ofice. The declaration deadline
is around 20 May.
Everyone with property in
France must pay two additional
taxes. The Taxe d'Habitation is
the tax for living here, and the
Taxe Foncière is the property
tax. Invoices for both are sent to
you in September.
As everyone's financial
circumstances are different, it is
best to consult a tax specialist
for advice.
EDUCATION
If you move here with schoolage
children, they will integrate
far more easily than you!
Initially, you should enrol them
at the Mairie.
School isn't compulsory
before the age of six, but most
French children begin Ecole Maternelle
at three years old. Ecole
Elémentaire then takes them
from 6 to 11 years of age. From
there, they move to Collège (11
to 15 years old) and then Lycée
(15 to 18). Boarding accommodation is often
offered from
Monday to Friday for rural Lycée
students. Although pupils can
leave school at 16 years old,
94% choose further education.
The only entrance requirement
to a French university is the
appropriate baccalaureate. Students do not pay tuition fees.
Schoolchildren have five
holidays each year: two weeks
in October, at Christmas, in February and in April - and most of
July and August.
DRIVING
English cars are usually covered
by their UK insurance at first.
However, you'll need to change
to French registration within six
months. If you choose to keep
English registration and insurance,
this will require regular
return trips to the UK.
You can drive on your
English licence until it expires,
at which stage you must obtain
a French driving licence from
a Prefecture or Sous-Prefecture.
Considerable paperwork is
involved. You'll need photocopies
of your birth certificate,
passport and proof of a French
address.
Acquiring French registration
is complicated. First,
get a Certificate of Conformity
from the garage representing
Those who move to
France must pay
income tax (Impôts
sur le Revenu) if they
fulfil any of these
conditions:
• live permanently
in France
• have a residence
permit
• spend more than
183 days in the
country during the
calendar year
• hold most of their
wealth in France
• have their main
professional
activity in France
TAX RULES
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