Aly
-
Posts
264 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by Aly
-
-
Is anyone still waiting. We have not had our bill yet. Checked online - nothing. Our accountant says many are still waiting?
-
If you live in France then even UK bank interest is taxable in France. You can try and claim back the UK source tax.
-
dr orloff - just to be clear do you request a summary from HMRC detailing your payments or are you referring to the self assessment paperwork that you or your accountant complete for your UK return
-
DaftDoctor thats awful. As I said there is such huge variance from office to office. If you get some nasty person.........well! I would send them the relevent sections of the DTT . I think if you search online they are easy to find. You can also get your accountant to lodge an appeal for you. Perhaps someone can explain the process on the forum. What they are asking of you makes no sense. I am no longer living in France but am still waiting for my Avis. My accountant advised that in some areas it could be the end of Sept by the time they are sent out even though they advise that it has to be paid by mid Sept?
-
They have recently announced a plan to increase social charges on Pension contribution payments - perhaps that will help. I am sure they will find more and more imaginative ways to tax people. But the truth is France has crippling debt and the worst unemployment in modern times. Taxation alone is not the answer. Even Moscovici and Fabius now acknowledge that levels of taxation are too high and that citizens and busineses have had enough.http://www.catharcountryinfo.com/index.php/business-a-property/business-finance-a-legal/financial-advice-information/1170-social-charges-on-foreign-incomeEconomy Minister Pierre Moscovici admitting that he was well aware that citizens and businesses “had had enough”. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also warned that there were levels of tax that were too high. - See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/Income-tax-bills-Moscovici-enough-Fabius-14983-view-article.html#sthash.NZ15BKja.dpufEconomy Minister Pierre Moscovici admitting that he was well aware that citizens and businesses “had had enough”. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also warned that there were levels of tax that were too high. - See more at: http://www.connexionfrance.com/Income-tax-bills-Moscovici-enough-Fabius-14983-view-article.html#sthash.NZ15BKja.dpuf
-
[quote user="Daft Doctor"]Hi, I received my Avis today and although our UK property income in 2012 was way above UK tax threshold and even though a full tax credit was given against this income in the Avis, full social charges of 15.5% were levied against the income, in our case an overcharge of over 4,000 euros!I have emailed our french accountant about this and it seems from what has been said earlier in the thread that we have indeed been wrongly levied social charges on the income. Can anyone advise? How does one go about challenging this mistake? Is there a definitive statement which I can refer to if I go down to the impôts and challenge this directly? Any help gratefully offered, it is 4,000 euros I'd rather not have to pay up first then fight the Impôts for it back. against[/quote]Daft Doctor this has also been my understanding. I hope someone is able to respond with the proof you need.A couple of other points. I think we are all entitled to challenge tax systems and to compare them to others. We do not have to blindly accept everything that is French because we are expats. If you live in France be part of it challenge what you don´t like. France has more tax collectors then the US, yet the system is a bureaucratic nightmare. Problems raised here seem largely to be the result of the huge variance in interpretation of tax law from one tax office to the next. If the rule is you pay social charges then fine apply the rule uniformly in the same way across the country.As for looking for loopholes, many French do exactly the same. And many foreigners living in the UK do as well.
-
I think Bettys advise is really sound. Oh if only someone had given me that sort advise when I was thinking of a move to France. Thankfully I have now left although I am still stuck with a huge house in the middle of nowhere. You should definetly rent first, Think carefully abt where you buy. The net is full of hundreds of pages of adverts for French houses many are gites or guesthouses renovated by an army of North European expats. Think abt what you can re sell if needed otherwise you could be waiting years.. Do not renovate as it adds little value but costs buckets. You will probably be entitled to at least 2 years cover for Healthcare based on your UK contributions, maybe more if you work exclusively in the UKYou will have to declare tax in France even if your work is solely in the UK and even if you are paid in the UK. If you do anywork in France then that may complicate things furthur. As the French may claim that your work is not exclusively UK based and tax you differently. You will also pay tax on any rental income in the UK and declare that in France for your tax banding. Other things to consider are French inheritance laws and Capital gains on sales of property as well as French wealth tax which is on you world wide wealth. I think the tax applies after 5 years of residency and is for all wealth over 750.000 Euro.Spain I would avoid for all the reasons outlined. I moved to Germany. They do not tax you at all on UK rental income and are not interested in it. They have no tax habitation or fonciere or council tax, You just pay for rubbish collection. Cost of living is probably 20% less then France. But winters are cold. I love it and sorry to sound so negative, My advise do research I wish I had done!
