If you pay to join a professional Association, ask for an official receipt as this cost is deductible from your Impots. You just need to keep the official records and enter it into the correct box on your tax return.
Using an accountant or tax specialist
If you are able to understand French and feel reasonably confident with the language, there is no reason why you should not be able to complete your own tax return form online. Once you have done one, provided the form does not alter, you can always use that as a template for the following year.
However, most of us feel happier with some reassurance and it may be advisable to seek professional help. An accountant can be very costly however, if they help you to do everything correctly and avoid any huge penalty in the event of a ‘controle’, then it is surely money well-spent.
There are some absolutely excellent professional hand-holders out there. Just do your homework well and remember that YOU are ultimately responsible and liable for your own tax return, unless you use a professional tax advisor. My advice would be to try to work hand-in-hand with any ‘hand-holder’ so that you are driving your own professional development and you are learning as you go.
We found our advisor through a recommendation from our estate agent when we bought our house. She was an official court translator at the time and she helped us to jump through many legal hoops in our early days. She has proved invaluable.
Since then, our French friends have subsequently recommended an accountant to us. For us, a personal recommendation is really important.
Using France Services offices
France Services offices are popping up all over in mairies, tax offices and town centres. Experts are there to help you complete your tax return and, in my experience, are really friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help. Their advice is free and you may well learn all sorts. Look up your local service using the link above or ask at your local mairie. Make sure to take a notebook and pen!
Don’t miss the deadline!
The French tax year runs from January to December (unlike in the UK, where it’s April to April) and so declarations made in this year are for last year’s income. This means that in 2023, you will be declaring your taxes for the year 2022.
In 2023, tax declarations opened from April 13th and MUST be completed by May 25th for departments 1 to 16 which is most definitely us in the gorgeous Charente – alternatively check out our 2023 tax calendar for the deadlines for your department.
It is simply a case of entering everything into the correct boxes!
Bonne chance!