Bucks Back, Blocked Borders, Best Burb

GET YOUR MONEY BACK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Taxes In France – photo by International LivingHave you paid too much tax to the French tax authorities? It’s likely if you sold a French home since 2012 or paid on rental income and are not tax resident in France.

You were assessed a 15.5% portion of the capital gains tax for social security contributions, but this was deemed unlawful by the European Court in a ruling in March of this year because non-residents cannot benefit from these contributions. Therefore you are entitled to a refund!

In order to be refunded, you must file a claim with the local tax office where the property was sold or in the case of rental revenue, where the annual returns are filed. Those who sold a property during 2013 have until December 31st of this year to file the claim! Those who sold in 2012 may already be too late, but we recommend filing the claim anyway.

You don’t have to have a lawyer to pursue a refund, but it’s recommended. Ask your Notaire or “expert comptable” to assess the overpayment you made and file the claim.

TEMPORARY BLOCKING OF THE BORDERS

The upcoming Paris Climate Conference November 30th to December 11th, which will be attended by U.S. President Barack Obama, is reason enough to restore border controls along European boundaries, opting out of the Schengen arrangement which enables free movement within the Union between November 13th and December 13th.

Anyone traveling to France must enter via 283 ‘authorized points of entry’ and possess a passport or ID card. Leaving is no problem!

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN FRANCE?

Popular regions for the French – photo by AFPThe Local ran an article titled “Where the French do and don’t want to live” not long ago, quoting a recent survey about in which regions the French would love to live and those they’d rather avoid.

Top of the list was the southern region of the Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, even more desirable than the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur. I was surprised by this, because while the region has a lot of Mediterranean coastline, as well as the Pyrénnees mountains and is quite beautiful, it’s not the French Riviera, the Luberon or the Alps. This was the second most desirable spot and after that, Brittany.

While we Americans are dreaming of Paris, the French aren’t that enamored with the Ile de France and like Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie least of all. Without taking a formal survey, but working with North Americans regularly to find their home away from home, Paris is of course, top of the list, with Provence and the Côte d’Azur not far behind. Americans will visit Normandy in a heartbeat, but live their year-round? Not likely. Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées may not be at the bottom of their list, but it’s not so high-up, either.

From our observation, Americans who have lots of space and land are yearning for urbanity with life and culture, hence their adoration for Paris and Nice, while the British who live very densely are yearning for space and land. You will find them eating up the French countryside, particularly Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées as well as Normandy and Brittany. Perhaps it is the same for the French who aren’t as gaga over Paris as we are!

A bientôt,

Adrian Leeds
Editor, French Property Insider
Email: [email protected]

P.S. One of our most popular rentals, Le Déco–seen on House Hunters International–is being taking off the short-term rental market in March 2016. if you stayed with us before or have wanted to rent this apartment, time is running out to book your stay. See the apartment and make your plans today!

P.P.S. There will be no FPI on Thursday, November 26th, for Thanksgiving…as usual! I’ll be in Provence and Nice celebrating with American friends.