-
I would check out your prospective competition. .Have a look at the local Tourist office website and GDF. Rents for Gite accomodation are comparitively low in France.Also as mentioned you would be taxed on the your French rental income as a non resident this would probably be a fixed percentage.Fuel costs are high as stated - you can factor this in but it may not make you as cheap Older houses are harder to heat. . If things do not work out again you may struggle to sell. The internet is full of people trying to sell gites and guesthouses in all areas. The housing marketis pretty depressed and this looks unlikely to change
-
I see the changes have come in.Unfortunately you have to have Capital gain to benefit from these changes.http://france.businessesforsale.com/french/search/Guest-Houses-and-Bed-and-Breakfast-Businesses-for-saleHope it helps some of these expats either to get buyers or where applicabel to get some return?UK house prices are being predicted to rise by 18% by 2017 according to Savilles. It makes it very difficult to return if things do not work out for some in France. Guess its a chance you take.
-
It will have a big impact on an already weak French housing market. It may may be the last straw for many but who do you sell too?Lets just hope its one of these bright ideas that never gets anywhere?
-
[quote user="NormanH"][quote user="Aly"]Your talking about a good sum of money. Do not rely on the knowledge of people who post on this forum alone as useful as it may be. France has more people working in Impots, ( taxation ) then the US. However the system is a mess with huge varations from one office to the next in interpretation and a lack of will to look beyond the tick boxes.My advise check it out with an accountant who specialises in UK/ French tax matters or at least with a good French accountant who would be prepared to investigate for you. It may cost you a few hundred but could say you alot more.France has all kinds of rules relating to Redundancy and your wifes working arrangements do not fit the norm.You could write to Bercy the head office. But responses can take upto 12 months. But get proper advise[/quote]You are undoubtedly right, and I always advise people not to believe all they read on a Forum (or even worse magazines such as the Correction ) but to go to the proper French authority.I would certainly not go to the sort of UK firm who prey on those whose French is not strong.In the recent thread about Tax declaration the UK 'advisors' behind the Correction's advice were wrong, and refused to admit it. You would certainly do better to follow parsnip's advice about l'indemnité de départ voluntaireI do agree with you Norman. I think many of us know of the rip of advisors.But having said that there are some who are very good both accountants and tax lawyers.Equally some French accountants who specialise in expat finances are as bad.Richy did approach the French tax authorities who did not seem to be ablle to understand his position. Maybe try a local French Accountant someone recommended. I got very good advise from Bercy which I was able to show my local office. But they are very difficult to get responses from. It took me a year plus three follow up letters.Where would you suggest approaching in the tax sytem if you are getting nowhere with your local office?[/quote]
-
Your talking about a good sum of money. Do not rely on the knowledge of people who post on this forum alone as useful as it may be. France has more people working in Impots, ( taxation ) then the US. However the system is a mess with huge varations from one office to the next in interpretation and a lack of will to look beyond the tick boxes.My advise check it out with an accountant who specialises in UK/ French tax matters or at least with a good French accountant who would be prepared to investigate for you. It may cost you a few hundred but could say you alot more.France has all kinds of rules relating to Redundancy and your wifes working arrangements do not fit the norm.You could write to Bercy the head office. But responses can take upto 12 months. But get proper advise
-
I think there is alot of wishful thinking here. To begin with France has lots of traffic (bothways) enroute to somewhere else. Hence the Germans are the top visitors more likely they are heading for Spain. The Brits, Belgians, Dutch, Swiss, Italians etc cross the channel and borders some enroute South others North and some staying in France. These statistics do not differenciate between staying tourists and those passing through. Without doubt France gets lots of tourists especially Paris and Nice but not sure I believe these figures particularly as the French cannot even give accurate figures for the numbers of ethnic minorites, religions etc living in France.
-
Thanks for that we never asked to see guests policies in the past. I wonder how widely known this is amongst non French gite owners? All of our bookings go via GDF I wonder if they check. I am trying to get a quote for cover. It seems that its possible to get Liabilty for guests if you insure your french property overseas. Daft I know?
