Cheat sheet

French payslip vocabulary: brut, net and cotisations

Identify gross pay, employee contributions, taxable pay and the amount paid using French payslip labels and a simplified worked extract.

In short

Brut is gross pay before employee deductions. Several totals contain net: read the whole label to distinguish the amount before income tax, taxable pay and the final amount paid.

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An employee discussing a completely blank payslip with a helpful payroll colleague.
A workplace enquiry clarifies le salaire net. Illustration: Atelier

Les montants d’un bulletin de paie

1 · Salaire brut: the starting figure

Salaire de base is basic pay; gross pay can also include bonuses and other pay elements.

Le salaire brut comprend une prime de 100 €.Gross pay includes a €100 bonus.

2 · Cotisations salariales: employee contributions

Follow the employee column when several contribution columns appear.

Les cotisations salariales s’élèvent à 550 €.Employee contributions amount to €550.

3 · Cotisations patronales: employer contributions

Keep the employer side separate when identifying deductions from the employee’s gross pay.

Cette colonne indique les cotisations patronales.This column shows employer contributions.

4 · Net à payer avant impôt

This is payable before income tax withholding. Expenses, advances and other adjustments can also affect a payslip.

Le net à payer avant impôt est de 1 950 €.The amount payable before income tax is €1,950.

5 · Net imposable: the taxable reference

Also called net fiscal, this can differ from the amount payable before tax. Use its own line.

Le montant net imposable est de 2 020 €.The taxable net amount is €2,020.

6 · Prélèvement à la source

This is income tax collected through payroll. Read the tax amount, rather than confusing it with social contributions.

L’impôt prélevé à la source est de 101 €.Income tax withheld at source is €101.

7 · Montant net social and net payé

Montant net social is a reference for certain social-benefit reporting. Net payé identifies the final payment.

Le montant net payé est de 1 849 €.The final net amount paid is €1,849.

Study first: simplified monthly extract, with no other adjustments
LibelléMontant
Salaire brut2 500,00 €
Cotisations salariales550,00 €
Net à payer avant impôt sur le revenu1 950,00 €
Montant net imposable2 020,00 €
Montant net social1 950,00 €
Impôt sur le revenu prélevé à la source101,00 €
Net payé1 849,00 €

Follow this extract in two steps: €2,500 − €550 = €1,950 before income tax; €1,950 − €101 = €1,849 paid. The taxable reference, €2,020, is a separate labelled figure. Here the social net and the amount before tax happen to match; identify each by its label.

Pourriez-vous m’expliquer la différence entre ces deux montants nets ?

Could you explain the difference between these two net amounts?

Question 1No account needed
Which amount is gross pay?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

2 500,00 €. The Salaire brut line gives €2,500 before the employee contributions shown here.

Question 2No account needed
Which amount is the taxable reference?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

2 020,00 €. The labelled Montant net imposable line gives €2,020.

Question 3No account needed
How much income tax is withheld?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

101,00 €. The Impôt sur le revenu prélevé à la source line shows €101.

Question 4No account needed
What is the final amount paid?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

1 849,00 €. Net payé gives €1,849, after €101 has been taken from €1,950.

Question 5No account needed
Which label identifies the employee’s social contributions?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Cotisations salariales. Salariales names the employee side; patronales names the employer side.

Sources and further reading