Tax Tips

Written by Riviera Reporter

Jean-François Copé, Minister of the Budget, has insisted that he is determined to make the system of personal taxation as simple and transparent as possible. Here are some points to note:

They’ll do the work for you!
This year a majority of people will receive their declaration – in May – already filled in by the tax office, based on the information provided by employers in the case of salary earners and social departments for pensions and similar benefits. All you’ll have to do is check that the income details given are correct. Obviously, there are other categories of taxpayers – such as travailleurs indépendants, for example – who will have to make a full declaration.

And online it’s even easier – or is it?
This year a minimum of one in four taxpayers are expected to do their business with the fisc online. That’s despite the fact that last year some 58% of cyberdeclarers said they were “dissatisfied” by the way the system worked. This time round, says Minister Copé, its capacity has been notably enhanced and there should be far fewer logjams and glitches. To use the system go to www.impots.gouv.fr.

And you’ll always meet the nice cop first.
If you make a genuine mistake – through forgetfulness, say, or just muddledness – will the taxman immediately pounce on you with a snarl? Not these days, we’re told. When discrepancies are discovered the current policy is to settle the matter à l’amiable: a polite note from the taxman will indicate that he’s noticed something that needs to be put right and you get thirty days to do the necessary and then the matter’s closed. In the second half of last year some 18,000 taxpayers in the Alpes-Maritimes were dealt with in that way.

But don’t think the nasty cop’s been pensioned off – he’s still around.
In other words, don’t think the guys at the fisc have gone soft on fraudsters. As one official put it to us, “We’re always ready to listen to anyone who’s got a problem with his tax demand. If that person is reasonable, we’re reasonable. But if we have someone who’s trying to pull the wool over our eyes, we usually smell them out very fast and they have to take the consequences.”

And follow the rules for talking to the taxman.
Even if you’re in totally good faith, you’ve got to present your case in the right timeframe. If you disagree with a tax demand it’s no use ignoring it or adjusting it according to your own notions of what’s fair. As soon as you feel you’ve got something to bring up – then do so. Minister Copé has promised that telephone and e-mail queries will be normally answered within 48 hours (two working days) – which sounds optimistic – and written communications processed within 30 days (these should be sent to the Centre des Impôts which issued the declaration). Note that the fisc has an information hotline on 0820 32 42 52 operating from 08h00 to 22h00 Monday to Friday and from 08h00 to 19h00 on Saturday. You have to call in French, by the way!