tinabee

I don't know what would be a normal action, but I could envisage a couple of options. 1. ask another notaire to give you a costing for cancelling a tontine (i.e. a transfer into sole ownership) 2. Obtain a legal translation of the UK settlement to explain to your current notaire that the asset value has already been accounted for

Having been following this thread and some others regarding early retiree access to CMU, I began to wonder at what income level it would be cheaper to pay for private health insurance, rather than pay CMU and top-up. Assuming a private health insurance policy is in the region of €6000 for a couple. Assume that the couple have only private pension income (i.e. not UK government pensions), and so would pay an additional 7.1% CSG/CRDS on pension income. Assume the couple would take out a top-up health policy at a cost of, say, €150 per month. Assume CMU payment of 8%, after an allowance of €9534. That would mean, a couple with an income of €33000 or more would pay more in CMU/top-up and CSG/CRDS than the cost of the private health policy. I have no doubt that there may be a few more variables in these calculations than I have estimated (e.g. tax deductible CSG, cheaper top-up, etc.) but it is an interesting exercise (to me anyway)

As with most things related to a move to a new country it's a case of "plan for the worst, hope for the best". When many people were planning moves in 2006/7, they did not expect the French to withdraw access to state healthcare for early retirees, nor did they expect the exchange rate to drop from €1.50 to the £1 (2006) to almost parity in 2008/9.

It is now showing : "Is there any way out of this loop?" and just below "The new government" now that is spooky . . Your post also reminded me of the instructions that used to be on shampoo bottles "lather, rinse, repeat" - another IT joke :)

[quote user="6931philippe"]Hello, To list your accounts, you have to use a form n° 3916 called "Déclaration par un résident d'un compte ouvert hors de France". This form is freely available on the tax administration website. You don't need to report the amount of cash of each account but just their references.[/quote] It is not essential to use this form. You can also list your accounts on a sheet of paper (la liste des comptes sur papier libre).

I would take a gift, but probably not cake or booze, maybe something particularly "English". And maybe a houseplant or flowers for the wife for her hospitality. Round here aperos normally last an hour or two, but it has been known for them to last into the small hours of the morning . . .

One of the biggest issues we have found by speaking to neighbours in the Orne is the access to potential employment. We have lived in 2 communes in the same area, one which had easy access to 3 or 4 main towns, one a bit more remote (but not much in UK terms). Building land in the first commune commanded 20-25 euros per m2, in the second it is priced at 5-7 euros per m2. I also think that nowadays the easy access to internet is quite a big price-influencing factor. I would imagine that in the Alencon area, job prospects are greater than out here, so property prices reflect this.

I can't see the market picking up any time soon, and there is certainly a lot of property available. It might be worth having a look on leboncoin for your area to see what prices are like and how many properties are added every day.

If you advertise on Leboncoin you need to expect quite a lot of phone calls from other websites and agencies offering to sell your house for you. Also, if you sell privately be prepared to have potential buyers ringing you frequently with lots of questions. If you find this type of thing stressful, use an agent. Typically a Notaire's agency fees will be around the 4% range, whereas a commercial estate agency may charge 8% - 10%. Many French buyers prefer to buy privately through websites, or through a Notaire, as it can save them thousands in agency fees.

Do the income bonds have a life insurance element? if they do then they may be classed as the equivalent of "assurance vie" in France. As Sweets says, I am sure Parsnips will be along soon to help. Edit: Also, even though the bond may not be held in a bank it is worth declaring it with the bank accounts as the French tax office seems to be getting stricter on what accounts need to be declared.

We have the Orange-badged version of the Huawei device (called a Domino) which I bought as a backup as we only have Wimax to the house. It is great to use when travelling and on holiday but totally useless as a backup at home as, I have discovered, we only have 2G here in the middle of nowhere :) Still, I bought it online from the Orange boutique and it was less than half the price of the shop version.

Same for me here in France as well as in the UK. Being from Chorley and schooled in Bolton, an early shock for me was trying to understand somebody from Wigan. Later, living in London but working on site just outside Glasgow, I had to act as an interpreter between my southern colleagues and our clients North of the border - literally. Now I do find the older Norman accent (that's Normandy not you NormanH) mostly inaccessible, but the younger generation are much easier to understand. However our first visit to the Languedoc was a real challenge!

I would go for "accessoires de salle de bain fixés" and maybe something like "tringles de rideau avec accessoires assortis"

This site is useful in explaining who has rights to do what with a car depending on co-ownership, marriage regime, in case of death or divorce, etc. http://www.ants.interieur.gouv.fr/siv/Quels-sont-les-droits-du-titulaire.html

This site may help - it lists the associations and their remits http://www.conso.net/page/bases.3_associations.1_presentation./

We have a time conversion chart on the inside of a cupboard door - there is one here that is similar, along with some general guidelines http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blcrocktips.htm

It has rained almost incessantly here in Orne this winter with only the odd dry day. We tried to drive through St Gilles de Marais a couple of weeks ago and 2 or 3 of the local roads were closed. But then the clue is in the name.

