andyasj

Here is the precise situation: I and my partner (unmarried) have one grown up daughter.  I intend to retire to France this year but my partner will remain UK resident.  In a year or so she will be in a position to give me about £50000 which is the amicable arrangement we have come to to 'equalise' our positions. a)   If I am resident in France and receive a gift of say 70000€ I believe I will have to pay a lot of tax.  Is this true? b)   If true, would it be possible for her to give the money to our daughter (tax free as long as she does not die within 7 years?), and then for our daughter to give the money to me (50000€ allowance?). Or am I just making it all too complcated and risking double taxation? Cheers

Can anyone tell me if there are any allowances when a gift is from daughter (UK resident) to father (France resident).  I am talking quite a large sum of  50000-70000€.  I believe there is an allowance parent to daughter but does it work the other way? Cheers

Has anyone any experience of the Carte Bleue Cadeau ( http://www.carte-bleue-cadeau.com/ ). This is a prepay Carte Bleue card which will give me a Carte Bleue without a French account and which I am hoping will be useful to buy petrol out of hours etc.  Trouble is it is only valid for a year and I am wondering how easy it is to reclaim unused credit.  Also how much does it cost? Cheers

Has anyone any experience of the Carte Bleue Cadeau ( http://www.carte-bleue-cadeau.com/ ). This is a prepay Carte Bleue card which will give me a Carte Bleue without a French account and which I am hoping will be useful to buy petrol out of hours etc.  Trouble is it is only valid for a year and I am wondering how easy it is to reclaim unused credit.  Also how much does it cost? Cheers

Ordinary UK credit or debit cards will not work at out of hours automatic petrol pumps.  This is very inconvenient if touring.  Is it necessary to have a Carte Bleue with a french account (for which I believe you have to pay) or is some other card available?

Ordinary UK credit or debit cards will not work at out of hours automatic petrol pumps.  This is very inconvenient if touring.  Is it necessary to have a Carte Bleue with a french account (for which I believe you have to pay) or is some other card available? Cheers, Andy

Thanks - it does not seem suitable for me since I will have a lump sun to invest and will need to withdraw regularly.  I have heard of Livret A and Codevil but dont know much other than that interest is rather low.  It may be better to invest at higher interest and pay tax?  Are there any other schemes? Thanks again, andyasj

I am intending to retire to France and am looking for tax efficient investments schemes (in France). Can anyone tell me about Plan d'Epargne en Action (PEA).  I am told this is similar to an ISA.  Can't find anything on the web in english.  Lots in french but mine is not good enough. Cheers, andyasj

I plan to go to live in France about 5 years before I can take my pension, so I will be a France resident when I receive my lump sum.  I remember reading somewhere that local government pensions are exempt from this ruling.  Is this so?  Does a teachers pension classify as such? Has anyone heard about this Hague ruling mentioned above? Cheers, andyasj

As a teacher I receive a tax free lump sum on retirement at 60.  If I go to live in France before this I am told that I have to pay tax on the lump sum.  This, if true, seams most unfair since not all the lump sum is profit but capital I have in effect invested.  Can anyone confirm this and if so is there any way around it. Cheers, andyasj

Thanks for your advice.  It is just generic help required at this time.  I was really wondering what different methods of investment may be available in France (different to UK that is).

Can anyone give me a brief idea of different investment methods in France (or tell me where to look).  I will have about £50000 cash but where is it best to put it?  Is it easy to invest in shares,  do banks provide decent savings accounts, are there any national savings schemes such as premium bonds etc. etc. Thanks in advance for any help, andyasj

Does anyone know if it is possible to adopt an adult in France (35 year old).  The purpose of this would be to reduce inheritance tax as I have no children of my own but wish to leave my estate to the daughter of my x-partner whom I have brought up as my own daughter.  I would be french resident but my prospective daughter would be UK resident.  Is there anywhere I can get advice?

I wish to buy a house in France for my retirement but am concerned about inheritance tax.  I have no surviving spouse or children.  Is there any way to avoid the 60% inheritance tax.  I have only one main beneficiary in my will.  Is there any way of house purchase that could avoid or reduce this tax?

I am not married and wish to retire to France.  I have no surviving children but wish to leave the french house and majority of my estate to the daughter (K) of my x-partner as I have brought her up as my own daughter.  As I have no wife or children I take it I am free to make a will leaving my estate to whomever I please?  The trouble is that I have read somewhere that 60% tax would then be due by K as she is not my daughter?  Is this the case?  Can I avoid it?  In  the USA one can adopt adults but apparently not in Britain?  Are my facts correct?