Bertiebe

Hello, One answer, one question. The answer:  When you registered as AE, and if you opted for regime fiscal micro simplifiee (simplified tax regime - flat rate 1%) AND you checked box 8, pour the versement liberatoire etc, then you opted to pay tax at the same time as social charges and you were right to click OUI on your declaration and the amount will have gone up by 1%. Now, the question:  We went live on 1 April.  That's the date I've put in the 'Date de changement éventuel pour un régime réel d'imposition' box having just declared my 2nd trimestre income. Next time, do I put 1 July, i.e. is it the date from which you are declaring?  Or what? Please accept, Monsieur/Madam, the expression of our best greetings bertiebe

We got PACsd in St. Gaudens in 2007 and the very helpful lady at the Tribune de Grande Instance advised us that it was not necessary to go to a Notaire, infact she admitted that it made things more complicated and just cost you more money.  Unless you would have drawn up a Marriage contract (like the worthy film stars amongst us), then you can just make a statement that you wish to be PACsd and share your assets equally. Yes, you still have to get the long birth certificates, these then have to have a formal translation, plus the paperwork from the British Embassy (which by the way is the most expensive thing and really is a rip off imho), plus the statement from Paris confirming that you are not already PACsd in France etc. (which is free), and a date is then made at the Tribune and hey ho you get PACsd. Good luck to anyone going through the process, hope this helps. Bertiebe's other half.

Sorry if this doesn't belong here but I didn't quite know where else to put it.  By all means we can move it if there is a better place. OK, here it is. Just been trying to fill in my UK self assessment online and couldn't get past step 1 because it insisted on prompting me for a mandatory UK post code.  After several 'phone calls (most of which didn't reply) I got through to v. helpful techdesk person who calmly said: "Ah yes, this is a known problem; you have to put in a fictitious postcode"... right, no mention of it on FAQs etc... that would be silly.  You'd've been proud of me; I thanked her very calmly and politely without losing my temper. Q1 1IJ (that's Quebec one, space, one India Juliet) Hope this helps some of you. I remain, Bertiebe

Many thanks as always Clair for your prompt reply.

We have just received siret number having registered as professions liberales on line and have just received bumf from Premaliance mutuelle company stating the following:     'Pour votre entreprise quelque soit votre statut, vous avez l'obligation de faire adherer votre entreprise a un regime de retraite complementaire des salaries dans les trois mois suivant sa creation.' They then request we complete an enclosed form for AGIRC et ARRCO. Does anyone know exactly what this is?  Is it obligatory to return this form?  I assumed the 21% quoted as an AE included all contributions and cotisations automatically. Cheers, 'Bert & Chris

Thanks for replies.  I'll get straight on and register now!

Hi Great news for all us Prof. Liberales that the system is finally in place for us to register as AE's.   I am just about to register as an AE but have a couple of questions:  1.  Is there any great difference between the various Assurances Maladie that you have to choose when filling in the on-line application? 2.  If I choose one of the Assurances on-line when completing the AE application form will this mean I join automatically or do I have to contact them direct. 3.  I am currently covered by CMU de base, will this be cancelled automatically when I register as AE or do I need to visit CPAM once I have my Siret number to cancel myself? As always thanks to everyone for the useful help and information. Bertiebe

We went along to our CPAM in St Gaudens armed with all the documentation recommended on the Changes to Healthcare website, as well as copy of letter from French Health Minister and our Avis D'Impot for this year.   The lady took copies of everything and advised that we would not hear anything until after 2 Jan 09 when E106 expires and our Carte Vitale would be updated next time we used it.  We are expecting a bill for the Cotisations sometime in the New Year and keeping our fingers crossed that all goes through ok.  Have to say we did not meet any resistance at St Gaudens and were not asked for any further info/documents even though our income is UK based and UK taxed.  So far they seem to have accepted the information confirmed by our French Avis D'Impot.