Unfortunately, you needed to register by 31 Dec 2013 in order to vote in this year's elections.

but then you might have to sign an attestation sur l'honneur that you are you and not a vache espagnole masquerading as a Chancer . . .

Like :o)

[quote user="Catalpa"][quote user="EuroTrash"]Once you are in business in France you have to pay cotisations into the French system, and this automatically invalidates your S1 - the UK is no longer your competent state if you are economically active in France.[/quote] Even if you have reached State retirement age in the UK? Which the OP will do in November this year. It used to be - perhaps still is - that the non-retired spouse could 'piggy-back' their health cover via the retired half of the couple. I am in no way an expert but if someone has reached UK State retirement age then they will certainly pay cotisations on anything extra they earn in France but I did not think that any work done here cancelled the UK state retirement health coverage. I thought the S1 cancellation under discussion was the (up to) two years of "free" cover from the UK for those under retirement age and which depended on NI contributions paid in the years pre-move. But it doesn't affect me (yet!) so I've not been following the detail and could have misinterpreted. [/quote] Working or running a business in France, i.e. paying healthcare cotisations overrides any S1 entitlement. Subsequently, when you stop work or close the business, as far as I can tell, you will continue to be covered for healthcare by the French caisse, and as a consequence pay 7.1% CSG/CRDS on all your UK pensions as well as any French ones. I would imagine that there may be a grey area if, as a result of your work or business in France, you are not entitled to a French pension, for example if you haven't accrued sufficient trimestres. In that case, it may be the case that the UK would re-instate your S1, since you would not be entitled to French cover. But I can't imagine that this is a very common situation yet, and as such, both the French and UK authorities may just "make it up as they go along" or interpret the rules in variable ways.  

[quote user="Ally"]Thanks Norman - I am sure I have read somewhere that UK is proposing stopping S1 from April this year?[/quote] The UK is proposing to stop the short-term NI contribution-based S1 for early retirees, but NOT the state pension-linked S1.

[quote user="Ally"]Can anyone help pls? I have been trawling through lots of info on line and still confused! Me and OH are relocating this summer - currently in negotiation buying gite business, when we will be self-employed on arrival. I am 61 and have paid full N.I.,still working in UK, due to have UK state pension from Nov. this year. OH, househusband, has not been working for last three yrs age 62 state pension due Apr 2016. We have capital to survive but need to know how we fit into the health system. Have had a couple of on-line quotes which have been c. £6K p.a. Scary! this cannot be? Any advice/info/comments welcomed.[/quote] Your situation may or may not be complicated by your gite business. If you were moving to France after November when you are in receipt of your UK pension, then you can apply for an S1 form from the DWP for yourself and your husband. However, if you start a registered business, you will pay "cotisations" (similar but much greater than National Insurance) on your income which will provide you with access to the French health system and your entitlement to the S1 from the UK will end. I am not that familiar with the Gite business, but I believe there is a way of running gites, but NOT being a registered business, as long as the gross revenues from the gites are less than a specified amount. In this case, I believe you would still be covered for healthcare under your S1 since you are not a registered business. Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this subject will be along soon as I would hate to give you duff information.  The upshot is, do a lot of research as the impact of running a registered business in France can have heavy financial implications for a very long time.  

[quote user="Gengulphus"]That a person of ordinary means should be required to pay tax at a confiscatory rate of 55% or 60% is self-evidently unjust and discriminatory.  You should leave no stone unturned to avoid paying this excessive imposition. I am in the reverse position, in that any bequest that I might make will be milked to the tune of 60%.  In a casual conversation with my notaire I expressed my repugnance at this situation, and he immediately reeled off a number of ways in which this punitive payment could be avoided or mitigated.    One, I have to admit, caused laughter ;  another took be completely by surprise as it revealed a possibility that I simply had not realized existed.  There were at least two which seemed to be potential runners, and which I am actively considering.  (It is pointless to go into them here, as they might well not suit your particular situation.) I strongly urge you to consult a sharp and imaginative notaire. [/quote]   Oh do go into them - please [blink] - even if it just a summary and we can then do our own research, it may help other readers . . .

[quote user="PaulT"] I am using IE10 and W8 and no problems. Must be a big headache for programmers when people do not upgrade their systems. It means that to enable all to access they have to write a number of versions to suit all. Otherwise they could spend their energies producing a superb piece of software for the latest systems. [/quote] Sorry to resurrect this post - I'm just testing Chrome