News Digest: Do You Need to File a French Tax Return? Now’s the Time!

If you live in France, you must, by law, fill in an annual tax declaration, even if you’re unemployed, retired, or don’t have anything to declare. Income tax declarations open this Thursday, 11th April, and from this date, you will be able to access the online tax declaration service by logging into your account on impots.gouv.fr here.

Depending on where you live in France, you’ll have between six and eight weeks to fill in your tax declaration. Here are the official deadlines:

• May 20th, 2024: If you are submitting a paper form or if you are filing your first income tax return (which is generally submitted as a paper form), this is the national deadline.
• May 23rd, 2024: Income Tax Online Deadline 1: This is the deadline for overseas residents or French residents who live in départements 1-19 to submit your tax declaration online.
• May 30th, 2024: Income Tax Online Deadline 2: This is the deadline for French residents who live in départements 20-54 to submit their tax declaration online. Your tax bill or Avis d’Imposition (tax notice) will be available online within a few months.
• June 6th, 2024: Income Tax Online Deadline 3: This is the deadline for French residents who live in départements 50-101 and French overseas territories to submit their tax declaration online.

Editor’s Pick: 11 French Tax Articles to Get You Through Tax Season

With Easter at the end of March this year, France’s spring school holidays didn’t fall over the bank holiday weekend. Instead, the first French school zone (Zone C, which includes Paris, Toulouse, and Montpellier) begins their spring break this week. Schools in Zone A, which includes Bordeaux, Lyon, and much of central France, will begin their two-week holiday this Saturday, 13th April.

Check out the full calendar of 2024 school holidays in France.

France’s Office National des Forêts (ONF) has issued a reminder to dog owners about a little-talked-about law that was put in place to protect spring wildlife during the crucial breeding season. The law, which can result in fines of up to €750 for non-compliance, requires all dogs to be leashed while walking in forested or woodland areas, as well as orchards, vineyards, marshes, and around lakes and ponds.

The law is only in place for three months of the year – between April 15th and June 30th in 2024 – and is designed to prevent dogs from disturbing nests, breeding sites, and young wildlife during the critical months of spring.

In the meantime, if you want to let your four-legged family members run free, you can still let them run off-leash on private land and dog-friendly beaches.

If you’re looking to move to France and have questions about visas and residency, then make sure to sign up for our free webinar NEXT WEEK! I’ll be joined by expert advisors from Lexidy, English-speaking France immigration lawyers, and FAB French Insurance for a comprehensive look at the road to permanent residency in France.

We’ll be covering everything from that initial visa application to applying for your Carte de Sejour, ensuring you have all the latest information and advice for a smooth transition to France in 2024.

As always, you can send your questions to me in advance at [email protected], and you can sign up for the free webinar here:

Visas & Residency in France: Making the Move in 2024

Thursday, 18^th April, 16.00 BST (17.00 French time)

I look forward to seeing you all there!