French Tax
CONTENTS
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:
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.
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 system
For 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.
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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 Archive
Are 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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Editor's pick
In common with all member countries of the Eurozone, France is engaged in developing and implementing a programme of public finance and tax changes to address its sizeable budget deficit. more...
Registering as French resident
The procedure for those who have recently moved to France
If you moved any time in 2011, you will soon have the opportunity of registering your residency status by means of your income tax return. This is the only official method of becoming tax domiciled in France.
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Estate planning for French residents
Retain as much control as possible
For most UK residents, making a move across the Channel does not mean a change in estate planning objectives. But what is likely to require a change is the financial planning approach and the techniques used to achieve these objectives.
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Declaring foreign investments
Penalties increased
A new law was ratified in February 2012 introducing penalties of a 40% increase in the amount of tax due on undeclared overseas investments. There is already a potential fine of €1,500 for every undeclared account.
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Selling a property and capital gains tax
As with a property in the UK, if you sell a property in France for more than you paid for it you are potentially liable for tax on the capital gain.
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Tax resident in France: the advantages
The proximity of France to the UK makes France a very accessible country for Britons to own holiday homes. For many they are more than just ‘holiday homes’, as they spend a considerable amount of time enjoying life over the Channel.
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Renting out a UK property as a French resident
With the UK housing market still moving at a sluggish pace many of those looking forward to a new life in France find their plans on hold while they wait for that elusive buyer for their UK property.
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France to raise standard VAT rate in 2012
French politicians indicated in January that there will an increase in the TVA standard rate VAT in early 2012. The current standard French VAT rate is 19.6%. France already increased its reduced VAT rate from 5.5% to 7% at the start of 2012 and this new rate applies from 1 January 2012.
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Your local financial adviser in France
Siddalls experts to advise you before and after you move
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.
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The double taxation agreement
Between the UK and France on inheritances
Are you or will you become a British expatriate living in France? Do you own property in France? Both France and the UK impose an inheritance tax, but which country will tax you?more...
Living in France, working in the UK
French culture is very family-orientated and so it is not surprising that moving to France has an increasing appeal to families with young children. But how to adopt a French lifestyle and maintain the necessary income to sustain it is a common challenge for those contemplating a move.more...
Filing tax returns in the UK and France
It’s easy to forget that you need to look at the tax laws of both countries if you own a foreign asset. If you don’t report your tax liabilities in France you could face an enquiry from the French tax authorities.
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Tax for non-residents letting property
Whether you rent out your French property informally for just a few weeks a year or on a more or less permanent basis, you may be required to file a French tax return and pay French tax. Edward Coxall of Mayo Wynne Baxter solicitors looks at the detail...
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French Property, Love and Marriage
These days, with marriage rates at their lowest ever, if you are moving to France there is a tax-efficient alternative to marriage available, and this can even benefit same-sex couples buying French property
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Wealthy hit by higher taxes in France
By David Franks, Blevins Franks
There have been a number of tax reforms in France this year and wealthier residents have been particularly hit as the government looks to higher earners to help bring down the budget deficit.more...
Pension and tax reforms in France
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.more...
QNUPS - New Tax Planning for Expatriates
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).more...
Pay less tax in France than the UK
France is a lovely country to live with cheap property, a more relaxed lifestyle and great weather... but you will have to pay for your pleasure in the form of higher taxes, right? Wrong, says Jennie Poate, Consultant at Siddalls who are specialists in French financial planning.
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Divorce and Tax
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.
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'Contributions Sociales' or 'Social Taxes'
Since the Contribution Sociale Généralisée (CSG) were introduced in 1991 they have been the source of much confusion for tax residents in France. 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.
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Top Tax Tips
Baffled by the French tax system? Preparing to leave the UK to set up home in your dream French home? Already there? Duncan Campbell from Siddalls has some handy hints for both UK residents moving to France and British people living in France...
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Returning to the UK from France?
Get financial advice
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...
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A way to protect your capital in France
Financial expert Rob Hesketh looks at the French assurance vie system and how it can help protect our hard-earned funds...
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Your French tax questions answered
FrenchEntrée readers have been sending in their questions on tax and France. Experts from financial advisers Siddalls give their answers more...Tax on the market value of French Land
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
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Leaving the UK to live or work abroad?
Your tax questions answered by the UK Inland Revenue This list of FAQs is taken from the Inland Revenue website and answers queries such as residence status, where and how you pay tax on building society accounts, property income, pensions etc more...Living in France, working in the UK
Can it be done?
Increasing numbers of people are choosing to turn their backs on an overcrowded and expensive UK and instead enjoy a more relaxed quality of life living in France - while continuing to work in the UK.
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Sponsored by
Financial advice & solutions for people relocating to France
Download Siddalls help sheets for "your new life in France" by clicking here.
Fed up of high UK taxation?
Tax planning is essential if you are to avoid paying on to Caesar more than is due to him. Blevins Franks mini-site explains more.
Your English-speaking accountant in France
With over 20 years’ experience assisting ex-pats in France, we advise investors, register businesses of all sizes and handle accounts and tax declarations throughout France. Find out more…
Save a Fortune on Currency Exchange
Whether you need advice or an international money transfer quote, FrenchEntree's currency partner - Moneycorp - can help. Visit the France currency exchange zone.
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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.
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