-
As a non resident gite owner I was checking my insurance and understood that I had Liabilty cover but on clarifying this apparently my policy is general cover only and does not actually cover staying guests or damage caused by guests ie fire etc. The assumption is that guests in France use there own personal insurance in such situations, Seems a crazy practise.and what of non French guests or those that do not have insurance. Do people ask for copies of guests insurance policies before taking bookings?Does anyone know if its expensive to add specific guest liabilty to insurance? as opposed to general liabilty
-
[quote user="Clarkkent"]
[quote user="woolybanana"]CL, you forget the extent to which France has decentralized in the last years, leading to massive duplication of bureaucracy btwn the centre and the regions. And they re all over priviledged, lazy bastards, interested only in protecting their positions . And the main reason for the death of Europe.[/quote]
I have no argument with your sentiments. However, France is still a unitary state. There is only one, central, all-powerful government. The regional assemblies have no powers other than those which have been delegated to them. Their role is administration not government.
Germany, on the other hand is a federation of 16 American-style states, each with its own autonomous legislature in addition to its national government in Berlin. So the number of politicians in Germany, and hence their cost, is going to be much higher.
The comparison originally used by JustJohn is not a fair or a valid one - it is between the only government in France and the top-level government in Germany. That does not mean that the cost of government in France is acceptable.
[/quote]True in some respects but remember France has 27 administrative regions. They do not have federal powers but they exist with all the pomp of regional government.. All with a regional president and countless civil servants committees etc. France also have some 36000 mairies but that is another story. -
[quote user="Rabbie"]
Of course in democracies like France or the UK people have the right to campaign for change and I would defend that right.
My point was that each country does things in their own way and thats what makes them what they are. I don't think either country is perfect but I wouldn't want them to become soulless clones of each other either.
[/quote]You have just described the EU project a collection of clone states. -
[quote user="Rabbie"]Some things are done differently in France as compared to the UK. Some better, some are worse and some are just different. It's the differences which make the countries what they are. So just accept that nowhere is perfect and each country has its own funny little ways[/quote]I agree in part with your comments but equally we all have the right to challenge the status quo. Living in a country does not mean that you cannot want change or campaign for change. Brits campaigned sucessfully in France for the way changes to healthcare were being applied when these affected them and with again with considerable sucess with the recognition of UK civil partnerships.
-
If Hollande introduces some kind of US style Tax that applies to all French citizens regarless of residence. I wonder how many French living overseasespecially in London will give up there French passports.
-
If you move and leave your property vacant whatever you do don`t disconnect from EDFhttp://www.france24.com/en/20121101-paris-hopes-vacant-properties-can-solve-its-social-housing-crisis-franceParis for now.....
-
I am no expert and much depends on how and what they are paid. There are many non resident gite owners with an array fof arrangements. But one way may be that they are paid by CHEQUE EMPLOI SERVICE UNIVERSEL (CESU) this is usaully a method of payment for part time casual workers. The cheques are obtained from banks or post offices I believe and include at least min wage plus holiday and social contributions. Lots of info on the net re this scheme. Looking after gites is casual work depending on occupancy. That way I think insurance for the gites remains the owners responsibility. The owner should advise there insurer that they are non resident and detail the arrangments. As for the cottage a nominal rent or housesitting agreement may do. I would get an accountants advise to be certain. They would then need to sort out health cover again maybe an accountant can advise.If they are taking over the gites as a business full time then they should do some kind of lease \rental contract on the property. In the same way that someone leases a commercial business. They would then run it in the same schemes as a resident owner. Again seek advise maybe from an estate agent as to the type of contract and accountant for operating advise and also as to its financial viability.
-
[quote user="NormanH"]You are not totally mistaken [:)][/quote]Well I really hope Hollande saves France and Europe but sorry to say I am not very optimistic as he has achived well very little. Despite all his pre election posturing. In Europe its Merkel who calls all the shots. He has stopped talking abt Eurobonds, his big idea for saving the euro. The majority of the French. seem to agree according the polls -Sarko and chirac have never been so popular.
-
[quote user="Théière"]
I'm rather fond of cherries
[/quote]Thats nice thanks for sharing -
[quote user="parsnips"][quote user="Aly"]The French constitutional court has thrown out the 75 percent tax hike for high earners. What will he tax now I wonder?[/quote]Hi, Returning to the original subject , there seems to be a severe lack of light in the brain of Mr. Flamby, who has got to be the most useless ,incapable, un-charismatic , and indecisive president France has had in modern times. We are stuck with him for the next 5 years (God help us) , but there is always a hope that his "government" ( a motley collection of incompetents) may fall as a result of a no-confidence vote ,and be replaced by something a bit more effective. [/quote]The only way that will happen is if the left starts tearing into each other as in the past. I think its unlikely especially as Aubry is gone. and Segolene well? The UMP also looks a mess. Perhaps France needs to head into the brink before any meaningful changes can happen.
still no tax bill
in French Finance
Posted