Comments on: Understanding French Taxes http://blog.sextantproperties.com/2009/12/06/understanding-french-taxes/ French Property News by Sextant Properties Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:45:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Matthieu Cany http://blog.sextantproperties.com/2009/12/06/understanding-french-taxes/comment-page-1/#comment-2793 Matthieu Cany Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:48:45 +0000 http://blog.sextantproperties.com/?p=482#comment-2793 Dear Mr Barke, The reduction in taxe fonciere for those aged between 60 and 75 and the complete exemption for property owners aged over 60 is subject to a few conditions including income thresholds. As long as your French property is your main residence, one member of your household fits the exemption criteria and you earn below the applicable income threshold (see table below) you should not pay the taxe fonciere or the taxe d’habitation. Table: Income Thresholds Household Size Income Threshold 1 €9,837 1.5 €12,464 2 €15,091 2.5 €17,718 3 €20,345 Even if you earn more (up to €23,133 for one person, €32,791 for a couple, the figure increasing for additional family members) you may still receive some tax relief. However, if anyone in your household earns above the upper income threshold you will not be eligible. The reduction in taxe fonciere for those aged between 60 and 75 is also means-tested. If, after reading this information, you believe that your taxes are being calculated incorrectly/that you are entitled to tax relief that you are not receiving, you should visit your local Centre d’impôts and discuss your circumstances with them. You may wish to consider seeking financial advice from an English-speaking French accountant (expert comptable) or tax advisor (conseiller fiscal) or possibly an AMF-regulated company specialising in French taxation. (The AMF or Autorité des Marchés Financiers is the French equivalent of the FSA in the UK, to check if a company is registered with them visit www.amf-france.org/bio/rech_CIF.aspx and enter the company name in the box ‘Nom du CIF’). I hope this information is useful. For further advice please do not hesitate to contact us. Please note: any exhonoration or means-tested tax relief does not apply to that part of the tax fonciere related to the collection of rubbish – the taxe d’enlevement des ordures menageres – where this is charged at the same time. Dear Mr Barke,

The reduction in taxe fonciere for those aged between 60 and 75 and the complete exemption for property owners aged over 60 is subject to a few conditions including income thresholds.

As long as your French property is your main residence, one member of your household fits the exemption criteria and you earn below the applicable income threshold (see table below) you should not pay the taxe fonciere or the taxe d’habitation.

Table: Income Thresholds

Household Size Income Threshold
1 €9,837
1.5 €12,464
2 €15,091
2.5 €17,718
3 €20,345

Even if you earn more (up to €23,133 for one person, €32,791 for a couple, the figure increasing for additional family members) you may still receive some tax relief. However, if anyone in your household earns above the upper income threshold you will not be eligible.

The reduction in taxe fonciere for those aged between 60 and 75 is also means-tested.

If, after reading this information, you believe that your taxes are being calculated incorrectly/that you are entitled to tax relief that you are not receiving, you should visit your local Centre d’impôts and discuss your circumstances with them.

You may wish to consider seeking financial advice from an English-speaking French accountant (expert comptable) or tax advisor (conseiller fiscal) or possibly an AMF-regulated company specialising in French taxation.

(The AMF or Autorité des Marchés Financiers is the French equivalent of the FSA in the UK, to check if a company is registered with them visit http://www.amf-france.org/bio/rech_CIF.aspx and enter the company name in the box ‘Nom du CIF’).

I hope this information is useful. For further advice please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note: any exhonoration or means-tested tax relief does not apply to that part of the tax fonciere related to the collection of rubbish – the taxe d’enlevement des ordures menageres – where this is charged at the same time.

]]> By: mike barke http://blog.sextantproperties.com/2009/12/06/understanding-french-taxes/comment-page-1/#comment-2780 mike barke Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:49:50 +0000 http://blog.sextantproperties.com/?p=482#comment-2780 In the above mentioned article Matthieu talks about a 100 euro (or more) reduction for owners aged 60 to 75 of Taxe fonciere and a complete exemption of Taxe D'habitation for owners over 60 years old. Are these figures true for all people of these ages or are they income related? It is very difficult for non (or little) French speakers to get accurate and up-to-date information regarding these taxes, and, having suffered a nearly four fold increase in these taxes in our first year in our property in Mayenne we are concerned that the taxes levied have been calculated correctly. Many thanks in anticipation of any information you might be able to supply or any name of someone we can contact for some help. Regards Mike Barke In the above mentioned article Matthieu talks about a 100 euro (or more) reduction for owners aged 60 to 75 of Taxe fonciere and a complete exemption of Taxe D’habitation for owners over 60 years old.
Are these figures true for all people of these ages or are they income related?
It is very difficult for non (or little) French speakers to get accurate and up-to-date information regarding these taxes, and, having suffered a nearly four fold increase in these taxes in our first year in our property in Mayenne we are concerned that the taxes levied have been calculated correctly.
Many thanks in anticipation of any information you might be able to supply or any name of someone we can contact for some help.

Regards

Mike Barke

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