Another question about taxes foncieres

[Stan Streason]

We completed last Feb and paid a proportion (the majority) of the taxes foncieres bill via the notaire.

I was expecting a bill soon but have just been told that the current bills are actually for 2009 so are practically paid in arrears.  Therefore the former owner will have received it (and I have already paid).

Property taxes paid in arrears seems so unlike anything I have been used to.  Is the information I have been given correct?  If so its good news because I was budgeting to pay an amount now.

Thanks

[Sunday Driver]

The tax fonciere liability falls on the owner of the property as at 1 January of the tax year.  However, the actual fonciere bill isn't calculated until September time because they have to wait until the income tax bills have been issued in case the owner qualifies for any income related reductions or exemptions.

When we bought our house, we completed in the May and when the previous owner received the bill in the September, he sent a copy to the notaire who then asked us to send her a cheque made out to him for our agreed pro-rata share.

Sound like a bit of sharp practice getting you to agree to paying your share of a bill that wasn't due for a further seven months. I suspect your share was based on his 2008 tax bill, so as most bills appear to have increased this year, you may find you have benefited slightly in that respect....[;-)]

 

 

[Stan Streason]

Thanks SD.  A few hundred extra euros at the time of buying the house was not noticed as much as it would have been all by itself now.  As I said, I had expected to have to pay again now so have got off relatively lightly.