Pokémon cards have become a global phenomenon in just a few decades. Launched in 1996, these collectible cards have long since left the playground to become real objects of speculation. Some sales today reach amounts that rival those of works of art. This development is now attracting the attention of the tax administration. In France, the sale of certain cards may be subject to tax when the amounts exceed a certain threshold.
Pokémon cards can reach record prices
The popularity of Pokémon cards has continued to grow since their launch. While the majority of cards are only worth a few cents or a few euros, some rare pieces fetch spectacular sums.
The most famous example remains that of the Pikachu Illustrator card. Printed in only 39 copies in 1998, it was sold at auction in 2022 for $5,275,000 to YouTuber Logan Paul. This amount allowed it to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold.
In comparison, the most expensive Magic: The Gathering card remains a 1993 Alpha Edition Black Lotus, sold at auction in 2024 for $3 million. In France too, some sales reach significant amounts. In 2021, a collector paid 11,904 euros to acquire an extremely rare Charizard card during a sale organized in Troyes.
From 5,000 euros, taxation applies
Resale of a Pokémon card is not automatically taxable. It all depends first on the selling price. When the amount of the transaction remains less than 5,000 euros, the sale is generally not subject to tax for an individual. On the other hand, if this threshold is exceeded, the capital gain realized enters the movable property regime. It is then subject to an overall taxation of 36.2%. This tax corresponds to 19% income tax and 17.2% social security contributions. According to a study carried out by eBay and YouGov in 2023, around 8% of the French population collects Pokémon cards. This represents nearly four million people likely to be affected by these tax rules.
When reselling becomes a commercial activity
Taxation can also change depending on the frequency of transactions. If a person regularly buys and resells Pokémon cards with the aim of making a profit, the tax authorities may consider this to be a commercial activity.
In this case, the income must be declared in the industrial and commercial profits category. The administration then examines several criteria, including the regularity of sales, the amounts involved and the intention of making a profit. This situation may concern certain collectors or resellers active on specialized auction platforms.
The particular case of cards considered as collector’s items
Taxation may also vary depending on the nature of the card. In certain cases, a map can be considered as an object of “historical or ethnographic” interest, according to article 98 A of the General Tax Code. In this situation, it can be considered a “collector’s item” and fall under a specific tax regime.
Another subtlety concerns the cards placed under protection as soon as a pack is opened. A card stored under vacuum can be considered new. However, a new object, if it is not perfectly unique, cannot be classified in the category of “collectibles”. These different rules show that the taxation of Pokémon cards depends on numerous criteria. For collectors and occasional sellers alike, the value of certain cards can therefore result in unexpected tax obligations.