I have recently started knitting again, woollies for these long cold winter nights, after a gap of 20 years.  I am enjoying it although a bit rusty with some of the knitting terminology.  I did, however, order my wool and knitting needles etc. online from this company in the UK:  www.dragonyarns.co.uk/erol.html (sorry don't know how to make it a link), and I found them to be very helpful, had a good choice of patterns, although not the cheapest I think. 

Hi We used the following translator in Toulouse (given to us by the Tribunal de Grande Instance in St Gaudens) when we required official translations of our Birth certificates.  He charged Euros: 25 per Birth Certificate and was very efficient.  Mr Sylvain GIUSTI 15 Impasse de Saint Martory 31100 Toulouse Hope he can help. Regards Bertiebe

Just to draw this thread to a close, we have just had a happy resolution to our little discussion with the tax office. We wrote a letter of reclamation (with the help of Parsnips) citing Article 5 of the 1968 UK/France double tax agreement (a more deliberately vague document you never did see), which is to be Article 6 of the new 2008 agreement which is not ratified yet.  Yesterday we visited our local Centre des Impots where a very nice man told us that our reclamation had been successful and that all taxes due were cancelled.  It just goes to show that sometimes a little effort is enough to make the system roll over.  We were certainly surprised and thought we would have to pay up and argue the toss in retrospect. For those of you who might be going through this process, here are the links to the Double Taxation Agreement: Double Taxation Agreement 1968 (English) I have also got the whole thing on .pdf but I'm beggared if I can find the link now.  You can PM me if you need a copy. Double Taxation Agreement 1968 (French) Double Taxation Agreement 2008 (French - not in force yet) I also have the English version of this on .pdf if anyone wants it but can't locate where I got it on the HMRC's labyrinthine web site. Now all we have to do is get the exchange rate sorted out... 'Bert

Yes, did enter rental income into box T1, however, on our Contributions Sociale invoice the amount they are charging 11% against states:  Revenus fonciers nets.  We assume that this is for taxation on Rental/land income??  The figure does not match exactly the figures we entered onto our 2042s/2047s (even more confusing as we had to enter 3 tax declarations due to Pac's last year).  We only have an extremely small amount of savings interest and this figure is correct under "Revenues de capitaux mobiliers".   We know that our rental revenue taxed in UK should not attract Social Charges what we need, however,  is a reference to take to the Tax Office, if anyone can help. Thanks. 

Hi Apologies to everyone on the forum who have answered this query before, but we have just received a bill for Social Charges against our UK Rental income even though all figures were entered as"Revenus exoneres" on our 2042. As quoted below from the French Tax FAQ's page (which we found extremely helpful) we believed that this would not be elgible for Social Charges.   "Rental Income from UK Property Q          I have a house in the UK that I rent out.  Tax is deducted from the rent in the UK, do I need to fill out a French tax return. A          UK property rental income is covered by the UK/France Dual Taxation Treaty in the same way as public sector pensions mentioned above, so whilst it is taxed in the UK, it still needs to be declared in France because it's taken into account for determining your overall French tax rate. So, on form 2047, your gross rental income goes in section VII. REVENUS EXONÉRÉS PRIS EN COMPTE POUR LE CALCUL DU TAUX EFFECTIF - the form explains which figures go where.  You then transfer the total to box TI on your form 2042. Note that income taxed in the UK under the Dual Taxation Treaty is not subject to French social charges." Having searched the forum there still seems to be some members who are being invoiced for Social charges and some who are not on UK Rental income, therefore, can anyone please point us to an official document that details the Dual Taxation agreement (in French or English) and states that these charges are not valid which we can take along to our Tax Office in St Gaudens? Thanks to everyone in advance for information. Regards Bertibe    

    Hi Coops A big big thank you to you and everyone of the team that have fought to get the regulations changed for another overjoyed E106 holder.  It just shows what hardwork and continued lobbying can do.  We wish you all the best for the future and a healthy outlook for us all.

