One of life's certainties...

Bart Schijndel lives in Huizen in the Netherlands and is thinking of buying “a small place” in the Var and then living in France for most of the year. He asks what sort of taxes he'll have to pay. Well, a detailed answer would require a lot more information about Bart's situation — and should come from a qualified tax adviser. 

In brief, Bart will have to pay both local and national direct taxes. Local taxes are of two kinds: there's the taxe foncière, paid by owners, and the taxe d'habitation, paid by occupiers. As an owner-occupier Bart will have to pay both. As to how much he'll be handing over, that depends. Local taxes are calculated as a percentage of the rentable value of a property and this is fixed by the local authority. There's a lot of variation. In some rural areas local taxes are very low — and available services, like garbage collection, pretty poor. Local taxes are paid in the autumn of each year.

Bart will also have to pay income tax as a French resident — which he'll become by living here, as he obviously intends to do, for at least 183 days a year. Declarations are due at the end of March and in his first year here Bart should pick up a form at his local tax office. How much he'll be paying again depends on his income and overall situation. This is where he'll need that qualified tax adviser. 

From Reporter 105 - Oct/Nov 2004

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