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Post by Jody on Jun 12, 2011 9:27:50 GMT -5
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Post by PariS on Jun 12, 2011 11:50:52 GMT -5
I've been watching developments on this tax for a couple months. It's still not clear, but I don't like the way things are shaping up!
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Post by phread on Jun 17, 2011 1:52:35 GMT -5
I think it s a pretty sure thing. there are 1000's of apartments owned by foreigners in Paris. We don't have property tax, or equivalent is a habitation tax, and because the foreign owners don't live in their apartments, they are getting an unfair tax advantage over the locals. This law is merely trying to fix the loophole.
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Post by PariS on Jun 17, 2011 8:48:29 GMT -5
A loophole? I'm confused...we DO pay the taxe d’habitation, and the taxe Fonciere. And 20% French income taxes on the rental income. I don't understand why you think there's an unfair tax advantage, Phread?  |
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Post by kerouac on Jun 17, 2011 16:08:53 GMT -5
Since there is a housing shortage in most cities, the authorities are very annoyed at the number of unoccupied apartments, whatever the reason.
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Post by PariS on Jun 17, 2011 17:53:00 GMT -5
Our place isn't empty either (70% occupancy for the first year isn't bad!) I understand the problem with the housing shortage. It will be interesting to see how this goes. |
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Post by Anne on Jun 18, 2011 8:20:35 GMT -5
‘Being owner of one or more second homes implies that one benefits directly or indirectly from local and national public services, like the police, legal system and national infrastructure,’ the finance ministry said. Well, taxe d'habitation and taxe foncière are local taxes, and the 20% income tax on your rental income is a national tax, so it looks as if you are already paying for all the local and national services and infrastructures that you or your tenants may use. Maybe the new tax should be implemented only on those owners who don't pay a minimum amount of income tax ? For owners to pay a tax whether their rent their property or not would also be an incitement for them to rent it for the time that they don't use it, as an unoccupied house isn't good for the local economy/trade. But then tax law isn't always fair and/or wise, and that is true in many countries  . |
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Post by Anne on Jun 19, 2011 8:22:47 GMT -5
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Post by PariS on Jun 19, 2011 8:49:10 GMT -5
Thanks for the nice news this morning, Anne!  Happy Father's Day to ME! LOL (I hadn't yet broken the news to Darryl that this additional tax was pending...what a relief to not have to tell him!  ) |
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Post by Jody on Jun 20, 2011 13:56:55 GMT -5
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Post by PariS on Jun 20, 2011 15:04:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, Jody. I filled Darryl in on the best Father's Day gift he never got yesterday So this quote from the article caught my attention: "Political observers said the fact that expatriate home owners will be able to vote for MPs from next year may have prompted the retreat." What?!!  Do I get to vote next year?!!  |
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Post by sunshine817 on Jun 21, 2011 0:05:19 GMT -5
Sorry, Annette -- you only get to vote for a European MP if you're a citizen in the Euro Zone. (I don't get to vote for one, either, even though I live here.)
Since so many Brits own property in France, and that article was written by/for Brits, it's mentioned.
Sloppy journalism, but that's what it is.
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Post by PariS on Jun 21, 2011 0:53:06 GMT -5
Oh, duh! Reading thru it quickly, that's what I came away with! I didn't think they'd be giving me voting rights!
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Post by Anne on Jun 21, 2011 2:03:36 GMT -5
Annette, the expatriates are French citizens living abroad, whether they also own a home in France or not. Until now they only had representatives at the Senat (those are not elected directly) but from next year onwards they will also have representatives at the Assemblée Nationale ("députés"), who are directly elected.
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Post by PariS on Jun 21, 2011 12:10:15 GMT -5
That seems fair to me! US expats have always been able to vote in home elections (haven't they?).
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Post by sunshine817 on Jun 21, 2011 16:38:27 GMT -5
yes, we're allowed to vote in ALL elections, local and national.
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Post by phread on Jun 22, 2011 0:42:00 GMT -5
I can no longer vote in local US elections, because I no longer have a fixed address in the US.
Annette, many people in your situation do NOT pay the taxe d'habitation, which is the loop hole. Truffaut explained this to me one day. I think that Americans, because of the inheritance issues, et al, have to structure their purchases differently, but many rentals are owned by non-US foreigners who don't claim it all... At least that was my understanding....
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Post by Truffaut on Sept 13, 2011 17:38:41 GMT -5
Well, a late reply is better than none...
Yes, Annette, you are required to pay the taxe d'habitation just as if you were living there yourself. Many foreign owners skip this step, and that is largely what prompted the French government to start cracking down on rental properties.
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Post by Truffaut on Sept 13, 2011 17:41:31 GMT -5
Hey, Annette. Why are you paying French income tax? The US has a tax treaty with France and you can pay US taxes instead (unless you're talking about French corporate income tax).
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Post by PariS on Sept 14, 2011 6:55:31 GMT -5
Doug, I'd love to get the name of your tax guy!!!
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;D !
Happy Father's Day to ME! LOL (I hadn't yet broken the news to Darryl that this additional tax was pending...what a relief to not have to tell him! 
Do I get to vote next year?!! 
Let the riot begin! LOL - 
hahahha