Amandap

Thanks for that Sue, that's a relief!  I shall dutifully pay it then. Cheers

We received a letter this morning from our local Tresorier entitled as above.  There is a 'Somme a payer' due by 15/02/07.  I'm guessing its an 'up front' payment for 2006 based on 2005.  We didn't have anything like it last year, but that would have been an up front payment for 2005 based on 2004 and we didn't arrive until September 2004. Can someone reassure me its not MORE money we owe from 2005 - PLEASE. Thanks Amanda

surely you don't have a choice whether or not you declare dividends? These, I believe, count as 'unearned' income and therefore attract the 11% CSG thingy. I hope I'm wrong. I'll have to go away and read the double taxation treaty, but if you're resident in France I thought you had to declare all income, no matter where it comes from? Amanda

Hello - sorry in advance for the lengthy reply, just glad to be able to post something useful to people out there. We are in the EXACTLY the same situation as you and it has taken a while to sort it out, based on advice that sent us round and round in circles. You need to register at URSSAF as 'a sole representative in france of a foreign company' - not as 'a 2nd branch of UK company' (we did this in error and am now in the process of trying to change it. This option brings with it the necessity to pay corporation tax in france based on 'company profit' here. Since all we bring into france is my husband's wages, there is no 'company profit', and therefore unless I get it changed, will have to employ an accountant to do the co. books!) So, do the first thing, i.e. 'sole representative of foreign company in france'. You'll get a SIRET number with either option. Now, in order to be able to be 'salaried' over here (cheapest option), you or your other half must not be 'gerant majoritaire', i.e. adding your div shares together must not receive more than 49%. (possibly not more than 50%, but we didn't take the risk, seek advice!) Not sure if this applies if you are not married. If you are not in this position, or cannot put yourself in this position, then I think you have to register as a TNS (travailler non salaire - or something like this). In addition to 'salaire' being the cheapest option, it also means that you and your family can get a carte vitale as long as your hourly rate is more than €8.03 per hour and that you work for more than 60 hours a month. If you are able to be salaried, then you can register online, or at URSSAF, with a 'DUE' (I think). It just states when you are starting work, and for whom. You can probably do it at the same time when you register as 'sole representative' although won't be able to put the SIRET number on the DUE yet. As for not paying tax in UK. You'll need to keep on top of this. I'm still chasing my husband's NT (no tax) code, IR have made a right pigs-ear of it, but hopefully will come through soon. As for NI - we don't want to pay it as we can't see the point in guarding NI interests back in England - if you do want to be exempt from this it is IMPERATIVE that you say that you carry out 100% of your duties outside the UK. You probably have to say the same thing to get a NT code. We also run an internet business - most IR employees find it difficult to believe that you really don't have to go to the UK at all! If you have been given a workers E106 then unless you've been seconded here by your own company (!) I don't think its valid. If like us, you were too honest with the inland revenue and said you were moving for good, they won't have issued an E106. By the time we sorted it all out we'd been in france for 9 months without any cover, with 2 young kids - luckily we didn't need it, but still paid a good €400 in visits to the Dr. for vaccinations etc. Look into signing up for CMU at CPAM initially if you think the above may take a while. Anyway, hope this helps. I believe it to be correct - pm me if you want to discuss any of this. Just like to add: a big 'thank you' to babnik and his OH, without whom we would still be wondering what the hell to do!

Well, we've flown from and back into Rochefort, arrived back yesterday afternoon. The airport is tiny, but fine. We left our car there for 8 days, parking free, no problems at all. There is a bar, but not sure if it does food (we'd brought our own as we have young kids and can't risk that sort of thing). Coming back was fine too, although the luggage carousel is hilarious. There is a hertz hire car portacabin right outside, and in the car park there are spaces allocated to taxis, so I guess they're there too. Anyway, hope that helps...