Tartiflette

Eurotrash, thanks for taking the time to give me sensible advice, I do appreciate it. Yes, the reason for wanting to keep a UK company is that all of our clients are British, trust a UK company which is registered to Companies House and wish to pay in £ (although they may not once it is worth 10 cents lol). I did look at the URSSAF system for foreign companies with no established branch here in France and this seems to me to be the best way to do things, ie set up OH as an employee in France, so we will initiate that process. I have a further CdS RDV in February - I just felt completely unprepared for the one I cancelled, and by late Feb I will have submitted figures for my ME and will have invoices, entries to my bank account etc. This is my first experience of forums of this type and while you and some others have been really super helpful, I have found that others have been very quick to judge and point the finger without really fully understanding the situation - I guess that's life! So you may not see me much on here again, but thanks again for all your sound advice.

Cathar Tours, of course! My aim is to be able to live and work (albeit on a self-employed basis) in France permanently and legally. Whatever type of Brexit ie. deal or no deal will mean many of us will have to jump through more hoops in order to do this. A no-deal Brexit is a very frightening but increasingly possible outcome which is why I'm simply trying to get things in order now and not in March!

Hi Eurotrash, Thanks for all your advice so far. Firstly, with regards to the actual topic originally posted, I have cancelled my Cds appointment. Secondly, with regards to your most recent post, I'm not so concerned about my own situation - I am now a sleeping partner in our UK business and the entirely separate activity I do within my micro-entreprise is my principal activity here in France, and I am hoping it will provide enough income to obtain a temporary Cds (if it doesn't then we're pretty much doomed). It is my partners situation we need to sort, so that he is legally established in the French social security and tax system. Do you know if it is legal for him to set up a micro-entreprise himself and bill the UK company for the work he carries out here? I feel like I have stepped into a minefield, and just trying to do the right thing (there must be a way!!!) so any advice you have on the above would be very welcome.

Thanks Cathar Tours, My micro-entreprise is nothing at all to do with our business in the UK (ie. completely different activity) and is my main activity here in France. I will be nowhere near the threshold limits so not too worried about that but it should still provide me with a reasonable income hopefully. Yes, our UK company is registered at Companies House, and we just take a very small dividend (it ain't Apple!). I will have access to the healthcare system via the micro-entreprise I am told (although I will need to chase this) but for now we have (expensive!) private health insurance. Our UK accountant is great, but doesn't really have any knowledge of the French accounting system/dual tax treaty etc. I just can't believe that there are not people living in France (legitimately and legally!) who own companies registered elsewhere in the world! Thanks for your advice, however. I think we definitely need to pay a professional to get some advice on this!

Thanks Nomoss, That is exactly what I intend to do - I have already been to the tax office to try to inform them "we are here" but they weren't that interested and basically said come back in May 2019 with your paper tax return! Registering my micro-entreprise should alert someone somewhere to the fact that I am here at least!

Wow, in writing this post I certainly opened a can of worms. Some of the posts actually offended me as they implied that I am somehow "dodgy" when I have just set up a legal and legitimate business structure in France! But thanks for some of the more useful advice.

For those people who cannot get CdS appointments until later in 2019, you probably think the title of this post is downright insane but hear me out! My husband and I have only recently established residency in France despite having owned a property here for three years and spent several months a year in France in previous years. We have a UK-based company which provides the majority of our income however I have recently set up a micro-entreprise (I have just this week received all the documentation etc). I have my CdS appointment next week, however having heard all the horror stories of what is required etc. I'm wondering whether I actually have the supporting documentation to prove income etc.(although I have done work in the last two weeks under my micro-entreprise I won't have any evidence of income in my account for several weeks. Currently appointments are available at my local prefecture for late February when I will have had more income through my micro-entreprise so would I be more successful obtaining the Cds if I cancel my current appointment and book one for later? I also have no Avis d'impots as we are not required to submit tax returns until next May. Most people I talk to regarding CdS appointments have been here for years and therefore have much more supporting documentation. Has anyone else in a similar situation applied for the CdS (ie. only recently resident) and what was your experience? Any advice would be much appreciated.