Patflan

Having moved to France and left the UK tax system and joined the French I can help you a bit. You must decide where it would be best to pay tax and establish your residence for tax purposes accordingly. The two systems are different. In France there is no PAYE and you pay around the middle of October based on your income in the previous calendar year. If you opt for France you need to start by filling in a UK P85 and a FRA 2. The second form is two part in English and in French. Bothe parts are filled in with the same information. You lodge this at your local Hotel des Impots who register you in the French system sending the form to Paris who then send the English section back to the Inland Revenue. You can then get all UK income except share dividends and Pensions from UK Government employment paid free of UK tax. You can also reclaim tax already paid but relating to the periods after you left UK. In the UK tax for non residents is looked after by the Centre for Non-Residents, Fitz Roy House,PO Box 46 Nottingham NG2 1BD Tel:01159742074. Once theyhave sorted you out you come under the Bootle Office. I have found them veryeasy to deal with on the phone. Hope this helps Patflan

Most shops selling phones and computers sell the leads as a seperate item in there spares section. These plug into the back of computers, faxes and phones. My experience was that there is no problem with computers and faxes. My UK bought ones worked first time. however with phones the position was different. I could use a UK phone to ring out on OK however the phone would not ring on incoming calls. I was told the ringback circuit is different in France. Patflan

I can comment on a few of your questions. 1. Bank Account - We opened an account with Credit Agricole. If you then contact Credit Agricole Indosuez in London you can set up a standing order to move money on a regular basis to your French account. The cost is 6 per transfer. There is a local charge when the money goes into your French account but that would arise however you moved money. To get details ring 02073039173/4/5. 2. ISP,s I suggest you also look at CTA who we use, it is designed for the Brit in France. Have a look at their site www.ctanet.com . 3. In our area, Mayenne, you go straight to the Prefecture for Carte Sejours. 4. The best insurer for UK registered cars in France seems to be Groupama but not all their offices are as keen as others. On cars do remember that you can't sell RHD cars easily in France. You might find it better to switch to a LHD car before you move. We traded a RHD for a LHD with Left Hand Drive Place in Basingstoke. Have a look at their site www.LHDPlace.co.uk. Hope these comments are helpful. Patflan