MrCanary Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 My dear neighbour here in the UK said he had read something about a £500 per year extra tax on second homes in France...Does anyone know anything about this please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 This'll keep you busy:http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/2529213/ShowPost.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Well, that is potentially the end of our dream...I have poured thousands of pounds into France over the last seven years renovating a house that nobody else wanted to buy. Looks like it was money down the drain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Please explain further, Mel.Why is it "money down the drain" just because they might impose an extra tax of a few hundred euros per annum?Are you no longer going to enjoy your maison secondaire that you have "poured thousands of pounds" into and over such a long period of time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 What I cannot understand is I presently pay all the same taxes that my French next-door-neighbours pay. Hardly a penny different. So why will I now have to pay lots more money than them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Oh, and the money down the drain will only be relevant if I have to sell up and, as will probably happen, property prices fall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Clearly, you have not paid enough, according to Mr. Sarkozy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 All the taxes I pay on my French house add up to almost the amount I pay for my English one. So they are certainly not cheaper in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Not enough for the privilege, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 You will perhaps be paying more in local taxes than your neighbours as paying income tax in France can reduce bills.No one knows how much extra this will be anyway. So wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherman Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I Know its annoying. But ask yourself if this proposed tax was in place when you first purchased you home would you still have gone ahead.When we purchased our place we realised that there would be some form of property taxes to pay but that was not one of our key buying decisions although for the more clued up this may well be different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Its a nasty mean little tax that will only bring in E170 million that has been targeted on "Holidaymakers " who have decided to choose France to spend all their holiday time in .The message it sends is just how desperate a financial situation France must be in to have to scratch about and come up with a " find a Foreign visitor " tax like this one . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owens88 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Well it is better than the Welsh solution. I seem to recall they used to have housewarmings for the second-homers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 [quote user="Owens88"]Well it is better than the Welsh solution. I seem to recall they used to have housewarmings for the second-homers.[/quote] Sorry ...Cant see the connection with a government imposed tax here ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 I think you should go and read the other thread Mell then you will have an (possible) understanding of how the tax would work if it is ever implemented. There is a big difference between thinking about a tax and actually implementing it. As some have pointed out it may well be against European Law anyway should he try and get this in to law.There is a lot of talk about this at the moment amongst those that have second homes in France but nobody knows exactly whats going in Sarko's mind on how this would work (most people don't know whats going on in his mind full stop [;-)]). Some have suggested it might be implemented on a pro rata basis in which case it will entice you to live more of your dream, visiting more often, because the more time you spend in it the less you will pay. But then who really knows, it's only just talk at the moment, the 'bill' has not even been drafted it seems. it's a bit too early to stamp your feet and throw you teddy out the pram.[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 [quote user="Frederick"][quote user="Owens88"]Well it is better than the Welsh solution. I seem to recall they used to have housewarmings for the second-homers.[/quote] Sorry ...Cant see the connection with a government imposed tax here ?[/quote]2nd homes were frequently burnt down...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Yes.. I understood ...Is anybody suggestiong Sarko will send the boys round to torch mine if I dont pay his petty tax ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 [quote user="fisherman"]I Know its annoying. But ask yourself if this proposed tax was in place when you first purchased you home would you still have gone ahead.When we purchased our place we realised that there would be some form of property taxes to pay but that was not one of our key buying decisions although for the more clued up this may well be different.[/quote]Fair point fisherman... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbie Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 [quote user="Russethouse"][quote user="Frederick"][quote user="Owens88"]Well it is better than the Welsh solution. I seem to recall they used to have housewarmings for the second-homers.[/quote] Sorry ...Cant see the connection with a government imposed tax here ?[/quote]2nd homes were frequently burnt down......[/quote]Giving rise to the poor-taste joke "Come home to a real fire. Buy a house in Wales!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachapapa Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 [quote user="Frederick"] Yes.. I understood ...Is anybody suggestiong Sarko will send the boys round to torch mine if I dont pay his petty tax ? [/quote]No saisie-vente by a Huissier would be sufficient.However quoting a french neighbour, insurance companies used to supply a metal plaque to place above the front door. The purpose being to inform that the owner had fire insurance and accordingly setting fire to the house would be counter-productive as no effective loss would affect the owner.Of course the saisie-vente would be followed by a charge on the property to encourage you to settle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 [quote user="pachapapa"][quote user="Frederick"] Yes.. I understood ...Is anybody suggestiong Sarko will send the boys round to torch mine if I dont pay his petty tax ? [/quote]No saisie-vente by a Huissier would be sufficient.However quoting a french neighbour, insurance companies used to supply a metal plaque to place above the front door. The purpose being to inform that the owner had fire insurance and accordingly setting fire to the house would be counter-productive as no effective loss would affect the owner.Of course the saisie-vente would be followed by a charge on the property to encourage you to settle.[/quote] I believe Marcus Crassus started that insurance scheme in ancient Rome .... He still sent the boys round for an increase in premuim while your house burned and would not put it out until you paid up. ... Nothing much has changed has it ..... still get shafted by the rich and powerful ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon02 Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 [quote user="Quillan"]But then who really knows, it's only just talk at the moment, the 'bill' has not even been drafted it seems. it's a bit too early to stamp your feet and throw you teddy out the pram.[/quote]It has been drafted, it was passed in Cabinet on May 11. No reason why it shouldn't get through in June/July. Then maybe the EC will say it's discriminatory. If so it will be twiddled and enacted. Raising €180m from a constituency that can't vote back? Of course they will. My view is that if I'm to be charged an extra amount of about my current Taxe Fonciere then I'll make sure that I reduce my input to the french economy by that plus 10%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 If I cannot afford something I don't buy it. If I sign up for something and then things get tight then I trim my sails accordingly. However, what on earth are these posts about that say, 'I'll show 'em, I'll spend less in France if they do this'?If someone cannot afford to spend what they ususally spend in France, fair enough, but if anyone does this deliberately, then why? Why did you buy in France in the first place. Many of you, from what I've seen bought in France in areas that I was always led to believe were areas that were being depopulated though lack of work opportunities and are generally poorer areas of France. Property prices in the past being a good barometer of this, as the prices I've seen have been incredibly low in comparison to where I lived.Since the euro I think that prices in France for everyday goods have risen a lot and then with exchange rates, France must once again seem very expensive (it was when I got there). If you have the money though, surely people would spend as normal, keep the local economy boosted and their chosen region buoyant. Remember that the french themselves are being squeezed too, they need the trade and custom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 28, 2011 Share Posted May 28, 2011 Remember that the french themselves are being squeezed too, they need the trade and custom.Isn't that the rub ? Some houses in less populated areas sit empty for years - how likely is it they will be bought by someone willing and able to renovate, perhaps to use as a holiday home and let out at other times, thus bringing some trade to the area, now ? Surely the chances are less ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 Yes, it is the rub. So, if people have le pognon, why not spend it where they have their holidays. Help their chosen region out. What are the young expected to do if there is no work? They move on to somewhere where there is work. And if these regions had been vibrant and had lots of work, well, the french do buy and do do places up. And the prices would not be as low as they were, inflated later, I suspect, by foreign buyers. In the region I used to live in we had people from all over France, because there was work. We once had the dubious pleasure of staying in Ernee in the Mayenne as part of our holiday, now that was weird, mid summer and it was all the Papys and Mamies out with the grandkids and no working age adults to be seen on the streets. We took it that the grandkids had been packed off to the grandparents for at least part of the grandes vacances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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