Chartered accountants in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region are proposing a 22% VAT rate.

As they approach their 80th anniversary—the ordinance that created their professional body in France was passed on September 19, 1945—the chartered accountants of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region are looking toward the future, with varying degrees of confidence. This was the message that emerged from the inaugural plenary session of the profession's 80th congress this Thursday, July 17, at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille.

Because if according to the survey commissioned by the Order from the Symbial institute shows that 85% of the companies in the region questioned have complete confidence in their accountant, the arrival of artificial intelligence but also of electronic invoicing, raises fears of a loss of business for accounting professionals, i.e. some 11,000 employees in the region.

"We wanted this survey to be carried out in particular for independent firms," explained President Nicolas Férand at the end of his inaugural speech, keen to help these organisations make the right decisions regarding their future. This is why the Order is announcing the holding of four thematic days in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The first, scheduled for September 4 in Marseille, will focus on firm strategy, the next, on October 31, on international affairs, followed on October 9 in Nice, then on November 17 in Marseille by a session dedicated to digital transformation and in particular the emergence of electronic invoicing, and finally on December 4, will address wealth management in Marseille. "We are also offering transmission days in Marseille and Nice," adds the president.

This is a topic that 84% of the companies surveyed would like to entrust to a chartered accountant, as is human resources management (82%), while 51% of them also mention the management of the company director's personal assets. These are all avenues for diversification for firms, whose core business is often focused on preparing balance sheets, tax returns, and payroll.

These tasks are threatened by the emergence of artificial intelligence. But the profession intends to bounce back by capitalizing on the trust—the theme of the 80th congress—placed by its clients, by developing consulting, risk forecasting, and prospective missions on the lookout for new markets.

Increase VAT to 20%

And this is all the more so since the economic situation is sluggish, Nicolas Férand stressed, recalling that "when the national council of the order of chartered accountants was created in 1945, it was necessary to rebuild the country and the gathering of all political forces made great things possible. Politicians must make the right decisions in the collective interest."

And the spokesperson for the region's chartered accountants wants to put forward a proposal to support the budgetary effort: "Increase VAT to 20% from 2%. This would only affect "comfort" products. I did the math, and for a household like mine, the products subject to 20% VAT only represent 33% of what I consume. It's fairer than removing the 10% tax reduction for retirees or two public holidays!" At 80 years old, the Order of Chartered Accountants intends to contribute to the national debate, particularly in Paca, one of the regions with the most accounting professionals, accounting for 10% of the workforce in France.