Hi all, I have read countless threads on the board but so far not found anything specific to our situation.
My mother is panicking and worried sick. Long story short...
20 years ago, she bought a 2 acre plot of woodland in the mountains south of Carcassonne. It was intended to be used by the family for camping holidays, but it's never been used at all. It has fruit trees/orchard on it, and the previous owner harvested fruit and honey from bee hives on the land.
Due to financial troubles and the fact it's not being used, she has just sold it this morning. It's taken a year, and the notaires have not mentioned any taxes to pay at all. She has never paid any tax on the land and has never received a single bill from any government office in France regarding the land.
But today, just as the sale completed, the agent sent an email and mentioned "taxe fonciere" which was the first I or my mum have ever heard of such a thing! The seller (20 yrs ago) said there were no taxes to pay on the land and she never looked further into it. No bills received so assumed until TODAY that this was correct! Maybe it is, but the agent got her very worried that she may not get a bill for MORE than the total she is getting by selling the land, causing her to land herself with debts rather than some spare cash!
The land sold today for half what she paid for it 20 yrs ago!
I have spent all day trying to find answers but no good. So, if anyone can help (because Google can't!).. How do you actually find out if tax is payable on a plot of land? Is there a way? I can't find one!
I told her that from my research, the likelihood is that no fonciere tax was payable because it's agricultural land, but even if it was, she would have received a bill long ago!
Also I told her that the notaires are some of the most reliable tax collectors for the French state, and IF anything was owed to the taxman, they would surely pay it before releasing any funds to her after the sale.
But I am far from sure, just trying to help her sleep tonight! I'd welcome any opinions on here by those more experienced/knowledgeable than myself. thanks
