Finances. Towards the end of the check as a means of payment? “An in progress reflection” to the Treasury

Formerly essential, the check is no longer used as much as before. For example, This is what pushes the public treasury to consider gradually deleting it as a means of payment. Consequently, “We note a very regular drop in payments by check. Therefore, ” explains Amélie Verdier, director general of public finances (DGFIP) who confirmed this reflection in early July to the unions.

According to figures advanced by The worldchecks now represent less than 3 % of the total number of transactions in France. Similarly, compared to more than 37 % in 2000. Similarly, The development of pay card payments and other online payment solutions has a lot to do with it.

Several drawbacks – Finances. towards end check means

Bercy specifies that “in 2024. public revenues collected in check by the DGFIP (all categories combined, taxes, fines, local public sector or state revenues) represented less than 5 % of finances. towards end check means the collection in number (around 40 million checks) and less than 2 % by going. The receipts by check has been falling continuously for 10 years (-70 %), with acceleration last year (-25 %) ”. Since 2019, it is already forbidden to pay your taxes by check beyond 300 euros, under penalty of an increase of 0.2 %. In addition to the disaffection of users, several points play against checks.

“The check is a fraudogenic and costly means of management in management” for Bercy. It is even the one who presents the highest rate of fraud. And the check is expensive, both in financial and humans. The treatment and collection centers of Lille and Créteil closed their doors in 2023 for these reasons. Part of their activity had been transferred to the private Tessi group. Additional drawback: the ecological imprint of the check is bad.

“No date stopped”

Will the check will finances. towards end check means disappear completely? Today, certain situations still require the use of the check. We must also take care not to exclude part of the population. especially people who are not necessarily comfortable with the digitalization of payments. The DGFIP project is “first of all to support its users with other more secure means of payments. for them as for administration: referenced bank transfer, payments or not, cash payment for small sums”, indicates Amélie Verdier.

If “a reflection on the deletion is well committed”. the DGFIP specifies that “there is no date stopped at this stage”. Discussions with unions must continue in the fall. According to The worldthis could lead to the closure of the latest treatment center for the tax administration checks. located in Rennes, from 2027. It only treated 8.3 million checks last year.