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6th September 2010
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French Tax Welcome to our Tax Zone. The aim of this zone is to provide information about tax laws in France and advice on how French taxes might affect you.Popular articles which you may be interested to read if you are a non-French resident include: Why take financial advice before moving to France? Who you need to inform that you are moving to France. What happens with your UK investments if you move to France? Tax on earned income - key differences between France and UK Tax liability on French holiday home rental income Tax resident in the UK or France? While for French residents popular articles include: French tax rates for 2008 French wealth tax Is your French home subject to capital gains tax? Information on the recently signed Double tax treaty - how does it affect you? Articles covering important taxes including income tax, inheritance tax and information on taxe fonciere and taxe d'habitation, and social taxes We also discuss how using an Assurance Vie can lower your French taxes. If you're domiciled outside the UK and have more than one employer, read our article Dual contracts of employment to find out whether you can legitimately reduce your tax liability. See also our Savings and Investments Zone for information about investments in France. Retiring to France? If you are retiring to France or already there, visit our Retirement Zone to find out about any tax related issues, including whether you will be subject to wealth tax, if your British pension will be taxed in France and your pensions and tax options. The Retirement Zone also covers legal issues including the impact of French succession law on your UK will, find out if your UK will is valid in French law, and discover if retiring to France still makes financial sense.
French legal systemFor information about French law including articles on planning law, divorce law, property law and inheritance visit our Law Zone.French tax issues – you ask the questions FrenchEntrée is launching a new reader service aimed at helping you understand the complexities of French tax and law issues - with the help of experts from financial advisers Siddalls. more...
See also...Don't forget to visit our property pages, including our new property database, containing hundreds of tempting homes. If you need tax advice, visit the Tax Advisory Service pages hosted by financial experts Blevins Franks, while for general financial information, check out our Finance zone. Finally, take a look at our Currency zone for all the information you need on Euro exchange. more...Tax and Law Newsletter ArchiveAre you looking to buy a new property in France? Keep up to date with all the latest french tax and laws news. Sign-up for our free newsletter or visit our newsletter archive to view previous newsletters.
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French Tax
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What about Wealth Tax?
 What is it? Will it apply to your purchase? Find out more on this, and inheritance and capital gains tax, by clicking here
Fed up of high UK taxation?
 Speak to the tax experts at Blevins Franks to explore your tax saving options in France.French Tax Services
 Take the headache out of French taxation and contact La Belle Vie today. From pre-purchase advice and assistance to the preparation of French tax returns, La Belle Vie is here to help.
Financial advice & solutions for people relocating to France
 Download Siddalls help sheets for "your new life in France" by clicking here.Save a fortune on currency exchange
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The latest tax rates – including income tax and inheritance tax - have been announced by the French authorities for 2010. Georgina Field from Siddalls brings you up to date...
Changes in the calculation of liability to French capital gains tax as well as the rate charged on the sale of 'equity based investments' appears to be on the cards for the start of 2011.
A bank may offer investment advice and an accountant may calculate your taxes but what you really need are solutions for maximising income and return on capital whilst reducing, or even eliminating tax in compliance with the laws of your newly adopted country.
After much speculation, the French government finally announced its proposals to reform the state pension system on 16th June. Its aim is to balance the pension books by 2018.
Property ownership whether for investment purposes or for lifestyle reasons is the most common factor why non-residents would find themselves before the tax authorities in France. Colm Murphy, an expert on international property tax, outlines your liabilities.
On 15 February 2010, a new UK HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) statutory instrument came into force, the implications of which create significant opportunities for British expatriates to save local taxes in the country in which they are tax resident as well as UK inheritance tax (IHT).
Succession tax in France is broadly equivalent to UK inheritance tax, although the rules are significantly different. Levied on inheritances and lifetime gifts, it is paid by the beneficiary, unlike in the UK where it is levied on the deceased’s estate. Blevins Franks summarises the complicated French succession tax rules...
The French tax year is the calendar year running from 1st January to 31st December. The impact of French taxes on your 2009 income, gains and the filing deadlines you must adhere to will differ according to your residence status and the types of income you have earned, as Kate Brehaut of La Belle Vie (Guernsey) Limited explains...
In October 2009 the French government announced plans to introduce a new carbon tax, due to come into force on 1st January 2010. However, the carbon tax has been postponed...
French residents are subject to a fixed rate of capital gains tax on French property at 16% plus social charges of 12.1%. Non-residents pay tax at 16% if resident in the EU, Norway or Iceland, or 33⅓% if resident elsewhere, with no social charges to pay. Here, David Franks of Blevins Franks provides some working examples of how the tax is calculated...
The Double Tax Treaty between France and the UK has entered into force for French residents. It became effective on 18th December 2009 and contains some significant tax changes, including an exchange of information article, which will affect British expatriates living in France.
