Some decisions are made by calculation. Others are born from intuition.
Buying a work of art for a company is not just about dressing up a wall or polishing your brand image. It is about bringing a living presence into a space often dominated by performance and urgency. On a pragmatic level, it also means benefiting from an advantageous tax scheme supported by the French government.
Discover how purchasing contemporary art — particularly through Mirette’s selections — allows you to combine support for creativity with tax optimization for your business.
The tax exemption mechanism for works of art for companies (Art. 238 bis AB)
In France, the General Tax Code encourages companies to become cultural stakeholders. This measure primarily concerns companies subject to Corporate Income Tax (IS), but also applies to sole proprietorships subject to income tax in the BIC category.
What is the real tax benefit?
When a company acquires an original work by a living artist, it can deduct the purchase price from its taxable income. This is not a simple tax credit, but a special deduction that allows you to reduce your tax base over five years.
Key takeaways:
This measure is not merely an opportunistic benefit, but a mechanism designed to create a lasting bridge between the business world and contemporary artistic creation.
Why does the state encourage professional artistic investment?
Art is not a traditional financial asset. It does not wear out, it is not replaced, and it is not consumed. By encouraging companies to invest, the State pursues a triple objective:
- Supporting the creative economy by providing direct income to living artists.
- Democratizing access to culture by taking art out of museums and integrating it into the daily lives of employees.
- Enhancing the intangible heritage of French companies.
The company then becomes a space of cultural circulation. The artwork engages in a dialogue with employees in offices, meeting rooms, or reception halls, profoundly changing the relationship with the workplace.
Integrate these works into your company's daily life:
The 4 conditions to qualify for the tax deduction
For your investment to be eligible for tax exemption, the legal framework mandates four fundamental pillars:
- Originality: The work must be an original creation (painting, sculpture, photography printed in fewer than 30 copies, ceramics, etc.).
- Living artist: The scheme only applies to artists who are still active at the time of purchase.
- Holding period: The company must record the work as a fixed asset and retain it for 5 years.
- Public exhibition: This is the sine qua non condition. The work must be displayed in a place "accessible to employees or the public." It cannot remain in the manager's closed office without being seen by the teams.
Calculation and deduction limit
The deduction is distributed in equal parts over the year of acquisition and the following four years. It is capped at €20,000 or 5‰ (five per thousand) of the annual turnover (the higher amount being retained).
Work of art or decorative object: how to tell the difference?
Some boundaries are porous, particularly in design or ceramics. What defines tax eligibility is not utility, but intention and uniqueness.
At Mirette, we champion the idea that art can be tactile and functional while remaining a work in its own right. The narrative we build around each piece helps to justify its artistic nature to the tax authorities and your stakeholders.
The sculptures
FAQ: Your questions about corporate art purchasing
Can a small business benefit from tax exemptions?
Yes, provided it is subject to a standard tax regime (corporate tax or industrial/commercial profits). Micro-enterprises are not eligible for this scheme.
Where must I display the artwork to comply with the rules?
In any high-traffic area: entrance halls, corridors, cafeterias, or open-plan offices. The idea is for the artwork to be a part of the workplace community life.
What happens after the 5 years?
The company remains the owner of the artwork. If it sells it later, the sale price is added back to taxable income, but the capital gain may qualify for the professional capital gains tax regime.
Investing differently: more than a calculation, a vision
Beyond the tax benefits, integrating art into your company is a political and human act. It is a way of affirming a sensitive identity, providing concrete support for culture, and positioning your organization within a long-term perspective, far removed from the immediacy of figures.
Ready to take the leap?
Discover our selection of unique works or contact us for tailored support.
For any specific situation, we recommend consulting your accountant or tax advisor.
Beyond taxes, think about quality of life at work
What if art were your company's new set of lungs?
While tax laws offer a calculated opportunity, corporate art is above all an investment in people. Beyond the numbers, how can a work of art transform the energy of an office and the well-being of your employees?
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