Babnik

Can I just add, that as an employee, you have to do all the paperwork anyway, so it's no big deal for an employer. I just get everything gross! Steve

We have 2 very large, ornate and I think beautiful open fireplaces in our Charentaise. My wife thinks we should leave them as they are and use them as is. I think that they're going to be very inefficient, and you're going to lose a lot of heat upwards. You can actually get in the fireplace and see the sky they're so big. Anyone got any ideas? Previous owner had a woodburning stove in one of them, but it looked out of place to me! (btw this will NOT be the only source of heat, more ornamental really!!) Steve

Coco, I find I'm paying around 42% of my wage in social contributions, but this includes what my employer would have paid in NI charges in the UK. I've worked out I get a few hundred euros less a month than i did in the UK (not including tax, but this is calculated on what's left after social contributions), but then again I don't have transport costs (which were a few hundred euros per month in the UK), although you then have heating costs etc etc. I still think I get more money than I would if I were to try and get a job in France (wages being a lot less here) And also I like the idea of working at home...no commute...no stress! If I didn't have the opportunity to work for a UK company from here, the move would have been a lot more difficult than it was! Steve

You can remain employed by your UK employer, but will have to pay French Tax and social charges if you are resident in France. It's not too difficult to set up (well I only say that as I now have it all set up) You can I suppose go independent, and write out invoices to your 'employer'. I'm not sure how this would affect you financially, but you'd still have to pay tax and social charges, and don't get the protection an employee gets here! Steve

I have to agree with Miki, that the law is a grey area where licences are concerned. I suppose it doesn't really matter, if you reach 12, you'll have your licence revoked be it British or French! For what it's worth, I have been caught speeding in France, while in the possession of a British Licence, and have been 'awarded' 2 points. I have since changed to a French licence, and as Miki stated the points do not appear on the licence, but they are there somewhere in the system. I'm not intending to get to 12 to find out what happens! Steve

Now that you have a point on your licence, and you are resident in France, you MUST change to a French licence. Having said that I have no idea how this is checked, but I don't know what would happen next time you are stopped!!   Steve

Well what I did was make sure that it was clear that it wouldn't cost my employer anything extra. I suppose it all depends on how expendable you are though. I'm sure my employer would have prefered me to stay in the UK, but they guessed that had I not been allowed to remote work from France I may have left anyway! I have to add that I was already working 3 days a week from home in the UK before this move so it's not as much of a change as it would be. I was also put on a 6 month trial basis, just in case it didn't work out. I worked my butt off for 6 months to make sure it would be ok, but I needn't have worried as they're very happy with the situation, and it's now permanent! At the end of the day, the worst than can happen is you get a 'No' as an answer...unless you ask you'll never know!! Steve  

" If that was the limit at the camera (which would be surprising given the nature of the road) " I was recently 'nabbed' doing 71 on a 50km/h road.....the road is one I pass on daily, and it's extremely difficult to do 50 on this road, it's wide, straight and it's not a residential area. When you do stivk to the limit, you invariably get tail-gated. So the 'nature of the road' means nothing. I obviously now keep to 50 always on this road, but it seems I'm the only one. A good spot for the police to make some money..and they know it! Steve

While I haven't actually used the airport myself, I did go for a quick look the other day as I live in Rochefort. It's a very small airport (airfield), and there is what basically could be called a field for parking. Some kind of work was going on, possibly laying tarmac for a parking area. Steve

Eskenazi, what they probably mean is that if you perform the work in the UK, then you are taxed in the UK, even if you are resident in France (going to the UK occasionally to perform the work). Social charges are paid in the country of residence. I'm not sure who told you that you pay tax in the UK, but I'm not, and it's the IR who have said I don't have to! Steve

I see a possibility for a change of career here : Tax Advisor!

