Unlike a bequest, a donation allows you to transfer ownership of an asset to the Gustave Roussy Institute or its Cancer Research Foundation during your lifetime. This immediate donation is very easy to set up and must be formalized by your notary in the form of a notarized deed. A gift provides our researchers with additional resources right now to make new discoveries in the fight against cancer. 

A donation to a nonprofit organization or public benefit entity authorized to receive donations and bequests—such as the Gustave Roussy Institute or its Foundation—allows you to transfer:

• an asset known as a “present” gift—that is, one that you own on the date of the donation: real estate, land, business assets, copyrights, a sum of money, securities accounts, etc.
• or your share of an asset that you own in joint tenancy (a legal arrangement in which co-owners hold equal or unequal rights), provided that all co-owners agree to donate their share.

La lettre des legs, donations et assurances-vie

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Donations to an association, foundation, or organization recognized as a public benefit entity or authorized to receive donations and bequests must be formalized by a notarized deed. The donation must then be accepted by the donee—that is, by the recipient organization. Donors, for their part, must also meet certain conditions before beginning the process.

• Donation of full ownership: This involves bequeathing, during one’s lifetime, an asset (personal property, real estate, or financial assets) from one’s estate to an association. For this type of donation, it is essential to go through a notary, and this deed is irrevocable. Donation 
  of jointly owned real estate: In the case of a donation of jointly owned property, the donor donates their share of a property of which they are a co-owner. To make this type of donation to Gustave Roussy or its Cancer Research Foundation, the other co-owners must also agree to donate their shares. 
• Donation with a reservation of usufruct: This type of donation involves transferring bare ownership of a property to the beneficiary organization while reserving the right to receive the income generated by that property.
• Temporary donation of usufruct: The beneficiary organization enjoys the income generated by the donor’s property for a fixed term of at least 3 years.

Donation from an estate: The donor, who is an heir, donates all or part of the assets they have inherited to the organization of their choice. The donation must be made within 12 months following the death of the person whose estate has been opened (spouse, parent, etc.) to allow for a reduction in estate taxes up to the value of the assets donated to the association or beneficiary organization.

Making a donation to a nonprofit organization or an entity recognized as serving the public interest or authorized to receive donations and bequests—such as Gustave Roussy or its Cancer Research Foundation—entitles you to a tax deduction that may apply to income tax (IR) or the Real Estate Wealth Tax (IFI).

Tax Benefits of a Donation Under the Income Tax Code

Donations made to a nonprofit organization, a foundation, or an organization recognized as a public benefit entity or authorized to receive donations and bequests are deductible from income tax up to 66% of the total amount donated, subject to a limit of 20% of the taxable income of the tax household.

Tax Benefits of a Donation Under the Real Estate Wealth Tax

Donations made to a public-benefit association or organization, such as the Gustave Roussy Institute or its Cancer Research Foundation, may qualify for a tax reduction on the Real Estate Wealth Tax.

On the one hand, donations to public-benefit organizations are deductible from the Real Estate Wealth Tax (IFI) amount at a rate of 75%, up to a limit of €50,000 per year, which corresponds to a donation of €66,667.
Furthermore, a donation of usufruct or a temporary donation of usufruct allows you to deduct the value of these assets from the net taxable value of your real estate assets, thereby reducing the amount you owe in IFI. The properties subject to the donation are temporarily or permanently excluded from the real estate assets you are required to report.

To qualify for a tax benefit, you must enter the amount of donations made to associations and public-benefit organizations—or organizations authorized to receive donations and bequests—in box UF of your income tax return.

To be taken into account in the calculation of your taxes, donations must be made between the filing deadline for the previous year’s tax return and the filing deadline for the current tax year.

Upon receipt of the donation, the donor is issued a tax receipt by the recipient organization as proof, to be submitted to the tax authorities.