Simon-the-censored

Hi French Frank - you raise a few important issues.... Residency and domicile are 2 completely different things...check out the HMRC website for full definitions. Practically impossible to change your domicile. Residency is a matter of fact - NOT a matter of choice. In general spending more than 183 days a year in France will make you a French resident for tax purposes no matter what - as will having your principal residence here. In fact after living here for more than 3 months, with the intention of staying, you are required to affiliate to the French health system or, if applicable, pay for private health cover until you have been resident for 5 years. The good thing is, there is a double taxation treaty between the UK and France so you won't pay the SAME taxes on the same income or assets - there may be extra ones, just not the same ones! If you are a French resident you're taxed on your worldwide income, investments and assets - just like in the UK. You can only use EHIC for emergency treatment - not for any ongoing requirements or visiting your local French GP etc.....be very careful here. If you are resident / living in France you must by law join the French healthcare system (if eligible) or prove that you have private health cover - you cannot become a 'burden' on the French state - until you have proved you can support yourself (or by transfer of benefits form the UK - S1 forms etc) for 5 years. Hope this helps and good luck Simon

What strange reactions I'm getting here.....hummmmmm. Not quiet sure what you're getting at in terms of the 'services' my wife provides. Things have moved on a bit in my world in that, believe it or not, some men cook - amongst the other 'services' also provided. Probably best to ask questions before jumping to conclusions, so here's a bit more info to help enlighten the bothered and bewildered....... I gave up (very willingly!) a perfectly good career flying round the world for 22 years to enable and support my wife in pursuing hers - how very modern! So, I run our smallholding together with it's menagerie of animals (including a couple of gorgeous horses), and our gite business in the stunningly beautiful Ariege and...I'm a very active director of my wife's company. It's just that I'm the one lucky enough to be at home now and fancied sharing my experiences with other blokes in the same situation. I never suggested I didn't earn any dosh - god forbid I was a kept man - that would never do would it? [:D] Oh - and for the record I'm 44 - i.e. my whole life has been post women getting the vote! Anyway - better get on, I've got a Victoria sponge in......[;-)]

emmmmm - maybe I shouldn't have used the word 'desperate' - just trying to be topical and looks like this may turn into a completely different type of forum! So, to clarify....I can't be the only bloke in the area whose wife is the one that commutes back to the UK (can I..???) ...which incidentally doesn't mean I sit around all day - plenty to do thanks.....!

Any more out there ? Just occured to me to ask when I dropped my wife off at the airport this morning for her regular commute to the UK........ Look forward to hearning from you [:D]