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[quote user="idun"]Married couples do a joint return  in France, she should not be doing a separate return. The french are not interested in tax/income prior to your moving to France. I would go to the tax office in person and ask for help. What possessed you to put the wrong date down? Why did the notaire go along with it? Very strange. [/quote] The date I put down was the date of the French marriage contract that the Notaire suggested was best for us as joint owners of the property we had just bought. The contract was done at the same time we signed for the property in his office. I think I misunderstood what he had said regarding tax and I thought this was the date I had to put on the form as there was a bit of a joke in his office at the time as us having to be married again! In summary, the date of the marriage contract was the same date we began living here permanently. I still do not know why the tax office wish details of our income etc for a period that we were not resident in France (ie before the day we signed for the property in the Notaires office and have lived here permanently ever since.

After handing in our first tax return recently to the local tax office and having it checked as being ok, I have today received a letter stating that my wife should submit her tax return details separately. The reason for this, I suspect, is that on the form 2024, I put the date of our marriage as being the day last year when we signed for the house at the Notaire`s and added a French marital contract, as I thought that that date would be the relevant one for tax purposes. We have actually been married for several years, so possibly I was wrong to add that particular date on the tax return and should have consulted this forum!!! Also, what relevance to the tax authorities here in France is my wife`s tax affairs, PRIOR to moving here in May last year and being resident in France? What would be the best course of action here......1) going to the tax office with our UK marriage certificate as proof that we have been married for several years, a copy of the Notaire`s marital contract which waa drawn up for us and signed on the date stated last year, as well as an explanation of why I put the worng date down OR have my wife fill in a seperate tax return for the period prior to the date we arrived here last year? (ie 1/1/10 - May 2010), although I do not see what relevance this has to the tax office.

I have one too! What I am wondering about is, if anyone has applied online for the credit card and then visited the store within the 15 days they specify, and whether that credit is available on the day when you show the documents they request to complete your file.

Anyone ever applied for this account?

Yes, it is a sensible option. My situation is nearly the same as yours. We live in Maine et Loire (49), but have a CA Britline account. This was due to the English speaking aspect. I have never had any complaints and forme, they have provided a great, friendly, trouble free service.

Having followed all the advice, solely on this forum, particularly the tax faqs relating to Govt pensions, I have just returned from the local tax office after having it checked over by a tax officer, since it was my first time! Everything Aok and accurate - no problems. Just wanting to say thanks to all, particularly parsnips, jay, copperlola and susanh (forgot your username).

Light bulbs, No Nails if you use it and as much wood as you can carry. The latter is very expensive here. I purchased French 18mm oak flooring in the UK for a quarter of the cost here.

I see that Ikea are advertising their Ikea Family card where customers can apply online and then bring their ID/banking proofs etc. to an Ikea store for a credit up to 1,500 euros. Has anyone applied for this card in this way and if so, is the credit available for purchases on the day you show your ID etc at the store?

There is also no mention of this on The Connexion`s 2011 Tax Guide.

I thought I would telephone HMRC and ask them. Basically, for a first ever French tax return, if anyone has no other income from the UK, other than a UK Govt pension, which has to be taxed in the UK, they do NOT have to submit the form FD5.

and Cooperlola..I am not doubting your advice in any way, (I really appreciate it) its just that I now remembered where I downloaded the form and the reason I was going to fill it in. Maybe a case of better sending one than not..they can always bin it! [8-)]

I found the place where I downloaded the form (another ex pat type website)...it states When you complete your first French tax return you should also complete the Form FD5, which the French tax authority then use to confirm to the UK authority that you are French tax resident. So, I wonder if I should fill the bits that I can in, only to " confirm to the UK authority that you are French tax resident", even though nothing else is applicable as per Copperlola`s reply, ie I don`t receive any interest from UK banks/savings etc. I have already sent HMRC the P85s.

Thanks folks, I am only 49...but I am sure the old age pension will come flying towards me fast enough![:D]

Thanks again Parsnips, I have emailed the pension Section of the council to see if they can send a letter to me urgently. Just have to wait and see.!!

In the confusion of assembling all the tax forms together for our first ever French tax return, I have downloaded the HMRC UK/France Double Taxation Convention (SI 2009 Number 226) form. Now that I was about to fill it in, I see the only criteria that applies to me is that I am in receipt of a UK Govt pension which is taxed at source in the UK. Therefore, I am not entitled to any tax relief as this is the only income and asset I have in the UK. Is there any other reason for filling it in and submitting it to the French tax office?

