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Taxable person

Definition of residence for tax purposes

Except if provided otherwise by a tax treaty, an individual, whether French or foreign national, is resident in France for tax purposes if the person meets one of those four conditions :

• his permanent home is in France;
• he spends more than 183 days during a calendar year in France, or even less if he/she spends more time in France than in any other country;
• he conducts his/her professional activity in France;
• his economic interests are centred in France.

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Tax treatment of French residents

French tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income.

Tax treatment of non resident of France

People non-resident in France are taxed in France on their income from a source in France only (subject however to the terms of tax treaty if one has been signed with the country of residence). Specific rules apply to taxation of non-residents (20 % minimum tax rate, social contribution exemption, tax exemption some interest incomes, withholding taxes on some categories of income etc.)

Information below is applicable to French tax residents

Taxable income and deductions

There are different categories of income, each with different computation and taxation rules :

• wages, salaries, pensions and annuities,
• real property income,
• income from transferable securities,
• business profits,
• professional profits,
• agricultural profits,
• capital gains.

From 2019, there is "prelevement à la source" but it's only an accompt about the income tax.

Wages and salaries, pensions and annuities

This category includes wages and salaries, received in consideration of an employment contract, as well as pensions, retirement benefits and annuities.

The net amount of the taxable income in that category is determined by deducting in particular from the gross amount paid the mandatory social contributions and the expenses inherent to duty or employment when the employee is working.

Barring exceptions, gross earned income includes all sums and benefits in kind available to the taxpayer. Expenses incurred to acquire the earned income are normally taken into account notionally (a 10 % deduction capped to a certain amount raised each year). However, taxpayers may opt for the deduction of their actual professional expenses.

Pensions and annuities without consideration are eligible to a special 10 % relief capped to a certain amount

Wages and salaries, pensions and annuities are subject to the progressive tax scale.

Real property income

Taxable real property income is equal to the difference between the amount of receipts and the total expenses relating to the property.

Taxpayers with low real property income = € 15.000 per year enjoy a simplified taxation regime ("micro foncier") The taxable real property income is determined after deducting a 30 % relief representing expenses.

Taxable real property income is subject to the progressive tax scale (+ social contributions).

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Interest income

Interest income were subject to the progressive tax scale.

From 2018, interests are subjet to flat tax (30%).

Dividends

Dividends benefited from a 40 % relief. The costs and expenses pertaining to income from transferable securities are deductible at their actual amount insofar as they are incurred to acquire or maintain the taxable income.

Taxable dividends were subject to the progressive tax scale.

From 2018, dividends are subjet to flat tax (30%).

Capital gains from transferable securities

Capital gains were subject to the progressive tax scale.

From 2018, caital gains are subjet to flat tax (30%).

Capital gains from real property

Capital gains derived from the transfer of real property, rights related to real property or similar rights by individuals managing their private assets are subjected to individual income tax at a proportional rate.

The proportional tax rate amounts to 19 % + social contributions.

The assessment basis is equal to the difference between the price of transfer and the acquisition price (or, in case of acquisition for free, the value of the property at that date).

Certain capital gains are expressly exempt, such as those derived (under certain conditions) from the sale of the taxpayer's main home ("résidence principale").

Deductions from overall income

For economic or social reasons, certain personal expenses of the tax household are treated for tax purposes either as expenses which may be deducted from overall income (or as tax reductions).

Among expenses taken into account, alimonies may be deducted from overall income if certain conditions are met. Other expenses, exhaustively listed, may be deducted up to an amount most often capped.

Tax computation

Tax is assessed at the level of the "tax household", i.e. the family entity consisting of a single person, two partners having concluded a solidarity civil pact or spouses - regardless of their marriage settlement - and their children or other dependants.

The assessment basis is generally the total income of the different members of a tax household.

A progressive tax scale is applied to the taxable income (except where a flat rate is applicable) after used the income splitting system (quotient familial) which consists in dividing the taxable income of the tax household in a number of equal parts (e.g. one part for a single person, two part for a married couple). Next, the progressive tax scale is applied to the taxable income per part (split income) thus obtained.

Lastly, this partial tax is multiplied by the number of parts for determining the payable gross tax (the tax benefit obtained by application of the income splitting system is capped).

Tax credits

After determining gross tax, any tax reductions and tax credits for which the taxpayer may be eligible are granted, where appropriate.

Certain personal expenses paid by the taxpayer whom the lawmaker wishes to support, particularly for social or economic reasons open right to a tax reduction or a tax credit.

Deductible tax credits correspond for example to expenses for investment work in the main home, costs of young child-minding etc.

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Wealth tax

Individuals are liable to French wealth tax in two cases :

• French tax residents are taxed upon the value of their net worldwide assets exceeding € 1,300,000 ;
• Non-French tax residents are taxed if the net value of their French assets (excluding financial investments in France) exceeds € 1,300,000. Exemptions are applied if provided by a tax treaty between France and the country of residence.

In any case, the sliding scale varies from 0.5 % to 1.50 % of the net taxable amount.

From 2018, only real estate are subjet to wealth tax.

Local taxes

Taxe d'habitation :

This tax is assessed on the occupant (regardless the occupant is the owner or not) of all types of accommodation. This tax is assessed on the basis of the rental value of the building. This rental value corresponds to a theoretical annual rent that the owner could derive from the property if it was rented.

Real Property tax (taxe foncière)

This tax is paid by the owner before the end of the each year. This tax is assessed on the basis of the rental value of the building. This rental value corresponds to a theoretical annual rent that the owner could derive from the property if it was rented.