Every year in September and October the French tax office sends out bills to households across France relating to property taxes – these are separate to income tax bills, which arrive over the summer.
The autumn bills are usually made up of three parts; property tax, housing tax and the audiovisual license fee.
However, system changes to all three parts mean that for some people bills will be be much lower than last year, while others will have nothing at all to pay.
Here’s what changes;
Audiovisual license fee – this was the TV licence and was charged at €138 per household, with some exceptions for pensioners or people who had no TV.
This year, it has been scrapped for everyone (including second-home owners) so most people’s bills are €138 less than last year.
Housing tax – this is the householder’s tax, paid by the inhabitant of the property – whether you rent it or own it. This is gradually being phased out, a process that started in 2019. It has been done based on income, with those on lower incomes having the charge scrapped first until it is gradually scrapped for everyone – with the exception of very high earners and second home owners.
So depending on your income level, you may have already had the tax phased out, or it may be phased out for you this year, or you may be paying a reduced rate this year.
These two changes are part of a tax giveaway from president Emmanuel Macron, and at the bottom of your tax bill you will find a note explaining how the charges have changed this year, and what you would have paid without the reductions.
It will look something like this;
Property tax – this is the property owners’ tax and is paid on any property that you own – if you own the home you live in you may need to pay both housing tax and property tax and if you are a second-home owner you will also pay both.
In contrast to the other two taxes, however, this one has been going up in many areas.
In fact, it’s connected to the housing tax cut – local authorities used to benefit from housing taxso the phasing out has left many of them short of money. In some areas, they have reacted by raising property tax.
This tax is calculated based partly on the size and value of the property you own (which is why if you do any major renovations or add a swimming pool you need to tell the tax office) and partly on the tax level decided by your local authority.
This means that the actual rate varies quite widely between different parts of France, but in some areas it has gone up by 20 percent.
You can find more about how the tax is calculated, and how to challenge your bill if you think it is excessive, HERE.