Heating fuel refund 2008-2009

[Clair]

The Government has extended the refund towards heating fuel to the winter 2008-2009. This aid is restricted to low-income households who use fuel for heating and is increased to 200 €.

The refund is addressed to households where the income is low and non-taxable (non imposable) who have an invoice for fuel purchase dated between 1 July 2008 and 31 March 2009.

The aid is granted once per household over this period. It applies to purchases of fuel for the main residence.

To be eligible, households must be send the following to their tax office (Trésorerie) before 30 April 30 2009

• a form to be completed (download here or collect from the Trésorerie)
• a copy of the "avis de non-imposition" issued by the tax authorities, i.e. the notice of
  income tax received in 2008 bearing the words: "au vu des éléments que vous avez déclarés, vous n’êtes pas imposable à l’impôt sur le revenu"

• for individual houses, a copy of the invoice showing the purchase
  and delivery of heating fuel for a minimum amount of 200 €, established
  between 1 July 2008 and 31 March 2009

• for collective housing, a certificate from the building manager stating that fuel is used for heating

• a RIB

The refund will be paid by bank transfer from 1 January 2009.

http://www.impots.gouv.fr/

EDIT for clarification: fuel = heating oil

[Benjamin]

Bizarre

Why only heating oil?

.

[Clair]

Similar to last year: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1263676/ShowPost.aspx

[mint]

Clair, does fuel cover all sorts of fuel?  Obviously no good if you are all electric as it would be impossible to establish how much of the electricity is used for heating?

[ams]

I guess the reason could be that fuel has risen by a huge % whilst electricity went up 1.1% in 2007/2008 and 2% in 2008/2009.

 

ams

[Phil & Pat]

Cette aide est réservée aux ménages modestes qui se chauffent au fioul...

No encouragement to use wood then, shame.

[Clair]

[quote]No encouragement to use wood then, shame.[/quote]

Isn't it the encouragement to use wood offered in the 50% tax refund on the purchase of a wood burner ?

[Clair]

[quote user="sweet 17"]Clair, does fuel cover all sorts of fuel? [/quote]

heating fuel / fioul = heating oil

[mint]

Thanks, Clair, realised that after reading the other posts.  Still, would have felt guilty claiming as OH already has the winter fuel allowance from the UK.

 

[Clair]

I have edited the OP.

[Bugsy]

Guess when we bought our last supply of oil............................

16th April..............[:@]

[oscar]

Shouldn't be a problem, you've got til 31 March to top up.  Last year we filled up in September and the criteria for buying fuel for the allowance was 1 November 2007 - 31 January 2008.  We topped up with 300 euros worth in mid-January and managed to get the 150 euro allowance.  The companies selling the oil are also being hit by the high prices so are usually prepared to let you have a small amount at the 1000 litre plus rate - or at least, they are round here.

[Ron Avery]

Just to reiterate, the Fuel allowance is only available to the low paid.  If you pay income tax in France you are not entitled to it. If you don't declare income in France you won't get it either as you have to provide a tax return.  For some it might be better to leave the new 4x4 round the corner when you go to Mairie to collect the forms[Www]

[NormanH]

A good opportunity for British people on Local Government pensions. As they are are taxed in the UK on these pensions they don't pay Income Tax in France.

So they can claim this allowance although well above the intended income level.

[parsnips]

[quote user="NormanH"]A good opportunity for British people on Local Government pensions. As they are are taxed in the UK on these pensions they don't pay Income Tax in France.

So they can claim this allowance although well above the intended income level.

[/quote]

    Sssshhhhhh!

[bigears]

hi

could those people also qualify for heating allowance from the uk, or do you have to be resident?

[Russethouse]

[:(][:(]

See http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1483130/ShowPost.aspx

[Thebiga]

Its a shame it being only for oil. What about gas then. We have a large tank and its 1200 Euros a time to fill up. Darn....

[Iceni]

Our encouragement to use wood is that it has not increased in price since last year. We now have 2 large wood burners and it is too hot to put one on as we have to run the oil central heating on minimum as it is warm in the day and freezing at night. We can do without frozen pipes. Just heating the barn during the day keeps it warm all night. Nothing like stone walls.

The cost of all forms of fuel seems a lot less than the UK. We don't get the winter fuel allowance but then living here makes up for that pittance. Looking forward to seeing the 16% price rebates in the UK (joke).

Di not John

[Bugsy]

Post removed.

[Jay]

Friends of ours posted their forms off beginning of January and have had nothing yet, does that mean they should query the delay?

[Clair]

Several posts have been removed from this thread as they breached the forum Code of Conduct.

Please do not post messages which:

• Are insulting, abusive,
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[Ron Avery]

Just to reiterate, the Fuel allowance is only available to the low paid.  If you pay income tax in France you are not entitled to it.

If you don't declare income in France you won't get it either as you have to provide a tax return.  You can get it if you do not pay your tax in France and "qualify" that way but that would be morally wrong if your income is actually above the tax threshold.  For some it might be better to leave the new 4x4 and/or motor bike round the corner when you go to Mairie to collect the forms

[woolybanana]

Given the urge of people to integrate, I wonder what the French attitude to "morally wrong" would be?

[Sunday Driver]

The fuel allowance is not necessarily restricted to the low paid.  A couple declaring pension income of around 19,000€ won't pay any tax so they'll qualify.