Hi Coops We agree wholeheartedly with Chris n Julie, same position for us, and beginning to wish we had never been eligible for E106 from UK.  Seems as though the same old people are being discriminated against, i.e. those that want to pay their way, meet all the legal requirements etc. etc., only to be stymied at the final hurdle! We also extend our thanks to you Coops and the whole team for all the hard work, and information provided.  We will keep abreast of the situation and keep lobbying as needs must. Thanks again.

Excellent work again Makfai.   Have also plagiarised and submitted a complaint and petition, more power to the elbow!!  Thanks for all your help.

Hi Claire Another thought springs to mind regarding the question of CPAM.  I assume if we are not covered by CMU then we will not be issued with a replacement EHIC card on expiry.  England already stated that they would not renew either.  Does this mean we will be the only people in Europe who are not entitled to EHIC cover when visiting other EU countries?  Sorry this is a bit garbled but would like to put this question in French if possible.  Can you help?  Thanks  

Thanks everyone for info.  We have located Astra 2 but we are having to point dish approx. 40 deg E of S, which means we can't fix it where we had hoped.  Looking at ways of fixing to house at moment without killing myself, so have also left a message with the installation people just in case I chicken out (or kill myself)! This is part of the fun of choosing to live in the mountains.  But,boy have we got fantastic weather again today!

Thanks both for the info.  Anton, we are unable to borrow Sky box as we are the "only Brits in the village"!!  Martin, we are using an 80cm dish, will try again tomorrow to locate Astra 2 as recommended.  If this fails we have also ordered a Satellite Beeper but not sure if this will help us locate any satellites other than those we have already found?  So far we have Sirius 2 (mainly Ukraine stuff) and a very poor Astra 19, with limited channels.  I assume Astra 19 is the same as Astra 1??  

Hi Has anyone based in the Pyrenees managed to receive BBC etc via Astra 2 in the central Pyrenees region, edge of Haute Garonne/Hautes Pyrenees.  We have spent hours and hours searching but only seem to locate Astra 19 on our new satellite receiver. Any advice would be gratefully received. Bertiebe

You might be interested (or not) in the following reply I received from one of my MEPs.  Apparently, we have put his nose out of joint by not crediting him on the Declaration that was proposed by Mary Honeyball and Bill Newton Dunn!!   "It is not "by Mary Honiball".   It is by her and me jointly!! Bill Newton Dunn" Anyone petitioning their MEPs might like to add his name along with Mary's.  

[quote user="Jay"]Seems the "good news" newsletter on the IFP website has been removed http://www.french-property.com/newsletter/2007/10/1 Let's hope they haven't changed their minds! [/quote] Don't know if this is the same one but just moved...? http://www.french-property.com/newsletter/2007/9/14/health/

Good question Dave&Steph.  I've been following the threads and waiting for the right one to ask my question, which is related and I hope not too naive. I have Brit military pension and rental income from England and am well under retirement age.  This is our first year so we haven't filled in a tax form yet (covered by E106 until Jan 09 and therefore have some breathing space).  I understood that social contributions were on 'global' income and therefore we would be paying them (8% I thought) on our Brit earnings.  I assume we lose healthcare because we are 'inactifs' in 2009.  Do we still pay social contributions as well as having to take out private insurance and, if so what will we be getting for them? Thanks to all for your hard work and good info so far.  (Depressed Smiley)

Hi Gluestick We are interested in fitting double glazed units into our existing wood framed windows.  Could you tell me where you purchased your doubled glazed units, and if possible the depth required in the frame to install them?  I have found loads of suppliers for complete windows but so far no joy for units alone. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Chris

Hi Lynda Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear that you were not able to get Credit from tax office.  I think we will be in same situation, but we had terrible trouble trying to find someone to supply and fit the wood burner; so had to bite the bullet when we found someone who was a qualified chauffagiste who would fit it, but told us to go ahead and order it ourselves.  Hey ho, seems we are not as lucky as some people on the forum! Best regards Chris