Disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. For any decisions, consult a qualified professional (accountant, tax lawyer).
Since March 2024, the French tax authority has ruled: Pokémon cards are no longer "collectibles" in the eyes of the taxman. The result? Your capital gains on card and sealed product sales are now taxed at 36.2%. And with the DAC7 directive, Vinted, eBay, and Cardmarket automatically report your sales data to tax authorities.
Here's what changed — and what it means for you.
The March 20, 2024 BOFIP Update Changed Everything
On March 20, 2024, the Official Tax Bulletin (BOFIP) was updated with a consequential clarification:
Trading cards, such as "Pokémon" cards, do not constitute collectible items, as they do not satisfy the conditions set out in III-A § 320.
To qualify as a collectible for tax purposes, an item must meet cumulative criteria (§320):
- Rarity
- High value
- Transactions outside normal commerce
- Represent "a characteristic stage in the evolution of human achievements"
TCG cards don't meet these criteria. In practice, the tax administration now treats them as consumer goods subject to the general capital gains regime on movable property (Article 150 UA of the French Tax Code).
Before: flat tax at 6.5% (collectibles). Now: 36.2% on capital gains (standard movable property).
All TCGs are affected: Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, One Piece.
Exception: a truly unique or historic piece could potentially be reclassified — but this is a case-by-case assessment by a judge.
Sealed Products Too? Yes, and It's Even Worse
Article 150 UA of the French Tax Code targets "movable property" broadly — meaning any physical object. Sealed products (boosters, displays, ETBs) are movable property by default. There is no specific text that excludes them.
And it's potentially worse than cards:
| Cards | Sealed | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | Often < €5,000 | A case can exceed €5,000 |
| Tax threshold | Rarely reached | More easily reached |
| Speculative pattern | Variable | Often explicit (invest) |
| DAC7 traceability | Per transaction | Per transaction |
Concrete example: a case of 6 displays bought for €600 and resold for €2,000 → exempt (< €5,000). But three cases sold together for €6,000 → taxable.
The 3 Scenarios
Depending on your situation, you fall into one of these three regimes:
1. Sale < €5,000 → Exempt
The threshold is assessed per transaction, not per year. Below €5,000 per sale: no declaration, no tax.
2. Sale ≥ €5,000 (occasional) → 36.2% on capital gains
- 19% income tax + 17.2% social contributions = 36.2%
- Base: the capital gain (selling price − purchase price), not the total amount
- 5% annual reduction after 2 years of holding → full exemption at 22 years
- Declaration via form 2048-M within one month of the sale
3. Regular sales → Mandatory micro-business
If the tax authority considers your activity as regular commercial trading (regularity, amounts, organization), you must register as a micro-business under the BIC regime.
DAC7: The Tax Authority Already Knows
Since January 2024, the European DAC7 directive requires online sales platforms to automatically report sellers who exceed either threshold:
- 30 transactions per year, OR
- €2,000 annual revenue
Vinted, eBay, Cardmarket, LeBonCoin — all these platforms now transmit your data (identity, amounts, transaction counts) to tax authorities.
It's no longer a question of "if" the taxman will know, but "when."
What's Next?
Now that you know the rules, the question is: how do you actually declare? Which form? What deadlines? What proof to keep?
We detail everything in our practical guide: Selling TCGs in France: 2026 Declaration Guide.
Reminder: this article is for informational purposes only. The information presented reflects our understanding of the texts in force at the date of publication. For any tax decisions, consult a qualified professional.