France's apprenticeship tax represents 0.68% of payroll, of which a 13% "balance" (0.09%) is allocated freely by employers to accredited institutions via the SOLTéA platform. A school does not receive this balance automatically: it must be designated by companies. The most effective lever to be designated: your alumni network — your graduates are already inside companies, often decision-makers. The 5-step method: (1) check your accreditation and SIRET/UAI on SOLTéA, (2) map where your graduates work, (3) identify decision-makers and ambassadors, (4) launch a targeted campaign with the SOLTéA link, (5) follow up before 21 October 2026. Terrilink never collects the tax: it tools the campaign.
France's apprenticeship tax in 2026, in plain terms
The apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage) is owed by most companies in France and represents 0.68% of payroll. It splits into two parts (source: economie.gouv.fr):
- The principal part (87%) — dedicated to funding apprenticeship, collected monthly by URSSAF.
- The balance (13%, i.e. 0.09% of payroll) — formerly "hors quota". This is the only part the employer can allocate freely to the training institutions of its choice.
This balance is distributed via the national SOLTéA platform, managed by the Caisse des Dépôts on behalf of the State. Only accredited institutions — vocational high schools, apprentice training centres, universities, accredited engineering and business schools — can benefit, identified there by their SIRET/UAI.
The crucial point: the balance is freely allocated by the employer
This is the whole stake for a school. Unlike the principal part, the balance is not redistributed automatically: each employer decides, on SOLTéA, which institutions receive its balance. If no one designates your school, you receive none of those funds — they end up distributed by regulation to other programs. In other words: capturing the balance means first being chosen.
And who better than your own graduates, already employed, to have your institution designated within their company?
The overlooked lever: your alumni network
Your graduates are spread across hundreds of companies — and many hold positions where they can influence or decide the allocation of the balance (HR, finance, general management, or simply an internal relay). An alumnus attached to their school is a natural ambassador, infinitely more effective than a cold mailing to companies that don't know you. The problem is not "who to ask" but "knowing where your graduates are and who to contact" — which is exactly what a structured alumni network enables.
The 5-step method
- Check your accreditation and SOLTéA record. Make sure your institution is accredited to receive the balance and correctly listed on SOLTéA (SIRET, UAI, components, programs). It's the prerequisite: an employer can only designate you if you are findable there.
- Map where your graduates work. With a living alumni directory and the AI Network Radar, identify in plain language the companies that employ the most of your alumni: "which companies employ at least 3 graduates from the 2018–2023 classes?".
- Identify decision-makers and ambassadors. Within those companies, spot the well-placed alumni (HR, finance, management) and those who can relay the request internally. These are your entry points.
- Launch a targeted, dated campaign. Rather than a generic mailing, segment by company and role, explain the concrete impact for the school, and provide the SOLTéA link + your SIRET/UAI so the action takes two minutes. The right channel: your own alumni, not anonymous prospecting.
- Track and follow up before the deadline. The allocation campaign closes on 21 October 2026. Track designations, say thank you, and follow up with lukewarm companies as the deadline approaches.
The SOLTéA 2026 calendar you can't miss
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| 26 May 2026 | Allocation campaign opens on SOLTéA |
| 1 September 2026 | 1st transfer of allocated funds to institutions |
| 21 October 2026 | Allocation campaign closes (last day to be designated) |
| 5 November 2026 | 2nd transfer of allocated funds |
| 26 November 2026 | Payment of unallocated funds by regulation |
Source: official 2026 campaign calendar, SOLTéA (French Ministry of Education).
What Terrilink does — and doesn't
To be clear: Terrilink never collects the apprenticeship tax — the official channel runs exclusively through URSSAF, the Caisse des Dépôts and SOLTéA, and always will. What Terrilink does is tool your campaign: map the alumni → company → decision-maker graph, segment, launch and track your outreach, and direct your contacts to SOLTéA. In short, we augment your campaign CRM; we never replace the legal channel. It's one of the pillars of our offer for accredited schools, alongside the CGE/CTI employment survey and data sovereignty.
In summary
The apprenticeship-tax balance goes to the institutions employers choose — and your graduates are your best advocates. Check your SOLTéA record, map your alumni, target the right contacts, and launch your campaign before 21 October 2026. A structured alumni network turns an administrative obligation into a concrete resource for your school — without ever leaving the official channel.