You pay tax where you are resident....residency is quite complicated in itself, but if you are live in a country more than 182 days a year, you are considered resident in that country. The rule also says if you are in a country greater than 90 days on average over 5 years, you are considered resident. Therefore it's possible to be resident in 2 countries at the same time. France and the UK have a double taxation agreement, so you wouldn't pay both. While French tax is more advantageous than UK tax, it's the social charges that are the killer! Social charges/NI are also paid in the country of residence. It makes sense, as you'll be using French Social/Health services if you need them, so you have to pay in France! Steve

Can I also add that because in the UK, you are paid AFTER both PAYE and NI have been deducted, you never really think about it...now it's very painful to get a nice cheque every month from your employer and have to see to write a cheque every 3 months for these charges! Steve

I am employed by my company and not self employed, but the French authorites have no juridiction over UK companies, so I (as the representitive of the UK company in France) am liable for all charges (including Employer charges). My employer pays be gross plus anything they would have paid as NI contributions in the UK, then I take care of the rest. They do not deal with the French authorities! The 43% (that's an average), is from this gross+NI. For e.g. If my wage is say 900€ a month, the company gives me 1000€ (including the NI they WOULD have paid in the UK..if you can get your company to pay the 40% or so that is the norm in france..then great!) I then pay around 400€ a month in social charges leaving me with 600€ a month. Calculations are really much more complicated than that, but I am an employee, with all the rights that French employees have (Pension/Health care/redundancy insurance etc etc) It's expensive and that doesn't include tax, but I didn't come to France for the money.....

Christophe, I'm paid gross plus what my employer would have paid in NI charges in the UK (12% I think) from that figure I pay around 43% in total per month on social charges(both employer and employee) Tax, I have worked out will be about 1 month's wage for a year(depends on whether you're married or not and have kids)....so yes it's expensive!! Steve

Christophe, I was pleasantly surprised with how much my accountant charges...when you see the pay slip you know it's money well spent. As for one Europe....bulls..t is all I can say. Apart from freedom of movement, everything else in our move was difficult and not made any easier by us all being in the EU. I don't know if you were to move from say Germany to France if things would be any easier. (Well you wouldn't have exchange worries at least!) Steve

While it is possible to continue paying NI in the UK (up to a year), that scheme is supposed to be for employees seconded to a French office for a set time. I don't know if you have to prove that that is the case. As to the forms/scheme etc etc, it's all too complicated for me, and  have got an accountant taking care of everything. Just to demonstrate how complicated it is, my monthly payslip is 4 A4 sheets long!!! Steve

I use firefox as my default, but I've left IE just in case! Steve

The form is a P85...   http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cnr/p85.pdf   Steve

I filled in a form before I left the UK...can't remember the what form it was, but you should find it on the IR website, applying to be exempt from tax in the UK. The IR will then contact your employers giving them permission not to deduct paye. At first there was an inital delay, and it seemed I'd have to pay both for a while then get a refund....a few phone calls, and I sorted it out. I am now paid gross (very painful when you see it, and then you have to pay it later) and then take care of things on this side! I'll try and remember what the form was called! Steve

If you travel back to the UK regularly, you can reclaim expenses as your place of work is now France, and travel to UK(or anywhere else) is deemed as expenses. That's assuming you pay them yourself. You do pay more here, but I find that after all is said and done, and you include cost of living, it's about equal(e.g. car insurance is same here as in uk, in euros, so about a third cheaper, I had private health cover in uk, and my top up insurance here is again 1 third cheaper)!  And as far as social charges are concerned, you get what you pay for...the health system is second to none. (yes I've had to use it a few times so I know what I'm saying) Steve

The systems with dual LNBs are for Astra and Hotbird (19 and 13 degrees east), therefore the two lnbs are offset 6 degrees to each other. I have never heard of (but hey it may be possible) of a system with 3 LNBs that can also get Astra 2D at 28 degrees east. As far as I'm aware you'd need either a motorised system (expensive) or two dishes with a 4 in 1 diseq switch. The two LNB packages usually have a 2 in 1 diseq switch. Also, although the Astra 2D beam is centred on the UK, all france should be able to receive it with a dish of 60cm width, with the south maybe needing an 80cm dish. steve

Leaving well alone I fear is not an option. If you're resident in France, you are liable to French Taxes and social charges. I currently work for a UK company, but am resident in France. I am a sole representitive of a foreign company. Pretty much the same as you are currently but in the UK. I suppose you could try for the independent route, but I wouldn't have any experience in that, so I can't help you there! Steve

Just read my reply again : Looks like you were overdrawn and the charge is interest on that amount overdrawn. while it's short and to the point, I didn't mean any offence by it! Steve

I'm sorry you're angry at my reply, but it wasn't a guess. That's what the bank reply means. Now if you weren't overdrawn, then there must be an administrative error somewhere. No need to get angry at me Steve