French Income Tax Declaration To Open This Week: News Digest 

The window for taxpayers to submit their 2025 income will open this Thursday, France’s departments suffer varying levels of ‘diesel drought’ due to ongoing international conflicts, and new registration rules for UK caravan & trailer drivers in Europe have been launched. Here are the headlines from French newspapers this week.

French Income Tax Declaration to Open This Week

On 9 April, the limited window for taxpayers to file their income tax returns for 2025 will open. The deadlines will vary if you use paper or online declarations. Paper declarations must be submitted first; your return must be posted by 19 May 2026, not received by then. 

Deadlines for online declarations vary by department:

Departments 1-19: Thursday, 21 May 2026 Non-residents with a French-source income must also submit by this date

Departments: 20-54 (including Corsica): Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Departments 55-976 (including Overseas) Thursday, 4 June 2026

Online declarations are made through the personal space on the impots.gouv.fr website.

France Hit with Diesel Shortages

Due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, France is experiencing fuel shortages nationwide, driving prices to a record high of €2.33 per litre. Around 13% of petrol stations are running low on or have run out of diesel, which is by far the country’s most widely used fuel. 

The severity of this ‘diesel drought’ varies from department to department, with some areas feeling the squeeze much harder than others. Territoire de Belfort, Indre-et-Loire, and Tarn-et-Garonne are among the most affected, where around a fifth or more stations are facing shortages. 

UK Caravan Owners Warned Over New Number Plate Rules

Caravans and trailers over 750kg must now be registered before travelling to many European countries, including France. Once registered, a separate trailer registration number and plate must be displayed alongside the car’s number plate. 

A duplicate of the car’s plate on the caravan is no longer sufficient for British caravan/trailer drivers travelling abroad. Drivers must also carry their registration certificate and be ready to show it if stopped. Failing to comply with these new rules could lead to delays at borders or fines up to €750.