Thanks Parsnips, I think I may have left this a bit late as I thought that the half part was solely due to having a carte d`invalidité of at least 80%. I am not sure how long it will take for my pension provider (a city council) to provide such a letter. I doubt whether I will have it in time, all translated, in time for the end of May deadline. Is it acceptable to tick the box and provide a covering letter with the submitted tax forms stating that the required translated document would be with the tax office in due course?

Thanks Jay, that was my recollection of the post! The paperwork I have is basically just numbers, ie calculation of injury pension, the words "Police Injury Award" and "Level of Disablement 3 (3 being the 50-75% banding, which is stated on the form). Apart from about 6 words, all are numbers, so I am just wondering if the English worded version would be accepted as it is rather self explanatory with even a basic knowledge of English ...but then again this is France !!!

Can someone remind me where, or if I have to, declare, on the Tax return, my UK Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and my Police Injury Award amount, both of which are not taxed. I believe the latter is classed as  "pension accident du travail dans le sens du CGI,art. 81-8. pour invalidité de plus que 40%"(mines is within the 50-75% banding). Apologies to the member who contacted me before re this, but I have deleted the email by accident. Help!! Also, where can I find the amount of credit to claim for installation of new eco doors and windows? Thanks in advance.

I was about to send off the letters when I looked at previous correspondence from Euro -Assurance. Apparently the anniversary date of the policy is 1st April annually (even though it says 15th June on my policy document) and that I require 3 months notice to cancel. So therefore, it appears there is no way at the moment to cancel the policy. I am just worried that in future there will be insufficient funds in my bank account to cover it and that will cause further financial problems ( at least the complimentaire santé will cover the psychiatric bill caused by the stress of the way this country works!)

Thanks Sunday Driver, this is more complicated than I ever thought possible. Firstly, I never knew that I was subscribed to an association ( I never signed anything to say this was so, everything was done via Euro-Assurance. Consequently, I cannot see anything in the documentation I received that states any particular notice period stipulated by Acadia ( this name is menationed once at the bottom of the 1 page of documentation I received from Euro-Assurance). I will send off the letters anyway and see what happens. As per their suggestion of property and tickets...I do not own any property in the UK and we drove over here...and will drive back!

Thank you Sunday Driver, much appreciated. Now....does the one year anniversary date of this policy (ie 15th June) have any bearing on this course of action?, ie can I still cancel the policy now, using this method, or has it been left too late by way of giving the appropriate several months notice?

Thanks Sunday Driver. I put the article through an online translator, and as usual its just gobbledegook! Can you, or someone oblige, and advise me if I can get out of this? Many thanks in advance.

I have just received the following email from the mutuelle stataing that the Loi Chatel does not apply in my case : Suite à votre dernière correspondance ,je vous rappelle que votre contrat est un contrat de groupe à adhésion facultative souscrit par le biais de l'association ACADIA et qu'il se trouve donc exclu du champ d'application de la loi Chatel. I knew that in certain cases this law did not apply, but I was sure that the contract could be cancelled within 15/20 days by letter recommandée in any case.

I wonder if anyone can provide some advice on what I can do to cancel my complimentaire santé as I can no longer afford the premiums, and we plan to return to the UK by early next year I have had the policy for one year and the anniversary for renewal is June 15th. I sent a letter "avec recom mandée" (and an email) stating that I would either cancel the contract with notice or cancel within 20 days (by sending letter recommandée) of receiving the renewal notice. The insurance company have come back stating that they will only cancel the policy if I send a letter (recommandée) at least 3 months prior to the 1st April of each year, OR if I move back to the UK, proof of change of residence along with copies of plane or train tickets home. When I mentioned that I could cancel within 20 days of receiving the renewal notice, they said that they do not recognise that and that I cannot cancel unless I adhere to the terms in the preceding papragraph. I was sure that I could cancel within 20 days of a renewal notice which they were obliged to send. Any advice please.

Thanks to all. I am just back from BM. No problem, they just took my word for it that I had bought it from them last year. I did not have to show them anything paperworkwise, and not having the receipt was not a problem. Anyway, they took it into their storage area to repair it as they could not get it going either. They will contact me in a few days when they have repaired it.....phew that was easy!