When working out your finances to buy that dream property in France you need to take into account the taxes involved in purchasing French property. There is a difference in these costs depending on whether the property is subject to TVA (VAT) or not, as David Franks of Blevins Franks explains...
Eric Woerth, Budget Minister, recently announced the French Government’s proposals for the 2010 budget and as usual the details have caused much comment and discussion in the French press. Many of the proposals will have no impact on British expats living in France, but it should not be ignored as Rupert Holderness of Siddalls France explains.
There are two annual local property taxes in France, taxe d’habitation and taxe foncière. They are paid by both residents and non-residents and are often higher on second homes than on main residences due to possible discounts on the main home, as David Franks of Blevins Franks explains...
For many finding gainful employment in France is not that simple and the possibility of working in the UK during the week, whilst enjoying the French way of life with family and new French friends at the weekends can be a compromise. Kate Brehaut, tax adviser from La Belle Vie Limited, explains what the tax and social security consequences of doing so...
Most people moving to France automatically assume they will pay more tax. But they might well be wrong. Jennie Poate of tax experts Siddalls argues that for many people France can be very tax efficient - more efficient than back home.
Historically, the majority of expatriates leaving the UK for a new life in France have been those at, or near, retirement age, keen to wind down to a more relaxed lifestyle in a dreamed-of rural retreat. However, things are set to change as Duncan Campbell of Siddalls explains...
Alistair Darling's 2009 Budget report signalled the end of tax breaks for owners of UK based holiday homes. However, in the short-term, owners of holiday homes elsewhere in Europe have been granted a tax rebate for this tax previously only available to UK-based holiday home owners...
More and more people each year are deciding to leave the UK to move overseas, with France continuing to be one of the most popular destinations. Richard Bayle, European Director of Siddalls, gives us the low-down on why seeking financial advice is of great importance when moving to France.
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The French have always welcomed the British becoming resident in their country but they have just made this welcome even warmer by offering a significant tax break to all new residents...
This is one of the most frequent questions asked by British expatriates, since the rules were always complicated and were changed dramatically this year. The basic principal is that property in ...
Many owners like to let out their second homes in France when they are not using them. But what are the tax implications for this? David Franks, Chief Executive of Blevins Franks, explains... 
Spending more time in France and enjoying la belle vie can be very tempting especially once you’ve found that dream home from home, but make sure you don’t run the risk of unwittingly becoming tax resident in France explains Kate Brehaut Director of La Belle Vie Guernsey.
Julia Jones, of French-based law firm Bright Jones, highlights the tax considerations linked with certain aspects of Divorce, including capital gains tax, the split of assets and child support.
Siddalls have helped many expats set up life in France. With a team of experts in both the UK and France, their bespoke service has been designed to make moving your finances across the channel as plain sailing as possible. Find out who your local French adviser is and read about their experiences...
There will be many things to do in arranging a move to France and a lot of people to tell. You should inform the UK tax authorities of your departure and also inform the French tax authorities of your intention to live permanently in France as Bill Blevins of Blevins Franks explains...
Many expats who are now classified as tax residents of France would have received bills for Contributions Sociales in October and may been wondering exactly what they are.
There is a lot of confusion amongst British expatriates in France as to where their estates will be liable to inheritance tax, Rupert Holderness, Managing Director of Siddalls France explains its implications...
Baffled by the French tax system? Preparing to leave the UK to set up home in your dream French home? Already there? Duncan Campbell, Associate Director of Siddalls, has some handy hints for both UK residents moving across to France and for British people who are now living in France...
There are a number of issues you may need to take advice on before you move, and when living in France. Here are a couple of case studies which highlight some of the financial issues that Siddalls have helped expats with.
There’s no avoiding the fact that living in France doesn’t suit everybody. For those who are thinking about returning to Britain, Duncan Campbell, associate director of financial experts Siddalls, offers some guidance...
Financial expert Rob Hesketh looks at the French assurance vie system and how it can help protect our hard-earned funds...
L'Impot sur La Fortune (ISF) is what we would call a wealth tax if we had one here in the UK, but fortunately we do not. It is an annual tax levied on most of your non-professional assets. If you are domiciled in France it is imposed on all your assets, wherever situated in the world.
CGT in France can be a key question for anyone owning a property in France, whether or not they are resident here. Rupert Holderness, Managing Director of Siddalls in France explains the situation
It’s one of the two great certainties of life. But though we all have to pay tax, the way that it’s collected can vary enormously from country to country. Michael Streeter looks at how France differs from Britain
David Anderson and Helen Belle of solicitors and tax advisers Sykes Anderson look at the new tax regime brought in by President Nicolas Sarkozy during 2007 and how it is likely to affect Britons who own property in France
David Anderson, Helen Belle and Graeme Perry of solicitors and chartered tax advisers Sykes Anderson examine the law surrounding the 3% tax payable by non-resident companies on the value of their French property