented, figure by figure, city by city.

Ranking of increases in the 30 largest cities over 5 years:

(Exclusive source: ORKA.tax Property tax rates 2020 vs 2025)

The strongest increases

Massive price increases in all major cities

The most contained increases — but an increase is still an increase

National average (30 major cities): +81,84%

According to Manon Bellin, co-founder of ORKA.tax and tax lawyer: "These figures speak for themselves. In some cities, property taxes have simply doubled in five years. These are political decisions made by local elected officials, and property owners have the right to know the extent of the impact."

What homeowners can do right now

On top of these already historically high rates, the tax authorities apply a calculation basis: the cadastral rental value. This assessment system, designed in 1970, has never been reformed for residential properties.

These databases most often reflect the property's characteristics at the time of its construction: surface area, equipment, and state of repair, without any real updates for decades. Surface areas are overestimated, equipment that no longer exists is still included, and the property's condition has never been updated.

Nearly a third of property tax bills contain errors in their calculation bases.

This double problem – high rates voted by elected officials, erroneous cadastral bases – accumulates each year on the bills of property owners.

According to Gary Cahn, co-founder of ORKA.tax: "Elected officials vote on the rates; that's their prerogative. But when these rates are applied on erroneous grounds, the injustice is twofold. It is on this second lever that property owners can act, and that is precisely what ORKA.tax makes possible."

Hundreds of euros can be recovered in every city, starting now.

Cases are being documented all over France:

• Anthony P.: €1.236 tax relief over two years; his dilapidated property was assessed as a luxury dwelling. Annual savings: €633.
• Cyril A.: €1.167 recovered over two years, his garden wrongly counted as a built outbuilding. Annual savings: €596.
• Jordan P.: €1.327 tax relief over five years, non-existent sanitary equipment still counted.

On average, ORKA.tax customers recover €435 per year

However, less than 2% of French property owners contest their property tax, due to a lack of support. Hiring a lawyer costs at least €1.500.

ORKA.tax is a game changer: free five-minute simulation, full verification and claims included for €78 per property. Visit Orka.tax.

Key figures from ORKA.tax

• +81,84%: Average increase in property tax in the 30 largest cities between 2020 and 2025
• 1 out of 3: proportion of potentially overrated reviews
• €435: average annual refund for ORKA.tax customers
• Less than 2% of homeowners dispute their tax
• €78: ORKA.tax's full cost vs. a minimum of €1.500 with a lawyer

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.