Nessie

If you start up a business in France, is the system the same as in the UK where you can earn a certain amount before paying tax?  If your partner wants to start something like a B&B and doesn't have any other source of income, either in the UK or France, how much could be earned before income tax became payable?

Thanks, how can I check on line?

When I receive a quote for a job from someone who only shows me a SIRET number, how do I know that he is registered to do the job in question?  If an autoentrepreneur, does he have to show anything else/  How do I know if he has professional insurance?  Apart from asking the person myself, is there a link or website I can check it out? Thank you.

Just been re-thinking the issue and does it matter whether I am economically active or not? There is a likelihood that after a year of house renovation I will have somewhere that allows me to start a business-ie renting out a gite, or maybe I'll do something different.  If I was working in France, or more likely self employed, wouldn't I have to pay the equivalent of Nat Ins contributions? In that case would I be entitled to any benefits from the health system? I have also just discovered that my teachers pension counts as a Govt Service Pension so no joy on that one as far as French tax is concerned! Thanks, Alan

Thank you very much for going into detail.  Does that mean that the sequence of events where one of us is the sole earner through a UK pension is: Take 10% from annual income Divide residue in half (husband/wife) For each of the two halves, take off the 5687 Then with the residue of each half, start subtracting the appropriate percentages from each band, the sum of which represents the total amount payable for that year. Alan

Now that the November 23rd issue now seems to be resolved, what's the likely outcome for a 60 year old, about to move to France and live permanently with his wife in the house that they purchased 2 years ago?  The official version seems to be that I'm OK till Jan 2010 (I retired Dec 2007 aged 60.5) and have to take out private health cover till June 2012 when I'm 65. Is this the sort of thing that gets taken up at Strasbourg when somebody questions why, after paying contributions in another European country for nearly 40 years, the right to health cover is no longer transferable to another member state?  Tell me which railings-I'll bring my own chains. Alan D

Thanks.  Starting to make sense. What tax free allowance would a married man with no other dependents receive?  I assume that the system is the same in France as the UK-ie you get a tax free allowance till the lower rate of tax (5.5%?) kicks in and then you move steadily upwards. Alan D

Thanks. I presume I have to inform the tax office (or pensions?) that I will be paying tax in France.  Should I then obtain up to date info from them to show to the French tax office to ensure I'm not taxed twice?  What would be the changeover date, is it the day that I officially take up residence in France? Alan

I have just received my English tax code for April 2008 onwards so I know how much I will have left each month of my pension, which is at present my sole source of income.  I have also been told that my pension can be taxed in France so I have to find out how much tax I would pay under the French system, do a like-for-like calculation and decide whether it will be advantageous to be taxed as a French resident.  The inevitable questions are: How can I find out how much I would be taxed in France-ie how to do the sums. How do I make the request to be taxed as a French resident. Are there any hidden problems-if I find I will be better off under the French tax system it will sound too good to be true! Alan D

Very interesting.  Many thanks.  My position is that I'm on a teacher's pension which is taxed in the UK.  I was assuming that this was something I couldn't change. The thought of getting all my tax back after I transfer sounds too good to be true but isn't there a minimum qualifying period?  I think I'm reasonably au fait with car ownership and health. Alan D

This may seem an odd question but what are the actual criteria that determine when you become a French resident? I've been paying all the usual taxes etc for the house we bought 2 years ago but intend to move over permanently soon.  We'll probably keep an English address (currently living with daughter) and I have an English pension paid into an English bank account and will presumably pay English income tax.  However, I don't want to keep sitting on the fence if it penalises us in some way and we lose eligibility for things we would have had if we were officially French residents. I suppose most readers have been through this themselves but with changes to the health service causing confusion, I wonder if there are any other issues emerging that may also change the situation. Thanks, Alan D

I think I know how to register-thanks Forum.  Do you have to pay car tax in France and what will I need to show in order to insure my car?  Is insurance similar to UK eg discount for no claims etc.  Oh, and does anyone have a pair of headlamps for a 1999 Renault Scenic? Thanks. Alan D

Many thanks.  Does that mean that if I didn't actually move out there till I was about 63, there wouldn't be a period when I had to pay for health insurance? Alan.

Can anyone clarify my position or advise me where I can get an accurate answer?  I retired from teaching in December, 6 months after my 60th birthday.  We have owned our French house, paid all the necessary taxes etc for over 2 years. Just after Christmas I began moving everything over, having sold my house in the UK 30th November (living temporarily with daughter).  By April, everthing will be in the French house and so will my wife (aged 53) and myself. Will either of us now have to take out private health insurance and if so when and for how long? Many thanks. Alan D

If immigration is high on his agenda what's the general view on Brits moving to France?  Restriction or encouragement because we are a source of income?

I am hoping to move to France in January 2008 with my wife and having reached the age of 60 and left my job in a further education college, will be relying on my teachers pension for support.  Unless I say otherwise, it will be paid into my UK current bank account. There must be a few ex-teachers out there in a similar position so i'd appreciate some advice on how best to make the most of my pension.  Should I ask for it to be paid directly into my French account and take the risk of daily fluctuations in the Euro?  Is there a better way?  What about tax-French or UK?  Anything else I ought to be aware of? Look forward to hearing... Alan D

We have just had EDF out to us in Normandy this week to upgrade to 45w . What a nightmare! They firstly chopped down my 10yr old prize clematis without telling me, proceeded with the installation and buggered off without doing any sort of" test run". On trying to put power back on ourselves found that we couldn't get the power switched on at all. We then had to phone them to explain that we had been left with no power at all and could they please send someone back to us. This took 6 hours of pleading etc and when they did finally return and removed the new meter found that the main cable had not even been connected! I hurriedly went round flicking various lights etc on and off before we let them leave again and thought all was well. Some hope!!! Later that evening I went to prepare our evening meal and found that there was no power at all in the kitchen.In desparation we phoned an electrician to come and sort it out and he fpound that in installing the new meter EDF had drilled through the the wiring whitch fed the kitchen. He sorted it out, and charged us £170 euros for his services. The moral of all this is : Dont assume that EDF know what they are doing! { we have since been told that they tender work out , so you may or may not get someone who is good} Dont let them leave without testing every socket, appliance and lightswitch in the house. Make sure that you have the phone number of a reliable, trustworthy electrician beforhand!  

Just received a letter from the Direction de la Protection Sociale in St. Lo, service cotisations, objet: affectation de vos terres and not sure what to do with it.  It appears to be some sort of survey and a form entitled: Releve des terres non assujetties, which refers to the situation cadastre 16/06/06, is attached.  It refers to land being divided into categories: terres, pres, vergers, vignes and landes.  My O level French and a good dictionary have enabled me to do most of the translation.  It seems as if I have to sign and certify something and send it back but I don't want to do this without understanding a bit more.  I've only had the house since December and am visiting irregularly so the situation will not have changed since the last owner who apparently completed the form some time ago. Can anyone identify the letter and form? Thanks, Alan D